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 1.52 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 SportsMike Mattson | The Muskegon ChronicleSat, 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 SportsMike MattsonMon, 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.htmlMike MattsonMon, 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 SportsMike MattsonMon, 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 SportsMike MattsonMon, 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 NewsMike MattsonTue, 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 Newsmike MattsonTue, 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 NewsMike MattsonFri, 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 SportsMike MattsonThu, 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 SportsMike MattsonTue, 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 SportsMike MattsonThu, 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 NewsMike MattsonMon, 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 NewsMike MattsonSun, 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 NewsMike MattsonTue, 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 NewsMike MattsonTue, 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.htmlnonadult