By George B. Eichorn
Michigan Wolverines go 13-0 for the first time in football program history winning their second straight Big Ten title and second straight over Ohio State. They end 2022 with a loss in the CFP semifinals, 51-45, to the TCU Horned Frogs in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.
“Tunnelgate” at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor as the Wolverine players are attacked by Michigan State
Spartan players following UM’s win over MSU. Charges are pressed against seven Spartans by the
county prosecutor.
Detroit Lions do an about-face going from 1-6 to 8-8 in the 2022 regular season. Coach Dan Campbell is
applauded by players, fans and media for his candidness and a resurgence of the offense – under
coordinator Scott Johnson – lead by QB Jared Goff, RB Jamaal Williams, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and
Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow. The defense improved with rookies DL Aidan Hutchinson and James
Houston, LB Malcom Rodriguez and safety Kerby Joseph.
Detroit Tigers DH Miguel Cabrera singled against Colorado for hit No. 3,000 and a likely ticket to
Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame. Yet his team was a major loser as they limped home with a
66-96 (.407) record and next to last in the AL Central Division.
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games with its record 109 events features these Michigan connections
who won medals: Evan Bates, Nick Baumgartner, Madison Chock, Zachary Donohue, Sergei Fedorov,
Valteri Filppula, Madison Hubbell, Tomas Jurco, Megan Keller, Elana Meyers Taylor and Abby Rogue.
The Red Wings show promise under new head coach Derek Lalonde, completing 2022 with a 16-12-7
record, good for 39 points and fourth place in the NHL Atlantic Division. Earlier, defenseman Moritz
Seider won the coveted Calder Trophy as the 2021-22 season rookie of the year.
The Pistons rebuild continues as they miss the playoffs again in the spring. The 2022-23 isn’t much better
as star guard Cade Cunningham goes down with a shin injury that requires surgery and sidelines him for
the new season.
Tom Izzo becomes the winningest head coach in Big Ten history as he surpasses Bob Knight (Indiana).
MSU would make its 24 th consecutive NCAA Tournament as the No. 7 seed in the West Region. MSU lost
to Duke in the second round.
UM basketball was given a No. 11 seed in the South Region. They defeated Colorado State and
Tennessee before losing to Villanova in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
The final Detroit Grand Prix race on Belle Isle is held last June with Alexander Rossi taking the IndyCar
Series checkered flag. In 2023, the race shifts to downtown Detroit for the first time in 32 years featuring a
new course along Atwater, Jefferson and the Renaissance Center.
Kevin Harvick of Stewart-Haas Racing takes the NASCAR FireKeepers Casino 400 race at Michigan
International Speedway in Brooklyn.
Tony Finau of the U.S. wins the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club by five strokes over Patrick
Cantlay, Taylor Pendrith and Cameron Young. Finau wins a $1.512 million first-place check.
Eastern Michigan Eagles win their first college football bowl game in 35 years, 41-27 over San Jose State
in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise.
DEATHS: Bob Ackerman III, Frank Beckmann, Dan Belisle, Gilles Boisvert, Marlin Biscoe, Pete Burnside,
James Caan, Wayne Cooper, Pat Day, Art (Pinky) Deras, Ken Devine, Bill Dondo, Robert Dozier, Johnny
Egan, Mike Fanning, Rockne Freitas, John Gamble, Gene Guidi, John Hadl, Dave Herman, Fred
Hickman, Larry Hillman, Specs Howard, Larry Jeffrey, Demetrious Johnson, Gene Kenney, Bob Lanier,
Fred Lasher, Sara Lee, Calvin Magee, Cyrus Mann, Tom Matchik, Jerry Matthews, Hugh McElhenny Jr.,
John McVay, Bob Miller, Gary Moeller, Jim Niekamp, Willie Norwood, Dan Owens, Stan Parrish, Adreian
Payne, Carter Payne, Fred Reed, Raymond Rolak, Doug Ross, Borje Salming, Kevin Schamehorn, Gene
Shue, Shirley Spork, Joe Staton, Chuck Stobart, Tom Urbani, Jerry Vanisi, Jim Van Pelt, Dick Versace,
Gene Visscher, William White, Dave Wickersham, Frank Wiecek, John Wockenfuss, Charles Wolf.
Reach George Eichorn at [email protected] or @Sandgsports99 on Twitter.
