Sportsbeat: Hoopsters to fight cancer

by Peter Lakey

In the spirit of camaraderie and finding a cure, the Rogers City and Posen basketball teams are teaming up for a Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser with proceeds to benefit the American Cancer Society (ACS). Posen boys? head coach Steve Hentkowski has been getting the word out about the first-ever event, which will culminate with the back-to-back home games in Posen, Dec. 28 and 29. The games between Rogers City and Posen have traditionally been very competitive, and bring in a lot of folks.

Hentkowski wants to bring awareness about the different cancers, and that healthy living is one way to try and stave off the disease. During the girls? game Dec. 28, Posen players and fans are encouraged to wear pink for breast cancer awareness, while Rogers City (RC) fans are encouraged to wear orange for leukemia awareness. Hurons players also may wear pink socks. Hentkowski said awareness is three-pronged: breast cancer, Leukemia and Friends Together Support Group of Alpena. The following night, the Posen boys and fans are supposed to wear lavender for cancer awareness, while RC will again wear orange. Donations will be made to the ACS. A special box will be made available at the gate.

As ridiculous as it sounds, the first college football pre-season poll is out for next year, but it is the first one, so I thought we?d take a look at

it and let you know where Michigan and Michigan State rank. Number one is the Oklahoma Sooners. Out of the Big Ten in the top 10 is the team from Columbus, whose name I cannot bring myself to mention. Don?t want to spoil my Christmas. Anyway, the scarlet and grey is No. 5. The second highest rated team from the Big Ten is Michigan State, despite the players they are going to lose. Wisconsin is 13th, while the newest school to join the conference, Nebraska, is 15th. Michigan is at 24. This is from the Web site nationalchamps.net. I heard about the poll on all-sports talk radio station The Ticket, Detroit.

I?m glad to see the Lions end their 26-game losing streak before the end of the season. ?It?s over,? I said, lifting my fists in the air in my living room when they won Sunday in overtime against Tampa Bay. Then I spent five minutes explaining to my wife what was over. Kind of spoiled the moment. In a way, I almost wish the season would end today, because it would send the team into the off-season on a positive note. The coaching staff has done a fine job with quarterback Drew Stanton, and has found a way to beat teams fighting for their playoff lives, with several key starters out. If they go belly up in the final two games, it?ll leave a sour feeling in everyone?s mouths.

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