| 2016.06.14 |
Rest in peace, Ron Mason.
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| 2016.06.10 |
Rest in peace, Gordie Howe.
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| 2013.12.07 |
My Michigan State Spartans are headed to the Rose Bowl to face Stanford after
having beaten the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship game!
There's so much about that last paragraph to love.
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| 2013.10.03 |
HEY, HEY, HOCKEYTOWN!! The Detroit Red Wings are now 1-and-0 on the young 2013-14 hockey season.
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| 2013.09.25 |
Congratulations to the Detroit Tigers, Champions of the 2013 American League Central Division!!!
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| 2013.09.17 |
Would you believe the Detroit Red Wings hosted their first preseason game last night?
Where does the time go??
Happily, they beat the Penguins 4-to-1.
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| 2013.09.15 |
With all tally marks in the "W" column on the young 2013 football season, I'm
naturally pleased with the Michigan State Spartans so far this year.
But that's not to say all of the Spartan victories have been impressive.
In the first two games of the year, it was the Spartan defense that made those tally
marks. So I'm absolutely thrilled with the Spartans' performance this past Saturday —
and particularly by young Mr. Cook, Michigan State's newly-minted starting quarterback.
The matchup against Youngstown State was a breakout game for the Sophomore. Cook showed
the Spartan Nation that he's not afraid to keep the ball, and he can scramble and run
for yardage. He appears to possess a mobility at the position that others in recent
years simply haven't shown.
The Spartans are going to need all of those tools at the ready when they face Notre
Dame next weekend.
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| 2013.09.15 |
Yeah, I haven't been much of a Tigers fan this year, either. I mean, sure, I've got
the schedule in and change the images on the home page and such, but I have yet to actually
watch an entire game this year.
And the regular season is coming to a close.
The Tigers are at the top of the AL Central, with a 46-and-28 record at home and a 40-and-35
record on the road. The Tribe is only a half game back.
Detroit starts the postseason against the Oakland A's on October 4th.
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| 2013.06.05 |
Detroit Sports Nation is reporting that short stop Jhonny Peralta is among
approximately 20 major leaguers mixed up in a banned substances scandal associated with an
anti-aging clinic based in Coral Gables, Florida.
Other players on the list,
including the infamous A-Rod, may see 100-game suspensions for second offenses of the
MLB drug policy.
Links:
"Tigers SS Jhonny Peralta Could Face 50
Game Ban" (Jeff Deacon, Detroit Sports Nation)
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| 2013.05.06 |
I'm not much of a fan this year. I've yet to watch or listen to a game, but I have
been following the Detroit Tigers on Facebook, and am pleased to see far more reports of W's
than L's of late.
The Tigers currently lead the AL Central division at 19-and-11, having gone 9-and-1 over their
last ten games. The Royals — yes, the ROYALS — are a half-game back, with the same 10-and-4 record at home.
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| 2013.03.01 |
Le'Veon Bell, former Spartan running back, is now considered a top NFL prospect
after impressive performance at the NFL combine.
Photo credit: AP
Bell, who led the Big Ten in rushing last year, is considered by ESPN NFL Draft analyst
Todd McShay as "in the top 3 in terms of all around workouts."
Links:
Todd McShay: Former Michigan State Spartan Le'Veon Bell a Top 3 RB after combine performance (mlive.com)
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| 2013.02.13 |
Sparty BROUGHT IT to Breslin last night against the nationally-ranked Wolverines.
Pundits used words like "obliterated", "crushed", and "dominated" to describe the match-up.
It was the first time both teams were rated in the top ten when facing each other.
The Spartans, at the top of the Big Ten, ran away from the Wolverines in the second half —
beating " big brother" by 23 in East Lansing. Sparty is now 21-and-4 overall and
10-and-2 in the conference.
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| 2013.02.12 |
The Detroit Red Wings have improved their record with a few W's — including some
buzzer-beaters — since they figured out the St Louis Blues on February 7th.
The two teams will face off again tomorrow night.
Pity I haven't been able to catch any of the games at home. Fortunately I've found a
bartender at a good pizza/bar who is among the Hockeytown faithful. If the price of
catching a Red Wings game is pizza by the slice...
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| 2013.02.12 |
The Detroit Tigers reported to Spring Training camp yesterday. Pitchers
and catchers have their first workout today.
Baseball is coming!
