Sports Feat Leonard
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SPORTS THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS SECTION TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011 CLASSIFIED ADS, C7-C10 HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS C2-C3 COLLEGE SPORTS C4 NBA, NHL C5 C IN BRIEF COLLEGE BASKETBALL Pat Knight fired by Texas Tech Pat Knight sat in the Texas Tech locker room and lauded his bosses for the way they let him go after three disappointing seasons. It was, after all, different from the way his famous father was ousted at Indiana more than a decade ago. “It’s not an ugly situation,” Knight said. “I mean, we left on good terms. I’m glad it ended like that, especially after being part of the deal at Indiana. That was tough. But this is different. It’s business.” Texas Tech fired Knight on Monday, ending a disappointing tenure for a coach who failed to lead the Red Raiders to the NCAA tournament after taking over for his father in February 2008. He will coach the Red Raiders at this week’s Big 12 tournament, then step down. Knight is 50-60 in his first Division I coaching job. NFL Labor talks ongoing The NFL and the players’ union negotiated for four hours Monday before calling it a day. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and members of the two negotiating teams are expected to reconvene today before a federal mediator. The current collective bargaining agreement was set to expire last Thursday, but two extensions have pushed the cutoff to the end of Friday. COLLEGE FOOTBALL White, Carr on ballot The late Derrick Thomas of Alabama, quarterback Tommie Frazier of Nebraska and tailback Lorenzo White of Michigan State are among the college football stars making their first appearance on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot. Michigan’s Lloyd Carr is one of nine coaches on the ballot. The class will be announced in May. NHL Player back after cut The stubbly beard of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan O’Byrne attempts to conceal the pinkish cut that required 100 stitches to close. O’Byrne was caught flush in the face by the skate of Edmonton’s Taylor Hall early in a game two weeks ago, causing a gash that begins just above the left side of his mouth and snakes downward from there. He considers himself fortunate. The skate narrowly avoided a nerve in his face and completely missed his eye or neck. He said after practice Monday “it could have been worse, for sure.” O’Byrne will return to the ice tonight in Minnesota, wearing a caged helmet to provide protection. SNOWBOARDING Surgery for White Two-time Olympic halfpipe gold medalist Shaun White needs surgery on his foot and will miss this weekend’s U.S. Snowboarding Championships. An e-mail from White’s publicist said White will have “minor” surgery. HORSE RACING Top horse to be mom Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, is in foal with an expected due date of Feb. 1, 2012. Stonestreet Farm announced the pregnancy Monday, two weeks after the 2009 Preakness winner was bred to two-time Horse of the Year winner Curlin. — Press wire services BY DAVID MAYO THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS EAST LANSING — Coach Tom Izzo publicly chafes at the perception the Big Ten tournament doesn’t mat- ter to him, even if Michigan State’s performances in it hardly match what the Spartans often do later in March. But this time, the right to play in the NCAA tournament is at stake. “The regular season’s important, the Big Ten tournament’s impor- tant — please, all of you out there that don’t think it is, it is — and the NCAA tournament’s important,” Izzo said Monday. “It just happens we’re starting ours (NCAA tournament) a little earlier. We’re starting ours on Thursday.” The Spartans (17-13) play Iowa in a Big Ten tournament first-round game at approximately 5 p.m. Thursday in Indianapolis, with the winner to face Purdue on Friday. To what degree the Spartans may have de-emphasized the conference SEE MSU, C4 BY MICHAEL ROTHSTEIN PRESS NEWS SERVICE ANN ARBOR — Michigan coach John Beilein deflected and dismissed questions about the NCAA tourna- ment worthiness of the U-M basket- ball team for much of the season. At best, he would mention “a day where you are judged at the end of the season,” as he did Dec. 18 after Michigan beat Oakland. As the Wolverines maneuvered through the Big Ten — starting 1-6 and rallying to finish at 9-9 — Beilein opened up about peeking at other teams on the bubble and gaug- ing where his team stood. Now, with Selection Sunday less than a week away and Michigan coming off a 70-63 victory against Michigan State to conclude the regular season, Beilein is ready to SEE U-M, C4 ON THE AIR Big Ten tournament: