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MTU
Kyle Monroe has been named the Most Valuable Player of this year’s Michigan Tech basketball team. Monroe earned the Ken Hamar Award by leading the team and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in scoring, and re-writing the record books. He graduates with the all-time Huskies and GLIAC career and single-game scoring marks. He was also named GLIAC Player of the Year, and received numerous other honors.
Owen White earned the Bill Gappy Award as the Most Improved Player. Tommy Lucca, claimed the Harold Meese Sportsmanship Award. Eric Carl was selected as the Bob Olson Outstanding Newcomer. For the second season in a row, Kyle Clow was Tech’s Scholastic Achievement Award honoree.
MLB
Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline has died. Kaline was signed by the Tigers straight out of high school in Baltimore, and never played in the minor leagues. He won the American League batting title at age 20 in 1955, and went on to collect more than 3,000 hits, and blast 399 home runs. His defense was even better than his offense, as he mastered the tricky right field corner at Tiger Stadium, and cut down baserunners with his powerful and accurate arm. Above all that, Kaline was one of the game’s great gentlemen, modest, and respectful. Even his fiercest on-field competitors liked him. Sportswriters made him a first-ballot entry into the Hall of Fame, in days when that was rare. He spent his entire career with the Tigers, becoming a television broadcaster after his playing days ended, and then serving for many years in the front office. No cause of death had been released, but he had been in failing health for several months. Al Kaline was 85.
Could all of this year’s Major League Baseball games be played in Arizona? The idea is being discussed by owners and the Players Association. With 10 spring training facilities in close proximity to Phoenix, the concept is that games could be tightly scheduled, with no need for extended travel. Games would be played with no spectators, but would be broadcast.
NFL
Three Green Bay Packers and two Detroit Lions have been named to the NFL’s 2010’s All-Decade Team. Aaron Rodgers shares quarterback honors with Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. Julius Peppers, who spent three years with the Pack, and Jahri Evans, who spent one season, were also selected. Receiver Calvin Johnson, who played his entire career with the Lions, was selected. Ndamukong Suh, who spent his first five seasons in Detroit, was also picked.
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