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| 2013.02.08 |
The Red Wings beat the St Louis Blues on their home ice last night with a 5-to-1
thrashing. Jimmy Howard was given the night off — and let's face it: The Blues have his
number — and was replaced by 20 year-old Petr Mrazek. NHL.com reported that
Mrazek, who played for the Czech Republic at the 2011 World Junior Championships and was
named to the tournament's all-star team, including the top goaltender award, was 16-7-1
for the Red Wings' American Hockey League affiliate in Grand Rapids. He had a 2.26
goals-against average and a .916 save percentage and was a member of the Western
Conference all-star team.
The Red Wings have the night off tonight, and face the Edmonton Oilers tomorrow afternoon.
Links:
"Mrazek to make NHL debut", NHL.com
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| 2013.02.01 |
The Red Wings — victorious in their recent match against the Dallas Stars — will play
the St Louis Blues tonight. The Red Wings have a score to settle with the Blues after their disastrous
season opener, but the Blues, with only one loss this season, have won five straight.
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| 2013.01.26 |
Friday night's match against the Minnesota Wild was a far better experience than
in the previous Red Wings games of the young season. And not just because I was in a bar in Kansas, dressed in a Red Wings
jersey, with a great view of the game from a wide table AND with a few
slices of pizza in my belly. The Red Wings outscored the Wild 5-to-3
to notch another "W".
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| 2013.01.23 |
The Detroit Red Wings lost last night's home opener against the Dallas
Stars. Damien Brunner, who won the shootout victory against the Columbus Blue
Jackets the night before, scored his first NHL goal just before the end of the
third period — preventing the shutout.
The recently retired Tomas Holmstrom was honored before the sellout crowd at
The Joe — he dropped the puck to start the game. He is "the last of five Red Wings
to play on all four of the Stanley Cup teams in the Ilitch era," according to
Bill Roose.
The 1-and-2 Red Wings host the Wild on Friday night.
Links:
"Lehtonen, Stars hold off Red Wings 2-1", redwings.nhl.com
"Holmstrom leaves them laughing", redwings.nhl.com
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| 2013.01.22 |
Jimmy Howard was back in goal and back on top of his game last night
in the Red Wings' showdown against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tied at three
at the end of the 3rd period, the teams exhausted the initial three rounds of
shootout match-ups before Damien Brunner brought home the victory for Hockeytown.
The 1-and-1 Red Wings host the Dallas Stars tonight in their home opener.
Links:
"Red Wings return home to face Stars", nhl.com
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| 2013.01.21 |
It was NOT a good night for the Red Wings or the Hockeytown faithul.
The Red Wings got their pucks kicked in a six point shut-out against the St. Louis
Blues on Saturday night. Red Wings fans who've longed for the return of their boys
to the ice and held out faith for the 2012-13 season probably felt more than a little
betrayed.
Netminder Jimmy Howard took a total of 28 shots, allowing five to get past him, before
he was pulled in the second period. Detroit had no luck getting pucks into the net on
the opposite end of the ice.
Howard and the Red Wings take on the Blue Jackets tonight.
Links:
"Wings look to rebound against Jackets", redwings.nhl.com
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| 2013.01.09 |
ESPN is reporting that Henrik Zetterberg will be named the next captain of the Detroit
Red Wings, replacing the retired Nicklas Lidstrom, who himself replaced Steve Yzerman in 2006.
ESPN is also reporting that Tomas Holmstrom, who turns 40 this month, will officially announce
his retirement this week. Holmstrom played for the Red Wings his entire 1,026 game career.
Links:
"Report: Tomas Holmstrom to retire", ESPN.com
"Source: Henrik Zetterberg to wear 'C'", ESPN.com
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| 2013.01.08 |
TE Dion Sims was the first to announce his intention to skip his senior year at Michigan
State University in favor of 2013 NFL Draft eligibility. Then last Thursday, RB Le'Veon Bell made
a similar announcement a day after Sims' announcement. By Saturday, DE William Gholston followed the pair.
Bell is the third-leading rusher in the nation; Gholston became a starter this year. Sims is ranked
by ESPN as the #4 NFL tight end prospect.
Links:
"Michigan State tight end Dion Sims indicates he's declaring for NFL draft", mlive.com
"Report: MSU's Dion Sims to leave school to pursue NFL career", DetroitNews.com
"MSU RB Le'Veon Bell to enter NFL draft, William Gholston might follow", DetroitNews.com
"Michigan State loses Bell, Sims and Gholson to NFL Draft; open letter to fans (Video)", examiner.com
"DE William Gholston says he'll leave Michigan State for NFL", DetroitNews.com
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| 2013.01.06 |
The National Hockey League and the NHL Players Association struck a tentative agreement
in the pre-dawn hours on Sunday morning, salvaging at least a 48-game regular season for 2012-13. The
framework of a 10-year deal came after some 16 straight hours of talks, and ended 113 days of
negotiation between the owners and the players.
