Sports Radio 1400 WSJM @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Wednesday, March 09, 2016
NFL – Lions star WR Calvin Johnson retires after 9 seasons
Calvin Johnson has retired. The 30-year-old receiver, known as Megatron, announced his decision Tuesday to walk away from the NFL after nine mostly spectacular seasons with the Detroit Lions. Johnson had 88 receptions for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns last season, playing through lingering injuries as he often did. He has 731 career receptions for 11,619 yards and 83 TDs. Johnson broke one of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s records with 1,964 yards receiving in 2012, a total Atlanta’s Julio Jones approached last season. Johnson drew another comparison to Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, who slipped away from the Lions shortly before the 1999 season after he had 1,491 yards rushing as a 30-year-old running back the previous year.
NFL – Bears’ Jeffery signs franchise tender
Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery has signed his one-year, $14.6 million franchise tender offer. The announcement Tuesday was more of a procedural development after the team placed the franchise tag on him last week. The Bears and Jeffery have until July 15 to agree to a multiyear contract. Calf, hamstring, groin and shoulder injuries limited Jeffery to nine games last season. But he still led the team in receiving with 807 yards. Jeffery played in all 16 games the previous two years, finishing with 1,421 yards in 2013 and 1,133 in 2014.
NFL – Colts re-sign NFL’s oldest player, Adam Vinatieri, 43
Kicker Adam Vinatieri has agreed to terms to remain with the Indianapolis Colts. Vinatieri has been with the Colts for 10 seasons. He won three titles with the Patriots before joining Indianapolis as a free agent. He holds career postseason records for points scored, field goals and extra points.
NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Columbus Blue Jackets 5, Detroit Red Wings 3
Blue Jackets 5, Red Wings 3 – Atkinson, Jenner help Blue Jackets hold off Red Wings 5-3
Cam Atkinson scored twice in the third period and Boone Jenner had a goal and an assist while the Columbus Blue Jackets held off the Detroit Red Wings 5-3 Tuesday night. David Clarkson and David Savard also scored for the Jackets, and Joonas Korpisalo made 32 saves. Atkinson’s empty-netter with 17.5 seconds left secured the win. Tomas Tatar and Andreas Athanasiou scored 46 seconds apart late in the third to pull Detroit within 4-3. Darren Helm thought he’d tied it less than a minute later, but the puck careened off the post behind Korpisalo. Justin Abdelkader also scored for Detroit, and Jimmy Howard made 27 saves.
Tonight
Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues, 8:00 p.m.
NHL – Marcus Kruger agrees to contract extension with Blackhawks
Injured forward Marcus Kruger has agreed to a $9.25 million, three-year contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks that runs through the 2018-19 season. The 25-year-old Kruger had left wrist surgery in December, but is expected to return before the start of the playoffs. He will make $3,475,000 in each of the next two years, and $2.3 million in the final season. He had seven goals and 10 assists in 81 games last season, and then helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup for the third time in the past six seasons. Kruger has 28 goals and 57 assists in 320 career games with Chicago.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Tonight
Detroit Pistons at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.
NBA – Bulls hope to have Butler back for Spurs game on Thursday
The Chicago Bulls hope to have Jimmy Butler back for their next game after the swelling in the two-time All-Star guard’s left knee went down. Coach Fred Hoiberg says he hopes he returns to the lineup Thursday at San Antonio. Butler sat out Monday’s win over Milwaukee because of swelling in the same knee that had sidelined him for 11 games.
NCAA Men’s Basketball – Big Ten Conference Tournament – Round 1
Today
2016 Big Ten Tournament, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
#13 Minnesota vs. #12 Illinois, 4:30 p.m.
#14 Rutgers vs. #11 Nebraska, 7:30 p.m.
MLB – Major League Baseball – Spring Training
Yesterday
Detroit Tigers 6, Tampa Bay Rays 5
Chicago White Sox 10, Milwaukee Brewers 6
Los Angeles Dodgers 7, Chicago Cubs 3
Tigers 6, Rays 5 – Martinez has 2 hits as Tigers beat Rays 6-5
Victor Martinez went 2 for 2 with a double, raising his average to .412, and Ian Kinsler also doubled as the Detroit Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 Tuesday. Shane Greene allowed three runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings for the Tigers. John Mayberry Jr., trying to earn an outfield job, hit his first homer of spring training, a tiebreaking drive in the seventh off Jacob Faria. Non-roster player Kyle Roller homered for Tampa Bay. Starter Erasmo Ramirez gave up five runs and seven hits in two innings, raising his ERA to 11.25.
White Sox 10, Brewers 6 – Garcia, Rollins homer as White Sox beat Brewers 10-6
Avisail Garcia tripled and homered in his first two at-bats Tuesday, and the Chicago White Sox defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 10-6. Jimmy Rollins also homered as the White Sox knocked out Chase Anderson after 1 2/3 innings. Garcia and Rollins each had three hits. Garcia, whose homer reached the concourse over the left-field bullpen, drove in four runs and Rollins had three RBIs. Chicago scored four runs in the first and five in the second. Anderson, acquired from Arizona in the offseason, gave up seven runs and seven hits. Chicago starter John Danks gave up two runs, three hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings with four strikeouts. Milwaukee’s Alex Presley hit a three-run homer in the sixth off Josh Wall.
