http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/A Sports Blog by Mike Mattson of the Muskegon Chronicle.enSat, 31 Jan 2009 20:21:24 PSTMovable Type Enterprise 4.29-advance http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/noA Sports Blog by Mike Mattson of the Muskegon Chronicle.gotmikehttp://feedburner.google.comhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/L01LeHvMFyo/you_cant_beat_the_small_gyms.htmlHigh School Sportsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:21:24 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/gotmike//3296.2138256 ]]>No offense to the area schools with big spacious gymnasiums, but I prefer the atmosphere of the small gyms. For example, take Muskegon Catholic's Ray Cioe Gymnasium. I covered the Crusaders' games there the last two Friday nights and the...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2009/01/you_cant_beat_the_small_gyms.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/sks08rhTpDw/aurich_plays_for_national_titl.htmlHigh School Sportsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:29:49 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.1876462 ]]>The Muskegon area just concluded an incredible football season with four state champions -- Muskegon, Muskegon Catholic, Oakridge and Montague. But there's another area football story that's also impressive involving Spring Lake's AurichRobbie Aurich. Remember Robbie? He's the former four-year...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/12/aurich_plays_for_national_titl.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/Fe5LEXj699U/let_the_um_msu_banter_continue.htmlmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:50:09 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.1671921 ]]>I've sat on the sidelines reading and listening to the Michigan State-Michigan football banter this fall. Maybe this is a good time for me to get in the ring. While cleaning the garage this afternoon, I stumbled upon one of...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/10/let_the_um_msu_banter_continue.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/libF11Dxo-g/big_red_power_impressive.htmlHigh School Sportsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:40:37 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.1634694 ]]>I still can't believe how Muskegon spanked Rockford 34-6 in Friday's O-K Red Conference football showdown. Believe me, if the Big Reds play like that in the rest of their games, they will be hauling a state championship trophy back...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/10/big_red_power_impressive.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/hYoPNdhF1LM/muskegonrockford_showdown_arri.htmlHigh School Sportsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:35:31 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.1597647 ]]>Muskegon and Rockford -- two unbeaten teams that could give the University of Michigan fits -- are set to decide the O-K Red Conference title on Friday night. The winner will secure at least a share of the league title....http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/10/muskegonrockford_showdown_arri.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/N8knoEuGl9U/dont_forget_about_green_bay_ro.htmlBreaking Newsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:57:02 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.1471588 ]]>I see on the blog next door, my co-worker Troy Ruel has no love for the defending NFC North Division champion Green Bay Packers. For some reason, Troy is giddy about the Minnesota Vikings winning the division. I'm not sure...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/09/dont_forget_about_green_bay_ro.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/NFHhe1WD8lQ/cant_beat_college_football.htmlBreaking Newsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:37:53 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.1381604 ]]>Did we all survive the Labor Day weekend? I managed to put a dent in a few household chores and enjoy some of the great weather in West Michigan. I also managed to watch college football on the television. You...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/09/cant_beat_college_football.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/NNzbdF2TGSw/nothing_wrong_with_pudge_trade.htmlBreaking Newsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:21:01 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.1242658 ]]>It seems many people I talk to are not happy about Pudge Rodriguez being traded to the Yankees for reliever Kyle Farnsworth. It's understandable since Pudge has been the face of the Tigers' organization the last five years. Pudge came...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/08/nothing_wrong_with_pudge_trade.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/DC5pBjcpcao/mr_baseball_award_needs_a_focu.htmlHigh School Sportsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:22:30 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.1099781 ]]>I still don't understand why the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association honors two players (and sometimes two from the same team) for the Mr. Baseball Award. This makes no sense. This season, the Mount Pleasant duo of William Arnold...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/06/mr_baseball_award_needs_a_focu.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/o4kHAbBb4Z0/roll_the_dice_with_picard.htmlHigh School Sportsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:12:20 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.1069712 ]]>GRAND RAPIDS - If there's one thing North Muskegon's Mark Picard enjoys as much as baseball, it's poker. Picard, nicknamed "The Dealer,'' enjoys playing for big pots. He enjoys taking some coinage from his friends at the table. And he...