A Senior Managing Editor for NHL.com provided some details:
According to multiple reports, the deal spans 10 years with an out option for either side after eight
years. It also reportedly features a seven-year limit on new player contracts (extended to eight for
players re-signing with their own team).
Additionally, these reports say the sides agreed on a salary cap of $64.3 [million] for the 2013-14 season with
the floor resting at $44 million. For this season, the cap will reportedly be at $70.2 million. To be
able to meet the reduced cap number in 2013-14, each team will be allowed the option of two compliance
buyouts before the start of that season, again according to reports. The buyout money reportedly does
not count against the salary cap of the team buying out the player, rather it is counted against the
players' share of hockey-related revenue.
The new collective bargaining agreement must yet be drafted and formally approved. Players are
expected to vote on a memorandum of understanding containing the details of the deal before
training camps can open in preparation for the season, which is expected to begin January 19th.
Links:
"Lengthy negotion session delivers tentative CBA framework", NHL.com
"League discloses likely starting dates to teams", USA TODAY Sports
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| 2012.12.31 |
The National Hockey League is reporting this morning that the league
and the players are expected to resume talks today after having met yestereday.
During the talks, the league made a new proposal, based in part on the assumption
that games will resume no later than January 19th in order to preserve a 48-game
regular season:
- Contract lengths: The league is offering a cap at 6 years — the same as
was previously reported.
- Buyouts: Citing unspecific "reports", the league "is also proposing a
provision that would allow teams to have the ability for a one-time compliance
buyout prior to the start of the 2013-14 season."
- Variance: The league also "increased the percentage that a players' annual
salary in a multi-year contract can vary year-to-year to 10 percent, up from
the 5 percent in earlier proposals."
The players' association is expected to respond to the owners' 288-page proposal
today.
USA Today Sports writer Kevin Allen anticipates the players' next sticking
point could be the escrow amounts for the second season under the new CBA.
It is at that point the salary cap will drop from $70.2MM down to $60MM.
Multiple reports have cited January 19th as the league's "fiscal cliff" —
beyond that date, a 48-game regular season would not be possible. 48 games
is widely viewed as the minimum required in order to salvage the 2012-13
season. Although January 12th was mentioned as a start date under the
owners' most recent plan, the league has already cancelled all games through
January 14th. All eyes appear to be on January 19th. The Red Wings would lose
one more scheduled game between the 14th and the 19th should that boundary be
pushed.
Links:
"NHL, Union expected to meet again Monday", NHL.com
"NHLPA expected to make counter-proposal on Monday", USA TODAY Sports
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| 2012.12.28 |
The owners' latest offer asks for a six-year
cap on individual contract lengths and maintains a provision for a seventh; the previous
offer was for a five-year cap. The players' last proposal was for an eight-year cap.
"Another major issue is the NHLPA's desire to allow teams to buy out some players'
contracts to help teams to fit more easily under the lower salary cap that would result
by players accepting a reduction in their share of the revenue from 57% to 50%,"
according to Kevin Allen, who writes for USA TODAY Sports. The owners are now willing
to allow one buyout per team before the salary cap drops in the 2013-14 season.
About that 7% income loss: Players currently receive 57% of all hockey-
related revenue; the new percentage will drop to 50-50 — a condition the NHLPA
accepted — with $300MM in deferred payments from the league to soften the blow.
The move on individual contract rights appears to be an olive branch for the NHLPA,
following a vote to dissolve the union. Once that happens, individual players will
be able to sue the league for antitrust violations to declare the lockout illegal.
See Allen's articles for additional details.
Links:
"NHL owners make new labor proposal to players", USA TODAY Sports
"Players overwhelmingly authorize disclaimer move", USA TODAY Sports
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| 2012.12.27 |
The death toll now stands at 625.
On December 20th, The NHL canceled games through January 14th — and with that, the number of canceled games
has surpassed 50% — half of the season is gone.
The following day, NHLPA union members voted 708-22 to authorize the executive board to
authorize a disclaimer of interest. The union is expected to decide just after the new year
whether to reorganize as as trade association and free up players to file antitrust lawsuits.