Dodgers 7, Cubs 3 – Kershaw gives up 1 run as Dodgers beat Cubs 7-3
Clayton Kershaw gave up one run and five hits in three innings in his second spring training start, a 7-3 win for the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. Kershaw struck out five and walked one. Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks allowed two hits in three scoreless innings. Travis Wood followed and gave up three runs and six hits in three innings. Kris Bryant homered off Joe Blanton and had two hits for the Cubs, who dropped to 1-6. Kyle Schwarber and David Ross each had two hits. The Dodgers’ Andre Ethier had two hits and is batting .571. Chase Utley singled in a run, and Trayce Thompson hit a two-run triple.
Today
Washington vs. Detroit at Lakeland, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Oakland vs. Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.
Cleveland vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.
MLB – Arrieta says he has talked with Cubs about long-term deal
NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta said Tuesday he has talked with the Chicago Cubs about a long-term contract. Arrieta went 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA last season and agreed last month to a $10.7 million, one-year deal that avoided salary arbitration. The right-hander, who turned 30 on Sunday, is eligible for free agency after the 2017 season. “Money can only make you so happy,” Arrieta said, speaking a day before his scheduled spring training debut. “I love my teammates, and I love Chicago. Those are more important than the contract extension for me.”
MLB – Bringing the game to the troops
Atlanta and Miami will play a Major League game at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on July 3. It will be played in a 12,500-seat ballpark to be built on the base with funding from Major League Baseball and the players’ association. The ballpark will be converted to a softball field and multi-purpose facility after the game.
MHSAA – Girls Basketball Regional (Regional Semifinals)
Last Night
Class A at Mason
East Lansing 56, BC Lakeview 32
Jackson Northwest 59, Kal Central 57
Class B at Harper Creek
Otsego 52, Edwardsburg 30
Marshall 62, Lakeshore 44
Lakeshore fell behind early and couldn’t catch up as they lost to Marshall 62-44 in the Class B Regional Semi-Final. The Redhawks grabbed a 10 point lead after the first quarter and built it to 17 points. The Lancers rallied to pull to within six, but couldn’t get any closer. Sarah Dubbert led Lakeshore with 16 points. The Lancers end the season at 19-3.
Class C at Constantine
Gobles 37, Schoolcraft 34
Brandywine 46, Homer 36
Class D at Climax-Scotts
Wyoming Tri Unity 46, Athens 44
Climax-Scotts 56, Lawrence 38
MHSAA – Boys Basketball Districts (District Semifinals)
Tonight
Class A at Portage Central
St. Joseph vs. Kalamazoo Central, 5:30 p.m.
Portage Central vs. Mattawan, 7:00 p.m.
Class A at Sturgis
Battle Creek Central vs. Battle Creek Lakeview, 6:00 p.m.
Sturgis vs. Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 7:30 p.m.
Class B at Buchanan
Lakeshore vs. Berrien Springs, 5:00 p.m. Sports Radio 1400 WSJM
Benton Harbor vs. Dowagiac, 7:00 p.m. Sports Radio 1400 WSJM
Class B at Paw Paw
Three Rivers vs. Edwardsburg, 6:00 p.m.
Paw Paw vs. Coldwater, 7:30 p.m.
Class B at Hopkins
Allegan vs. Hopkins, 5:00 p.m.
Fennville vs. South Haven, 7:00 p.m. Superhits 103.7 Cosy-FM
Class B at Comstock
Marshall vs. Parchment, 6:00 p.m.
Comstock vs. Battle Creek Harper Creek, 7:30 p.m.
Class C at Eau Claire
New Buffalo vs. Bridgman, 6:00 p.m.
Eau Claire vs. Brandywine, 7:30 p.m.
Class C at Kalamazoo Christian
Hartford vs. Gobles, 5:30 p.m.
Bangor vs. Kalamazoo Hackett, 7:15 p.m.
Class C at Centreville
Lawton vs. Decatur, 6:00 p.m.
Constantine vs. White Pigeon, 7:30 p.m.
Class C at Saugatuck
Grand Rapids Covenant Christian vs. Grandville Calvin Christian, 5:30 p.m.
Saugatuck vs. Grand Rapids NorthePointe Christian, 7:00 p.m.
Class D at Lake Michigan Catholic
Lawrence vs. Countryside Academy, 6:00 p.m.
Lake Michigan Catholic vs. Watervliet Grace Christian, 7:30 p.m
Class D at Mendon
Athens vs. Mendon, 6:00 p.m.
Howardsville Christian vs. Burr Oak, 7:30 p.m.
Class D at Martin
Kalamazoo Lakeside vs. Kalamazoo Heritage Christian, 5:30 p.m.
Martin vs. Kalamazoo Phoenix, 7:15 p.m.