Michigan State vs. Iowa, 5 p.m. Thursday on ESPN2 AP PHOTO Getting ready: MSU coach Tom Izzo says tournament time starts Thursday for the Spartans. Izzo: Tourney starts early for Michigan State AP PHOTO Listen up: Michigan coach John Beilein believes the Wolverines are in line for an NCAA bid. ON THE AIR Big Ten tournament: Michigan vs. Illinois, 2:30 p.m. Friday on ESPN Beilein believes U-M has look of NCAA team MORE Purdue’s Johnson named Big Ten player of year, C4 GREG JOHNSON BASKETBALL H OLLAND — They kept score, and it mattered because it always matters and it was the start of the state tournament and all. Fennville won 65-54. For Fennville’s fans and its team, though, it was more about starting to recover from the sledgehammer of grief that slammed into the community when its shining star athlete, Wes Leonard, died in the most surreal way imaginable five days ago. And for Lawrence, it was more about recognizing that grief, relating to it and becoming a remarkable and honorable tribute itself to sportsmanship and the young man who lost his life. The game showed us good Class C basketball played in front of a loud, respectful and passionate crowd of 3,472 Monday night at Hope College, but also that a lost 16-year-old life lends perspective in all parts of our lives, including the games our kids play. It was a lot more than another tournament game. Not playing was considered in Fennville, especially early in the grief, and why not? Call the 20-0 SEE JOHNSON, C3 BY DEAN HOLZWARTH THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS HOLLAND — Basketball was the last thing on the minds of the Fennville boys basketball team after the tragic loss of their star player, junior point guard Wes Leonard. But the Blackhawks gathered enough strength to play in Monday’s Class C district opener and defeated Lawrence 65-54 before a crowd of 3,472 at Hope College’s DeVos Fieldhouse. Fennville improved to 21-0 in its first game without Leonard, who collapsed last Thursday night after scoring the game-winning basket against Bridgman and later died of cardiac arrest caused by an enlarged heart. Fennville will meet Bangor in Wednesday’s district semifinals at Bloomingdale High School. It’s unknown whether the game will be moved to a bigger site. “There’s no doubt his eyes were on us, and this was a game he would have loved to watch,” Fennville coach Ryan Klingler said. “He was watching us, and that was a battle he would have loved to fight right there. “I’m proud of the way we handled things, and the effort by both teams tonight was how it should be. Wes would have been proud of us all.” Fennville’s Pete Alfaro drained a 3-pointer from the corner to open the game, but the lead went back and forth throughout the first quarter. SEE GAME, C3 ‘HIS EYES WERE ON US’ Team, town show bond runs deep Going up: Fennville’s Adam Siegel puts up a shot over Lawrence’s Josh Gendron in Monday’s game. Siegel led all scorers with 22 points. PRESS PHOTOS/EMILY ZOLADZ Standing together: Fennville fans, left, and players, above, show their love for star player Wes Leonard, who died after a game last week. Leonard’s brother, Mitchell (wearing white shirt), joined the team. MORE Bo Kimble shows support for Fennville, C3 Boys district coverage, C2-C3 “Wes would have wanted to win, so I wanted to win.” — Fennville player Adam Siegel after Blackhawks beat Lawrence in state tournament PRESS PHOTOS/EMILY ZOLADZ March sadness: Players shared in tears and hugs, like Fennville’s Adam Siegel and Lawrence’s Andres Robles, after Monday’s game at Hope College. Fennville upped its record to 21-0 with a 65-54 victory. Undefeated Fennville plays on without star
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Transcript of Sports Feat Leonard
SPORTSTHEGRANDRAPIDSPRESS
SECTION
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011
CLASSIFIED ADS, C7-C10
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS C2-C3COLLEGE SPORTS C4
NBA, NHL C5
C
IN BRIEFCOLLEGE BASKETBALL
Pat Knight firedby Texas Tech
Pat Knight sat in the TexasTech locker room and laudedhis bosses for the waythey let him go after threedisappointing seasons. Itwas, after all, different fromthe way his famous father
was ousted atIndiana morethan a decadeago. “It’s not anugly situation,”Knight said. “Imean, we left ongood terms. I’mglad it ended likethat, especially
after being part of the dealat Indiana. That was tough.But this is different. It’sbusiness.” Texas Tech firedKnight on Monday, endinga disappointing tenure for acoach who failed to lead theRed Raiders to the NCAAtournament after taking overfor his father in February2008. He will coach the RedRaiders at this week’s Big 12tournament, then step down.Knight is 50-60 in his firstDivision I coaching job.
