By George Eichorn
DETROIT / MICHIGAN
1. Detroit Lions win their first division title in 30 seasons. Coach Dan Campbell’s team is 11-5 as 2023 drew to its close – winning the NFC North after taking down defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City to start the season.
2. University of Michigan overcomes obstacles to win its third consecutive Big 10 titles. Coach Jim Harbaugh is suspended three games by the university and three more by the Big 10 in a sign-stealing scandal. U-M went undefeated and played (and defeated) Alabama in the CFP National Championship semi-final at the Rose Bowl.
3. MSU football coach Mel Tucker is fired by the school. Allegations of sexual harassment with a domestic-violence expert rocked the East Lansing campus. The season ended 4-8 and John Smith of Oregon State was hired in Tucker’s place.
4. Miguel Cabrera receives a hero’s goodbye at a sold-out Comerica Park. He helped the club play winning baseball after July1. The Tigers finished second to Minnesota in the AL Central. Miggy took a part-time position in the Tigers front office.
5. Detroit Pistons set a franchise record and NBA record for most consecutive losses in a full season at 28 games. They finally ended the streak with a 129-127 win over Toronto at Little Caesars Arena.
6. Pistons hire Monty Williams (ex Phoenix coach) as head coach for reportedly $78.5 million for the next six years after Dwane Casey takes a front office position.
7. MSU Spartans make the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for a 25th straight season only to lose as a no. 7 seed to no. 3 seed Kansas State, 98-93, in the Sweet Sixteen at Madison Square Garden.
8. Red Wings miss the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs for the 7th consecutive season.GM Steve Yzerman trades for all-star Alex DeBrincat and signs free agents Patrick Kane, Alex Ryan, James Reimer, J.T. Compher, Jeff Petry, Daniel Sprong and Shayne Gostisbehere among others. Detroit sits 17-16-4 at the completion of 2023.
9. Juwan Howard of U-M men’s hoops suffers through an 18-16 record (11-9 Big Ten) and undergoes heart surgery.
10. (tie) Detroit Grand Prix returns to downtown for the first time since 1991 – leaving Belle Isle’s road course for a new street course which features racing on Jefferson, Atwater, Franklin and Rivard. Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing won the IndyCar race.
10. (tie) Antoine Davis of the University of Detroit Mercy finishes with a school and Horizon League record 3,664 points, just three points shy of the all-time scoring record held by Pete Maravich.
DEATHS: Stan Aldridge, Maxie Baughan, Bobby Baun, Lance Blanks, Henry Boucha, Art Brandstatter Jr., Roger Brown, Ed Budde, Demetrius Calip, Ken Calvert, Nate Colbert, Wayne Comer, Roger Craig, Terry Dischinger, Dan Dobbek, Robert Dorogi, Dick Drago, Ed Flanagan, Dan Follis, Chris Ford, Tom Ford, Larry Foster, John Fountain, George Fox, Trevor Francis, Gilles Gilbert, Jerry Green, Johnny Green, Dick Groat, Gerry Hart, D.J. Hayden, Ray Herbert, Willie Hernandez, Vern Holtgrave, Frank Howard, Dean Howe, Mike Ivie, Earvin Johnson Sr., Steve Junker, Mike Kadish, Petr Klima, Ryan Mallett, Brendan Malone, Ginger Mason, Wayne Maxner, Terry McDermott, Don McIlhenny, Eric Montross, Chris Mundry, Weldy Olson, Bob Perryman, Jim Price, Dennis Ribant, Dr. Donna Rockwell, Ed Sandford, Phil Sellers, Don Shane, Vic Stasiak, Denny Stolz, Tom Strobl, Vince Tobin, Jerry Turner, Stanley Wilson, Rick Wolff, Audrey Zielinski.
Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com or @Sandgsports99 on X (formerly Twitter).
