George Foster

Other Opinions George Foster Biggest Surprises in Super Bowl History 1/31/11
For me, the appeal of the Super Bowl is watching the breakout
performer who unexpectedly shines on the biggest sports stage in the
world during the first week of February. Here are the most startling
performances over the years:

Other Opinions George Foster Rich-Rod: U-M’s gift to MSU fans
Thanks for everything, Wolverines.
Last week’s results in Ann Arbor was the best possible scenario for Michigan State supporters (I must disclose my own allegiance to the Almighty Sparty). NCAA sanctions against the University of Michigan and its football coach were lighter than expected and U-M won a game against Illinois that they probably should have lost.
How is this good for MSU supporters, you ask? Look at it this way: if U-M had lost to Illinois and the NCAA had imposed even more infractions against the program, U-M coach Rich Rodriquez would have been fired for sure after this season. He might be history anyway, but now there is a chance Rodriquez might stick around a couple of more seasons. Rodriquez’s continued coaching tenure would ensure mediocre win totals for U-M, promote more squabbling within the Wolverines sports family regarding Rich-Rod’s coaching status and drive more top recruits to MSU.

Other Opinions George Foster As the 2010 World Series winds down, you and I are once again left to
debate that centuries-old dilemma: who really is the greatest baseball
player to ever trod the earth?
Babe Ruth was famous for his power-hitting (and power-living), Ty Cobb
had the best career batting average, and pitcher Cy Young won over 500
games in his long and storied career. We youngsters might put our vote
in for Alex Rodriquez, Barry Bonds, or Roger Clemens.

Other Opinions George Foster Say goodbye to the Bobby Layne curse
If you have been a die-hard Detroit
Lions football fan over the last 50 years (unbelievably, there are a
few of us), don’t bother reading this column.
As for the rest of the football fans out there, I do understand your
skepticism over any mention that the Lions team will be good in our
lifetime – but you are wrong. Beware: if you read further you risk
joining those of us who see bluer skies ahead for Detroit Lions
football – Honolulu blue.

Other Opinions George Foster Worst sports cheats of all time
As the accusations pile up against cyclist Lance Armstrong for using
performance-enhancing drugs, sports fans are left wondering if there
are any modern athletes who have achieved success without banned
drugs.

Other Opinions George Foster Mid-summer sports roundup
Say good-bye to international soccer... again. We will check-in after
another four years, just before the next World Cup. Rats! Many of us
were so-hoping this would be the year Americans caught on to the sport
that the rest of the planet lives for every day.

Sports George Foster Admit it. Landon Donovan’s winning goal in this year’s World Cup game
against Algeria is the catalyst that finally showed you the light. You
have become the latest cynical soccer observer transformed into an
avid fan of the sport. Right?
Donovon’s historic score has blasted soccer past baseball and hockey
in popularity, a little closer to basketball and football in the
American consciousness.

Sports George Foster Keep Galarraga’s ‘perfect game’ imperfect
I hate that X$*#%@ umpire who is obviously blind as a *%$&X# bat. Glad to
get that off my chest.
Yes, Armando Galarraga pitched the greatest game in Tigers’ history last
week and was robbed of a wild celebration that was richly deserved – the
aftermath of a rare perfect game.

Other Opinions George Foster This Week’s Biggest Losers
As fans, why are we always shocked when our sports gods prove to be very
human? The continual reports of cheating, lying, and ill-manners, not to
mention criminal behavior is enough to bring us to the jarring conclusion
that celebrity athletes may not worthy of our worship.

Other Opinions George Foster Why everyone loves Ernie
We always knew that when he passed away, Ernie Harwell would
qualify for sainthood in the state of Michigan.
But let me state a fact up front - Ernie Harwell was not a great
baseball announcer, at least in the modern sense. If you have listened
to Ernie over the decades as much as I, you know he made more than his
share of on-the-air mistakes. Some must have been highly embarrassing
to Harwell.

Other Opinions George Foster Tigers or Pussycats at Comerica Park?
For romantics, the rising temperatures and emerging flowers of spring can
mean only one thing – the return of our greatest love... baseball.
Unfortunately, the 2010 Detroit Tigers team can be boiled down to one
symbol: “?” -- a giant question mark at that.

Random Thoughts George Foster The Sweets Never Stop at Gaylord’s Chocolat Haus
Willie Wonka would feel right at home at the Alpine Chocalat Haus; in
fact, a video of the popular kids’ film is playing on a TV in the
sales room at the business in downtown Gaylord.
And upstairs, there’s a full-scale chocolate factory, pumping out
hundreds of Easter bunnies, chocolate-covered potato chips, and oodles
of other candies. It’s this veritable candyland of treats that earned
the business the honor of “Best Place for Chocolate” from Express
readers this year.

Other Opinions George Foster Playoff Madness Heats Up
As we reach the home stretch of the college basketball season,
Michigan State’s team is even more of an enigma than usual. Recent
disciplinary actions taken against several
Spartans’ players and an ankle injury to star guard Kalin Lucas have
left MSU fans wondering how good this team COULD have been.
Will they get knocked off early in the NCAA tournament or surprise
their detractors with another run to the championship?

Other Opinions George Foster Rich Rod: still standing... barely
When the NCAA charged that the
University of Michigan football program has violated rules since 2008,
Rich Rodriquez (Rich Rod) took one more body blow in his fight to keep
his job as U of M’s head coach.

Other Opinions George Foster Best of the Olympics
As the 2010 Winter Olympiad begins in Vancouver, I’m praying for the spirit of brotherhood, good sportsmanship and medal-winning performances by all participants – as long as they are Americans. As a person who isn’t crazy about war and constant flag-waving, my rabid patriotism rears its head during any Olympics competition.
In reverse order, the following are the most memorable moments by U.S. athletes in the Winter Olympics history - ever.
(5) Eddie Eagen – bobsledding. After winning as a bobsledder for the U.S. in 1932, Eagen is still the only athlete in history to have won a gold medal in both the Winter and Summer Olympics. He had also won the gold in boxing, of all things, in the 1920 Summer Games.