NFL
Labor talks ongoingThe NFL and the players’union negotiated for fourhours Monday before callingit a day. NFL CommissionerRoger Goodell, NFLPAexecutive director DeMauriceSmith and members of thetwo negotiating teams areexpected to reconvene todaybefore a federal mediator. Thecurrent collective bargainingagreement was set to expirelast Thursday, but twoextensions have pushed thecutoff to the end of Friday.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
White, Carr on ballotThe late Derrick Thomas ofAlabama, quarterback TommieFrazier of Nebraska and tailbackLorenzo White of MichiganState are among the collegefootball stars making their firstappearance on the CollegeFootball Hall of Fame ballot.Michigan’s Lloyd Carr is one ofnine coaches on the ballot. Theclass will be announced in May.
NHL
Player back after cutThe stubbly beard of ColoradoAvalanche defenseman RyanO’Byrne attempts to concealthe pinkish cut that required100 stitches to close. O’Byrnewas caught flush in the faceby the skate of Edmonton’sTaylor Hall early in a gametwo weeks ago, causing agash that begins just abovethe left side of his mouthand snakes downward fromthere. He considers himselffortunate. The skate narrowlyavoided a nerve in his faceand completely missed his eyeor neck. He said after practiceMonday “it could have beenworse, for sure.” O’Byrne willreturn to the ice tonight inMinnesota, wearing a cagedhelmet to provide protection.
SNOWBOARDING
Surgery for WhiteTwo-time Olympic halfpipegold medalist ShaunWhite needs surgery onhis foot and will miss thisweekend’s U.S. SnowboardingChampionships. An e-mailfrom White’s publicist saidWhite will have “minor” surgery.
HORSE RACING
Top horse to be momRachel Alexandra, the 2009Horse of the Year, is in foalwith an expected due date ofFeb. 1, 2012. Stonestreet Farmannounced the pregnancyMonday, two weeks after the2009 Preakness winner wasbred to two-time Horse of theYear winner Curlin.
—Press wire services
BY DAVID MAYO
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
EASTLANSING—CoachTomIzzopublicly chafes at the perception theBig Ten tournament doesn’t mat-ter to him, even if Michigan State’sperformances in it hardly match whatthe Spartans often do later in March.
But this time, the right to play in theNCAA tournament is at stake.“The regular season’s important,
the Big Ten tournament’s impor-tant — please, all of you out therethat don’t think it is, it is — and theNCAA tournament’s important,” Izzosaid Monday. “It just happens we’restarting ours (NCAA tournament) alittle earlier. We’re starting ours onThursday.”The Spartans (17-13) play Iowa in a
Big Ten tournament first-round gameat approximately 5 p.m. Thursday inIndianapolis, with the winner to facePurdue on Friday.To what degree the Spartans may
have de-emphasized the conferenceSEE MSU, C4
BY MICHAEL ROTHSTEIN
PRESS NEWS SERVICE
ANN ARBOR — Michigan coachJohn Beilein deflected and dismissedquestions about the NCAA tourna-ment worthiness of the U-M basket-ball team for much ofthe season.At best, he would
mention “a day whereyou are judged at theend of the season,”as he did Dec. 18after Michigan beatOakland.As the Wolverines maneuvered
through the Big Ten — starting1-6 and rallying to finish at 9-9 —Beilein opened up about peeking atother teams on the bubble and gaug-ing where his team stood.Now, with Selection Sunday less
than a week away and Michigancoming off a 70-63 victory againstMichigan State to conclude theregular season, Beilein is ready to
SEE U-M, C4
ON THE AIRBig Ten tournament: Michigan State vs.ÊIowa, 5 p.m. Thursday on ESPN2
AP PHOTO
Getting ready: MSU coach TomIzzo says tournament time startsThursday for the Spartans.