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/06/roll_the_dice_with_picard.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/5A2uDpEbh7s/district_baseball_heats_up.htmlHigh School Sportsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Thu, 29 May 2008 19:30:38 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.1030756 ]]>May Madness has arrived for high school baseball teams. Tuesday's predistricts produced a few surprises as the four-team district tournaments were finalized for Saturday. What happened to White Cloud? What happened to Holland Christian? What happened to Grand Rapids West...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/05/district_baseball_heats_up.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/lcvJ8MD7HSU/vapor_trails_for_nichol.htmlBreaking Newsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Mon, 19 May 2008 10:09:48 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.995445 ]]> It's my turn to opine about former Lowell quarterback Keith Nichol and his transfer from Oklahoma. Who could blame Nichol for leaving a vapor trail from Norman, Okla. to Lowell after his last final exam? Nichol failed to secure...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/05/vapor_trails_for_nichol.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/SCv0NCYW934/jayhawks_make_history_in_baseb.htmlBreaking Newsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Sun, 04 May 2008 15:07:29 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.948050 ]]>Yard work or Muskegon Community College baseball -- those were my choices on Sunday afternoon. I opted for baseball and witnessed history. Andrew Bard's bases-loaded RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Kevin Dore as the host...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/05/jayhawks_make_history_in_baseb.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/m-ch8pBhvVs/time_to_roll_again_after_vacat.htmlBreaking Newsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:35:10 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.884505 ]]>Ramblings after a super week of vacation in Mexico: • It looks like the Tigers took a week of vacation, too, while I was away. They had "cero'' wins for most of the week. Maybe Curtis Granderson should be the...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/04/time_to_roll_again_after_vacat.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/i_zt0-wHdzY/well_miss_bruce_a_true_tigers.htmlBreaking Newsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:10:37 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.828618 ]]>Muskegon is home to many loyal Detroit Tigers fans. But, honestly, is there a bigger fan in town than Bruce Ulfsax? As many of you know, Bruce died last Thursday in Lakeland, Fla., the Tigers' spring training home. Bruce was...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/03/well_miss_bruce_a_true_tigers.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/tOQL9Flo5cM/bruinsma_sparks_warriors_victo.htmlHigh School Sportsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:05:42 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.801200 ]]>EAST LANSING - Nate Bruinsma hardly looks the part of an all-state basketball player. He's a slender 6-4, 175 pounds with long arms and skinny legs. Put him in street clothes and you'd never peg him as the one to...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/03/bruinsma_sparks_warriors_victo.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/JXDDLl0ppz0/wm_christian_set_for_topranked.htmlHigh School Sportsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:17:45 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.797139 ]]>By Mike Mattson mmattson@muskegonchronicle.com Some basketball squads might be intimidated to play the top-ranked team in the state. Not Western Michigan Christian. The Warriors are anxious to see how they stack up against No. 1 Cedarville in Thursday's Class D...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/03/wm_christian_set_for_topranked.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/zj8CuFvb4Q4/muskegon_quarterfinal_site_is.htmlHigh School Sportsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:12:09 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.781694 ]]>OK, it's my turn to vent about MHSAA tournament basketball sites. Why must Muskegon play its boys quarterfinal basketball game on Tuesday at Lansing Eastern High School? The opponent is East Lansing, which is located on the east side of...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/03/muskegon_quarterfinal_site_is.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/28Qp_H4sDXs/is_it_time_to_seed_district_ba.htmlHigh School Sportsmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:35:29 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.722755 ]]>Mona Shores and Grand Haven played one of the best basketball games in the area this season -- boys or girls -- on Wednesday night. Grand Haven prevailed 40-37 in double overtime of the Class A district girls semifinal at...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/02/is_it_time_to_seed_district_ba.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gotmike/~3/fsRA_wNXYCI/will_the_real_pinocchio_please.htmlmmattson@muskegonchronicle.com (Mike Mattson)Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:16:00 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/gotmike//3296.706703 ]]>How about that Roger Clemens-Brian McNamee showdown Wednesday on Capitol Hill? It's good to see our elected officials getting to the bottom of a major problem in our country -- famous shady baseball pitcher allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs to get...http://blog.mlive.com/gotmike/2008/02/will_the_real_pinocchio_please.htmlnonadult