Ex-MAC rivals Cody Wilson, Alex Carder find common ground in bid to make Lions

The ball floated into Wilson’s hands like it was dropped from heaven. The play melted away a bitter rivalry between Western Michigan and Central Michigan because the ball was delivered by Alex Carder, who spent the last five seasons trying to beat Central.

Detroit Western still pushing for pinnacle in baseball

Western will go for its sixth straight Detroit Public School League title against Detroit King at 7 p.m. Monday at Comerica Park. The goal is to become the first PSL team to reach a state final since 1972, when Western lost to Royal Oak Kimball, 3-1, in the Class A final.

Red Wings get under the Blackhawks' skin -- and right back in the series

They found their legs. And then they used them. Again and again, shift after shift, the Red Wings did, pulling together until they’d pulled even, skating away with Game 2 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

• Photos: Red Wings 4, Blackhawks 1 -- Game 2

This is why the Tigers refused to dump Rick Porcello in a trade

Porcello has had one bad start in 2013. He has four consecutive quality starts (six innings or more, three or fewer earned runs allowed) after winning Friday night’s pitching fest that saw the Tigers tip the Rangers, 2-1.

10 players Tigers would love to have on draft day

College pitchers, ideally, are on the Tigers’ menu since they could be staring at a rotation hole if Max Scherzer follows the customary advice of agent Scott Boras and tries out free agency following the 2014 season.

Red Wings flip a switch, come to life in Game 2

Game 2 made it clear the Blackhawks do not walk on water. It also proved the Red Wings still can skate like mad on it, frozen. It is far easier for coaches and players, who are doing the doing in the playoffs, to remain calm and optimistic.

• Photos: Red Wings 4, Blackhawks 1 -- Game 2

After a little rest, don’t count Red Wings out yet

Oh, the Red Wings are outmanned, and it was evident in Wednesday night’s 4-1 loss. But after practicing at Joe Louis Arena on Friday before hopping on the plane back to Chicago, the Red Wings better understood the task, and felt better equipped to handle it.

• Photos: Red Wings practice ahead of Game 2

Red Wings not alarmed by third-period struggles

So far in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, third periods are not the Red Wings’ best phase. The Blackhawks and Ducks have outscored them, 15-5. But how much does it matter, and is there a specific cause?

• Photos: Red Wings practice ahead of Game 2

Blackhawks taking aim at greatness

Recent history suggests they can’t. The salary cap is designed so they won’t. But that won’t stop the Blackhawks from trying to become the kind of team that dominates the NHL in a way the Red Wings and Devils did for long stretches of the last two decades.

Detroit Tigers won’t be the same until Justin Verlander is winning again

Verlander hasn’t been himself in his last two starts. Should you worry? Of course, you should. But choose the right reason to do it. Let’s discard this reason first: His health.

Red Wings' Mule is in need of a kick-start

Somebody better kick the Mule again. And they’d better do it while the Red Wings are still alive and kicking because they’re probably not going to be for long if they don’t get something more out of Johan Franzen in the Western Conference semifinals against the Blackhawks.

• Photos: Red Wings and Stanley through the years
• Interactive: Red Wings vs. Blackhawks: matchups, key players

Talented Jalen Brunson has star heritage; U-M among schools taking notice

Over the first six weeks of the AAU season one of the hottest names on the circuit has been Jalen Brunson, a point guard from Des Plaines (Ill.) Stevenson. The 6-0, 170-pound sophomore has impressed while playing with the talent-rich AAU club Mac Irvin Fire.

Hard-hitting Ohio LB Chris Frey ‘totally sold’ on Michigan State

If you had to build a Mark Dantonio recruit from scratch, he would probably end up pretty close to Chris Frey, the newest prospect to verbally commit to the Spartans in the 2014 class.

Michigan's Trey Burke ready for NBA with help from trusted allies

The consensus national player of the year announced he was turning pro last month, and last week the point guard announced he was bypassing more high-profile ...

Long shot Matt Tuiasosopo proving his value to Tigers

How good has reserve outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo been for the Tigers? Minutes after the Tigers’ 7-5 loss to the Astros Thursday, angry Tiger fans were ...

Miguel Cabrera blast more evidence Comerica needs added charm, less space

The reason Tiger Stadium had succeeded in becoming a baseball treasure was because, in the manner of the game’s hoary venues, it was built in a certain spirit. ...

Jimmy Howard can't bail out Red Wings in opener

This one was hardly Howard’s fault. For nearly 50 minutes, he was about the only reason the Wings still had a chance to steal an early series lead, or at least ...

After furious start, Red Wings' game fizzles

Missing utterly from the Red Wings’ execution was the forecheck, forwards supporting defense, defense moving the puck well and taking care of it and easy ...

Red Wings revel in underdog role against favored Blackhawks

Now the task is to beat the Red Wings, beginning with Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday at the United Center. And that’s something this ...

Red Wings F Justin Abdelkader advances into vital role

At the beginning of March, the question to coach Mike Babcock was: Why are you playing Abdelkader with Pavel Datsyuk? By the end of the first week in May, it ...

Torii Hunter has ended Tigers’ right-field anxieties

Hunter turns 38 in July and is not as fleet as he was in his Twins heyday. But the lost step is not why he sticks in right field as the Tigers deal with ...

Whether Drew Smyly belongs in Tigers’ bullpen or rotation comes down to leverage

One common refrain states Drew Smyly is too valuable in the Tigers’ bullpen to even think about moving him into the starting rotation in place of Rick Porcello. ...

Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard is up for the challenge against Blackhawks

Normally, one playoff series doesn’t define a team or validate a plan. But this isn’t a normal season, and the Red Wings just won their most important series ...

Wings won't be intimidated if Blackhawks try to be bullies

The Red Wings play on. After upsetting the Ducks, they play the Blackhawks, who finished with the best record in the NHL. Beating Chicago in Round 2 would be a ...

Henrik Zetterberg’s determination, Mike Babcock’s moves help Wings advance

With one-third of their roster playing in their first Stanley Cup playoffs, the Red Wings accomplished Sunday what eluded them last season, when the great ...

Walled Lake Central athletes star in field events

Ask Ned Stojkovic about Walled Lake Central's success and he will tell you it’s about technique. That’s the short answer, but it takes more than the proper ...

Red Wings' steely resolve belies their youth; Blackhawks up next

The Wings rolled into Anaheim and knocked off the second-seeded Ducks 3-2 Sunday night in Game 7 to advance to the second round, where the Blackhawks await. ...

Wings-Ducks series has been good to the last gasp

Did the Wings and Ducks play seven games of aesthetically scintillating hockey? No. But they played one of the tightest series imaginable, more tightly ...