Links:
"NHL announces cancellation of 2012-13 regular-season schedule through January 14" NHL.com
"NHL Lockout hits triple digits: A daily look back", USA Today Sports
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| 2012.12.17 |
On Friday, the NHL filed a class-action lawsuit against the
players' union in the interest of determining the legality of the lockout. It also filed
charges with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging the NHLPA "has engaged in an
unlawful subversion of the collective bargaining process" in violation of the National
Labor Relations Act.
Here's why this seems important. The NHL article also stated that the league had
"information indicating that NHL Players have or will be asked to vote to authorize
the National Hockey League Players' Association's Executive Board to proceed to
'disclaim interest' in continuing to represent the Players in collective bargaining".
Ryan Lambert, who covers hockey for Yahoo! Sports, suggests that the players'
assertion of disinterest in contining the collective bargaining process is tantamount
to decertification as a player's union. So essentially, the NHLPA asserts they're no
longer a union, the NHL responds by saying, "Fine. If you're not a union, then all
of the existing contracts are null and void."
Lambert also suggests this is a condition no team owner could realistically want —
the idea that every player is now a free agent. It "would be a living hell for any
team with any player who's any good at all." Larmbert makes a compelling argument.
Links:
"NHL files Class Action Complaint in Federal Court, Unfair Labor Practice Charge with NLRB" NHL.com
"What We Learned: Saving NHL from its potential
free-agent apocalypse" Yahoo! Sports
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| 2012.12.13 |
Clearly I've invested too much energy in the whole NHL lockout thing.
After the first round of cancellations, I simply reached into my theme
scheduler and whacked all of the Detroit Red Wings games scheduled through
the cancellation period.
I started to do that again this morning, for the period through December 30th.
But then I decided against just deleting them and instead created a new theme --
the Red Wings-styled "halfgk.com" logo is now grayed out and behind a chain;
the rollver image to the left features the Red Wings' championship flags, also
grayed out, and with an image of the NHL symbol, croosed by chains and a lock,
superimposed. (Image credit for the NHL with chains goes to Jeffrey Reitzes/
SportsNetwork.)
Just my way to show that I'm sorta fed up with the state of things.
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| 2012.12.12 |
If all you wanted for Christmas was the return of pro hockey, don't wait up for Santa
on Christmas Eve.
Although talks between the players' union and the league are scheduled
to resume today, the NHL has cancelled all games through December 30th.
In total, nearly 43% of the season has been scrapped to date — the
death toll stands at 526 games.
Image credit: Jeffrey Reitzes/SportsNetwork
Links:
"NHL announces cancellation of 2012-13 regular season schedule through December 30", NHL.com
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| 2012.12.01 |
Still no love for hockey fans.
On Thursday the NHL cancelled games through December 14th as well as the
Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and the All-Star Weekend after two days of
talks, mediated by federal officials, brought the league and the players'
association no closer to agreement.
Links:
"CBA mediation with League, Union unsuccessful" NHL.com
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| 2012.10.29 |
Well, Tigers, you had a heck of a run this year. Congratulations on
your successful 2012 season and your post-season league championship!!
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| 2012.10.28 |
The National Hockey League has cancelled all regular-season hockey
games through November 30th as a function of the absence of a collective
bargaining agreement between the league and the players' union.
The cancellation effectively wipes out over one-quarter of the season —
a total of 326 regular-season games scheduled between October 11th and
November 30th.
This makes the Red Wings' first season game a 7:00 PM face-off against
the San Jose Sharks on December 1st.
Links:
"NHL cancels November games",
DetroitRedWings.com
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| 2012.10.27 |
I'm pretty much writing it all off. I get neither the time nor opportunity
to actually WATCH football. I think my wife secretly enjoys keeping me from
it. My football exposure over the last several weeks may be summed up thusly:
Me: "Siri, what is the score of the {team name} football game?"
It's just not right.
So I guess I'll either get turned onto Big Ten Basketball or I'll wait for
pro hockey.
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| 2012.10.17 |
Every day lately I've read at least one news article about somebody getting
fired from their job with team such-and-such as a function of their complicity
or participation in organized doping. In at least one case, a rider was offered
two contracts: one for riding (clean) and another, ten times the value of the
former, for riding and participating in the team's EPO program. And today I
read that Nike dropped Lance Armstrong — and Armstrong stepped down from
Livestrong probably to keep it in Nike's good graces. This after Armstrong was
banned from the sport for life and stripped of his seven Tour de France wins.
