http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/A Sports Blog by Ron Rop of the Muskegon Chronicle.enTue, 28 Oct 2008 10:29:23 PDTMovable Type Enterprise 1.52 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/noA Sports Blog by Ron Rop of the Muskegon Chronicle.ropsrantshttp://feedburner.google.comhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/OB0R6QuOuog/jacks_slow_starts_troublesome.htmlMuskegon LumberjacksRon Rop| Muskegon ChronicleTue, 28 Oct 2008 10:29:23 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1675031 ]]>You can find statistics on just about anything you want nowadays. Through three games, the Muskegon Lumberjacks have won two, both at home, and lost one on the road....http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/10/jacks_slow_starts_troublesome.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/OyqKyEGo1R0/time_to_celebrate_lion_fans.htmlLions footballRon Rop| Muskegon ChronicleSat, 18 Oct 2008 19:50:19 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1628471 ]]>Hey Detroit Lions fans, here is your chance to celebrate the team's recent preseason championship. It's a Honolulu blue t-shirt and while it doesn't specifically say "Detroit Lions" on it anywhere, it's obviously referring to the worst franchise in the...http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/10/time_to_celebrate_lion_fans.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/aAtmhSGxUYQ/gutless_officials_cost_lions.htmlLions footballRon Rop| Muskegon ChronicleMon, 13 Oct 2008 05:54:30 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1596946 ]]>I need to get a couple of things out in the open right off the bat. * I have been a Detroit Lions fan all my life and they haven't won much of anything during my recollection of Lions' football....http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/10/gutless_officials_cost_lions.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/YSWMSIJZWXs/abdelkader_gaining_foothold_wi.htmlHockeyRon RopFri, 19 Sep 2008 04:41:16 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1465275 ]]>I headed to Traverse City last weekend intent on watching my son play soccer with the Muskegon Lakers. But a day before I left, I found out Muskegon's Justin Abdelkader would be skating with the Detroit Red Wings prospects in...http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/09/abdelkader_gaining_foothold_wi.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/SEAgS3Uk82U/its_early_but_lets_break_down_fury_roster.htmlMuskegon LumberjacksRon RopThu, 11 Sep 2008 03:07:49 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1436489 ]]>With the start of the Muskegon Fury's training camp less than a month away, it's a good time to break down the roster. For now, we'll break down the Fury's offense, defense, goaltending, toughness and coaching. Of course, it's early...http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/09/its_early_but_lets_break_down_fury_roster.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/tSJ81-enD6o/us_swimmers_show_their_heart_i.htmlRon RopMon, 11 Aug 2008 08:37:11 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1277096 ]]>I've watched a good share of the Olympics over the weekend. I've seen some great performances already, but I don't know how anything can top the men's 4x100 swimming relay that aired live Sunday night (Monday morning in Beijing). I...http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/08/us_swimmers_show_their_heart_i.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/HHTTyJl2eFQ/ramsay_right_for_fury.htmlMuskegon LumberjacksRon RopFri, 08 Aug 2008 08:28:25 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1269232 ]]>Some Muskegon Fury fans were calling for the firing of Coach Bruce Ramsay late last season. It didn't happen and it's not going to happen, at least for the time being. Ramsay signed a new contract to remain the Fury's...http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/08/ramsay_right_for_fury.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/bE9oaSnVgng/baird_family_needs_prayers_dur.htmlRon RopThu, 31 Jul 2008 17:03:44 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1240664 ]]>I have never had the opportunity to meet Jason Baird. He's the tough winger the Fury signed several weeks ago. Thoughts of having a guy come to town who could not only score goals, but wreak havoc on the ice...http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/07/baird_family_needs_prayers_dur.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/1qX5c2Szb8M/its_early_but_fury_on_right_tr.htmlRon RopMon, 07 Jul 2008 07:03:39 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1154516 ]]>From what I've seen and what I've heard, the Muskegon Fury are back on track. Last year was a disappointment for the Fury, who lost to the eventual Turner Cup champions in the opening round of the playoffs. But already,...http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/07/its_early_but_fury_on_right_tr.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/8wlnNUm71Ow/without.htmlGolfRon RopThu, 19 Jun 2008 08:28:32 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1098772 ]]>I recently got into a discussion with a co-worker regarding the stature of Tiger Woods in professional golf. I contend he's portrayed as being bigger than the game of golf, and with this latest news that he's out for the...http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/06/without.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/NE_wEOj4Y4g/fury_close_to_signing_first_pl.htmlMuskegon LumberjacksRon RopMon, 09 Jun 2008 09:15:41 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1062815 ]]>Muskegon Fury general manager Tim Taylor has been a busy man in the last week or so. He's close to selling his home in the Quad City area, close to buying a new home in the Muskegon area and he's...http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/06/fury_close_to_signing_first_pl.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/1EBFfkSpUoE/thoughts_from_a_great_stanley.htmlHockeyRon RopThu, 05 Jun 2008 05:50:03 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1050271 ]]>I'm not sure this Stanley Cup series between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins can be labeled an instant classic, but if not, it wasn't far off. With a series pitting the talented, experienced Wings against the talented, youthful...http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/06/thoughts_from_a_great_stanley.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/zeffVLWYdXU/sleep_not_when_wings_are_battl.htmlHockeyRon RopWed, 04 Jun 2008 03:39:31 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1044627 ]]>I was a bit groggy when I crawled out of bed Tuesday morning. Triple overtime hockey games that approach 1 a.m. have a way of doing that even to the most diehard Detroit Red Wings fans. Looking back, I really...http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/06/sleep_not_when_wings_are_battl.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/VsoivL3F5W0/wings_in_five_or_six.htmlHockeyRon RopThu, 29 May 2008 10:14:25 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.1028908 ]]>You didn't think for a second the Pittsburgh Penguins were just going to hand over the Stanley Cup did you? The Detroit Red Wings were very impressive in winning the first two games with shutouts over the young and highly...http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/05/wings_in_five_or_six.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ropsrants/~3/pNDm4db1Rfg/komets_crowned_champions.htmlMuskegon LumberjacksRon RopTue, 13 May 2008 07:15:19 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/ropsrants//3297.974956 ]]>The Fort Wayne Komets were capable of one more three-game winning streak in the International Hockey League's Turner Cup finals. However, the Komets faced the intense pressure of being down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series to the Port Huron IceHawks,...http://blog.mlive.com/ropsrants/2008/05/komets_crowned_champions.htmlnonadult