Izzo: Tourney startsearly forMichigan State
AP PHOTO
Listen up: Michigan coach JohnBeilein believes the Wolverines arein line for an NCAA bid.
ON THE AIRBig Ten tournament: Michigan vs. Illinois,Ê
2:30 p.m. Friday on ESPN
Beilein believes U-Mhas look of NCAA team
MOREPurdue’sÊ
Johnson namedBig Ten playerof year, C4
GREGJOHNSON
BASKETBALL
HOLLAND — Theykept score, and itmattered because
it always matters andit was the start of thestate tournament and all.Fennville won 65-54.For Fennville’s fans and its team,
though, it was more about startingto recover from the sledgehammerof grief that slammed into thecommunity when itsshining star athlete,Wes Leonard, diedin the most surrealway imaginable fivedays ago.And for
Lawrence, itwas more aboutrecognizing thatgrief, relating toit and becoming a remarkableand honorable tribute itself tosportsmanship and the young manwho lost his life.The game showed us good Class
C basketball played in front of aloud, respectful and passionatecrowd of 3,472 Monday night atHope College, but also that a lost16-year-old life lends perspective inall parts of our lives, including thegames our kids play.It was a lot more than another
tournament game.Not playing was considered in
Fennville, especially early in thegrief, and why not? Call the 20-0
SEE JOHNSON, C3
BY DEAN HOLZWARTH
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
HOLLAND — Basketball wasthe last thing on the minds of theFennville boys basketball team afterthe tragic loss of their star player,junior point guard Wes Leonard.
But theBlackhawksgatheredenoughstrength to play in Monday’s Class Cdistrict opener and defeated Lawrence65-54 before a crowd of 3,472 at HopeCollege’s DeVos Fieldhouse.Fennville improved to 21-0 in its
first game without Leonard, whocollapsed last Thursday night afterscoring the game-winning basketagainst Bridgman and later died ofcardiac arrest caused by an enlargedheart.
Fennville will meet Bangor inWednesday’s district semifinals atBloomingdale High School.
It’s unknownwhether the gamewillbe moved to a bigger site.“There’s no doubt his eyes were on
us, and this was a game hewould haveloved to watch,” Fennville coach RyanKlingler said. “He was watching us,and that was a battle he would haveloved to fight right there.“I’m proud of the way we handled
things, and the effort by both teamstonight was how it should be. Weswould have been proud of us all.”Fennville’s Pete Alfaro drained a
3-pointer from the corner to openthe game, but the lead went back andforth throughout the first quarter.
SEE GAME, C3
‘HIS EYES WERE ON US’Team, townshow bondruns deep
Going up: Fennville’s Adam Siegelputs up a shot over Lawrence’sJosh Gendron in Monday’s game.Siegel led all scorers with 22 points.
PRESS PHOTOS/EMILY ZOLADZ
Standing together: Fennville fans, left, and players, above, show theirlove for star player Wes Leonard, who died after a game last week.Leonard’s brother, Mitchell (wearing white shirt), joined the team.
MOREBo KimbleÊ
shows support forFennville, C3
Boys districtÊcoverage, C2-C3
“Wes would have wanted to win, so I wanted to win.”— Fennville player Adam Siegel after Blackhawks beat Lawrence in state tournament
PRESS PHOTOS/EMILY ZOLADZ
March sadness: Players shared in tears and hugs, like Fennville’s Adam Siegel and Lawrence’s Andres Robles,after Monday’s game at Hope College. Fennville upped its record to 21-0 with a 65-54 victory.
Undefeated Fennvilleplays onwithout star
