Sports Radio 1400 WSJM @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Wednesday, December 24, 2014
NFL – Lions’ Raiola loses appeal, 1-game suspension upheld
Lions center Dominic Raiola lost his appeal of a one-game suspension for stepping on Chicago Bears defensive tackle Ego Ferguson. Appeals officer Derrick Brooks, the Hall of Fame linebacker appointed by the NFL and the players’ union, upheld the suspension Tuesday. The punishment was handed down Monday by Merton Hanks, the NFL’s vice president of football operations. The league said this was Raiola’s sixth rules violation related to player safety since 2010. Raiola stepped on Ferguson’s right ankle Sunday while the Chicago lineman was on the ground early in the third quarter. Raiola said after the game it was not intentional, and that he talked to Ferguson and apologized. Raiola has been with the Lions for his entire 14-year career, playing every game of every season except 2008. Detroit plays at Green Bay on Sunday for the NFC North title.
NFL – Rodgers getting better, should be ready for Pack vs Lions
Aaron Rodgers says he thinks he’ll be ready for the Green Bay Packers’ showdown Sunday against the Detroit Lions for the NFC North title. Rodgers strained his left calf in last week’s win over Tampa Bay. He was already fighting an illness going into that game. Coach Mike McCarthy says Rodgers is feeling better. Rodgers participated in Tuesday’s light team workout. McCarthy hasn’t expressed high concern about Rodgers’ health. The strained calf, though, did limit Rodgers’ mobility against Tampa. The coach says he’s confident that Rodgers can run the full game plan against the Lions’ staunch defense. The Packers worked Tuesday, normally a day off, to take Christmas off Thursday. Rodgers is hoping that free time later in the week will also help him feel better.
NFL – Manning leads 9 Broncos into Pro Bowl
The AFC West champion Denver Broncos led the NFL with nine players selected for the Pro Bowl. Quarterback Peyton Manning was picked for the 14th time. Joining Manning from the Broncos will be Ryan Clady, Chris Harris, Von Miller, Aqib Talib, Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, T.J. Ward and DeMarcus Ware. The NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys were second with six selections for the Jan. 25 game in Glendale, Arizona, site of the Super Bowl. Tony Romo will be going for the fourth time. Dez Bryant, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin, DeMarco Murray and Tyron Smith were also honored.
Bears:
G-Kyle Long
Lions:
WR-Calvin Johnson
S-Glover Quin
DT-Ndamukong Suh
NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Detroit Red Wings 6, Buffalo Sabres 3
Winnipeg Jets 5, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Red Wings 6, Sabres 3 – Tatar, Red Wings end 6-game skid, beat Sabres
Tomas Tatar had a pair of power-play goals in the third period Tuesday night and the Detroit Red Wings ended a six-game winless streak with a 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Tatar’s 13th goal of the season gave the Red Wings the lead for good with 8:20 to play and Johan Franzen scored a few minutes later to pad the lead for the hosts, who hadn’t won since Dec. 7. Tatar’s second goal came in the final minutes. Stephen Weiss, Danny DeKeyser and Henrik Zetterberg also scored for Detroit, which got 10 saves from Petr Mrazek. Nicolas Deslauriers, Chris Stewart and Andre Benoit had goals for the banged-up Sabres, who were missing eight regulars due to injuries or illness. Michal Neuvirth returned from an illness and had 33 saves.
Jets 5, Blackhawks 1 – Perreault scores 2, Jets ease past Blackhawks 5-1
Mathieu Perreault scored two goals while extending his point streak to eight games, and the Winnipeg Jets routed the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 on Tuesday night. Bryan Little also had his team-best 13th goal as Winnipeg stopped Chicago’s eight-game home winning streak. The Jets are responsible for two of the Blackhawks’ four regulation home losses, also winning 1-0 at the United Center on Nov. 2 in their first meeting of the season. Winnipeg (18-10-7), one of the NHL’s biggest surprises, won for the third time in four games, bouncing back from a 4-3 overtime loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. The Jets led the Flyers 3-1 after two periods, but were unable to close it out.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Chicago Bulls 99, Washington Wizards 91
Bulls 99, Wizards 91 – Rose’s 25 lead Bulls over Wizards
Derrick Rose scored 25 points and Pau Gasol had 18 as the Chicago Bulls won their fourth straight, beating the Washington Wizards 99-91 on Tuesday night. After Washington scored 12 straight, 10 by John Wall, to take an 87-86 lead with 3:44 remaining, Chicago steadied and scored eight straight, six by Rose to lead 94-87 with 1:48 to play. Wall led the Wizards with 18 points. The Bulls outrebounded Washington 52-41. On Monday, Chicago scored a franchise-record 49 points in the fourth quarter as they beat Toronto 129-120. Points were harder to come by a night later. It was the first meeting of the teams this season. Washington defeated Chicago in the first round of last year’s playoffs, 4-1.
NCAA Basketball – Men’s
Yesterday
Eastern Michigan 87, Coppin State 64
EMU 87, Coppin State 64 – Eastern Michigan keeps Coppin State winless on road 87-64
Karrington Ward scored 23 points to lead Eastern Michigan to an 87-64 win over Coppin State yesterday. Lee also had five assists and six steals for Eastern Michigan while Ward blocked six shots. Sterling Smith had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Coppin State.
NCAA Football – Bowls
Yesterday
Marshall 52, Northern Illinois 23 (Boca Raton Bowl, FAU Stadium, Boca, Raton, FL)
Navy 17, San Diego State 16 (SD County Credit Union, Poinsettia Bowl, Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA)
Today
Central Michigan vs. Western Kentucky, 12:00 p.m. (Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl, Thomas Robinson Stadium, Nassau)
Fresno State vs. Rice, 8:00 p.m. (Hawai’i bowl, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI)
MLB – Cubs announce deal with C Ross
Catcher David Ross has agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, reuniting him with batterymate Jon Lester. The deal was announced Tuesday after an agreement was reached last week. Ross gets a $550,000 signing bonus plus $2.25 million in salary in 2015 and 2016. Ross often caught Lester in Boston the past two seasons, including both of the left-hander’s starts in the 2013 World Series victory. Ross started behind the plate for Lester’s last 11 starts this year before the Red Sox traded the pitcher to Oakland. Ross, who will turn 38 in spring training, hit .184 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs in 50 games for Boston last season.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Basketball
South Haven 39, Battle Creek Lakeview 37
South Haven trailed 20-15 at the half but outscored Lakeview 24-17 in the second half as South Haven narrowly defeated the Spartans 39-37, Spencer Adams scored 11 points to lead South Haven. Nick Adams had a game high 13 points to lead Lakeview.
Holland 53, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 50 (Loy Norrix Tournament Championship Game)
Cassopolis 67, Flint International Academy 57 (Loy Norrix Tournament Consolation Game)
Bryce Saxton led all scorers with 16 points to lead Cassopolis to a 67-57 win over Flint International Academy in the consolation game of the Loy Norrix Holiday Tournament.
Girls Basketball
Benton Harbor 71, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 39 (Loy Norrix Tournament Championship Game)
Kysre Gondrezick had a game high 29 points and was named Tournament MVP as Benton Harbor defeated Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 71-39 to win the Loy Norrix Holiday Tournament. Kalabria Gondrezick added 16 points while Gabbi Dortch scored 14 points.