As a kid I enthusiastically followed the sport. Armstrong at the time was
a new rider on the Motorola Team, joining the likes of Frankie Andreu and
Andy Hampsten. I never raced — the most I've done is an MS-150 — but I've
always admired those who raced and did centuries and stuff. It's tough to
learn that one's heroes really are just as flawed as the rest of us — just
in a more spectacular fashion. And so as Armstrong falls to earth with smouldering
wings, perhaps we find we all got burned.
Links:
"Armstrong Steps Down From Livestrong as Nike Cuts Ties", Bicycling.com
"Bassons: 'People Now See I Wasn't Lying'", Bicycling.com
"RadioShack Says Bruyneel Will No Longer Manage Team", Bicycling.com
"George Hincapie Admits Doping", Bicycling.com
"American Levi Leipheimer Fired for Doping by His Belgian Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team",
Bicycling.com
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| 2012.09.10 |
Although I didn't get to watch their game against the Central Michigan Chippewas,
everything I'm reading points to a much more solid victory than that of their
previous week.
Le'Veon Bell shouldered a lighter load before a record crowd in Mt. Pleasant — in part
because QB Maxwell threw a better game, and hopefully also the rest of the offense
also contributed. Like last week, Bell was credited with two touchdowns — but this
time on about half the carries and a third of the yardage.
Photo credit: Kirthmon F. Dozier/DFP
Sparty is now ranked #11 and is 2-and-0.
Links:
"Michigan St. whips Central Michigan", cbssports.com
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| 2012.09.03 |
I don't mean to be down on the Spartans. It was the first game of the 2012 season, after
all — but I'm not entirely happy with Sparty's win on Friday night.
For starters, MSU appears to have a history of relying on one guy to carry the whole
team. When I was attending, that guy was Tico Duckett. Duckett could always be counted
on to take the handoff and plow ahead for a few yards — each and every play. Today's
Duckett is Le'Veon Bell, who shares the honor of Big Ten Player of the Week with Nebraska
QB Taylor Martinez. To his credit, he put on a clinic — two touchdowns, six receptions,
and 265 total yards. Bell absolutely deserves to be congratulated on his amazing
performance. The problem with that? The rest of the offense didn't even bother to
show up. Tony Lippett couldn't even catch a cold — though it was nice of Sims to stop by
and make a play or two in the fourth quarter.
Photo credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Quarterback Maxwell concerns me. I'm hopeful his performance was simply suffering from
first-game jitters, but he certainly looked like a green Kirk Cousins in this outing —
and that's not a compliment. Cousins wasn't fantastic. The Spartan Nation lived through
season after season of Cousins' poor decision making. Maxwell looked just like him on
Friday night — especially when he got picked off in the red zone, which Cousins did
*all* the time.
Yes, I'm bashing Maxwell. Andrew Henk notes: "After his shaky start in the
first half completing 11-of-22 while throwing three interceptions, Maxwell was 11-of-16
for 145 yards in the second half with no interceptions." It's hard to get intercepted
when your running back is doing all of the heavy lifting.
Links:
"Michigan State Football: Analyzing their miscues in win over Boise State", isportsweb.com
"Le'Veon Bell rushes for 205 yards, scores late touchdown to lead No. 13 Michigan St. over
No. 24 Boise St.", Associated Press
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| 2012.08.30 |
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| 2012.07.30 |
Having dropped their last three, the Tigers needed a win to avoid being
swept by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Pitcher Doug Fister was fantastic, calling on his curveball to strike out six of
nine over eight innings. Shortstop Jhonny Peralta came out on top of a nine-pitch
duel with Brett Cecil in the second inning with his seventh season homer. Peralta
went yard again in the ninth to give Detroit a 4-to-1 victory over the Blue Jays.
My Tigers open a series at Fenway tonight. Scherzer will take the mound against
the AL East Red Sox. Detroit is now 54-and-48, one game back in the AL Central.
Links:
"Fister, Peralta help Tigers halt skid in finale" (MLB.com)
Detroit Tigers Official Website
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| 2012.07.24 |
ESPN reports Mike Tomlin, the youngest NFL coach ever to win the Super Bowl,
has had his contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers extended through the 2016
season.
Tomlin, who reached the playoffs four times (and the Super Bowl twice) in
his first five years with the Steelers, is entering his sixth season as head coach.
Links:
"Mike Tomlin gets contract extension" (ESPN.com)
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