SECTION C


August 18-24, 2010 In the Game By Leland Stein III


Will Pistons come back home?


I must be in the midst of a Cinderella fairy tale.


Can it really be true that the Detroit Pistons have, at last, an opportunity to come back home?


Sure The Palace of Auburn Hills has supported


the Pistons at a high level and is still one of the pre- mier arenas in the country. However, the new mar- ketable sports entertainment model for cities calls for them to have walkable entertainment around its stadiums or arenas.


San Antonio and Indianapolis, both mid-level


sized cities, have pioneered this concept and each has positioned itself as players on the national and international bi g -mone y s p o r t s scene.


W h e n


the likable. Bill Davison died and his wife, Karen, made


it


known she has no real interest in keeping the team he left to her, talk has been building con- cerning the plight of the Pistons.


Up steps Mike Ilitch


Mike Ilitch and his family to fi- nally take the lead in the procurement of the Pis- tons. Every since the De-


troit Shock - one the most successful franchises in WNBA history (winning three titles), was sold and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, many have wondered if the Pistons were next.


Recently in a conference call with the local


media, Ilitch confirmed that he has indeed started an initial inquiry into the possible procurement of the three-time NBA champion Pistons.


“Marian and I grew up here,” said Mike Ilitch. “We


raised our family here and we built our businesses here. Detroit is our home. When I read in the paper there was the chance that this great sports town could lose one of its professional sports franchis- es, I just didn’t see how we could let that happen.


“We talked about it internally, and when you


take our 33 years of experience in professional sports, our commitment to this community, our passion for winning and pursuing championships, and you couple that with the opportunity to have a local, engaged owner for the Pistons, we decided to take a run at it. We believe we could bring a lot to the table that could be tremendously positive for the Pistons franchise, the NBA and the fans of this community.”


aughter of Gregory Averyhardt and Maria spinoza Averyhardt and was a bundle of joy. hasta Cheynae Averyhardt was bright and nergetic and by seven years old, it was mewhat obvious that she had athletic talent.


the Pistons playing at least ten homes games in De- troit every year. The Red Wings, Lions and Tigers all play downtown and have proven that if a fran- chise puts a quality product on display people will support it.


largest city and its entertainment hub. No matter that many are trying very hard to separate the city and it suburban brothers and sisters. The health of the city reflects on the entire state.


Detroit has already proven that the majority of


he was feisty and not willing to let any one boss er around. At about eight years old she would o with her dad to the golf ball driving range and atch him hit golf balls.Well too no surprise her


it populace is kind and caring and those that seek trouble are in the minority. Our recent hosting of the Super Bowl, MLB All-Star Weekend and NCAA Final Four has shown the nation that the Motor City is gracious and knows how to host major sports en- tertainment events.


Ilitch, who presides over a financial empire


that includes Little Ceasars Pizza, the Red Wings, the Tigers and entertainment holdings all head- quartered in downtown Detroit, would be the first person to own three major sports franchises in one city. If anyone could do it is Mr. Ilitch.


Although I’m excited and hopeful that Ilitch will


be able to pull it off, I clearly understand that there is much financial work and wrangling to be done before this Cinderella story manifest itself into a re- ality. But the acknowledgement by the Ilitch family they are interested in buying the Pistons is an “Oh Happy Day” moment for me.


The problems are that the financial money Shasta grew up playing in Flint's two major


eveloped an affinity for volleyball and was eager to compete. It as no doubt she would be a tall girl and aggressive, moreover her hleticism was really beginning to show. Although, her dad ncouraged her into taking golf lessons at the age of ten, but she


Leland Stein can be reached at lelstein3@aol. com.


tive athlete had made a name for herself as a fierce competitor in golf and a dominator in volley- ball.


paper articles were all positive, proclaiming: “One player stood


evelopment programs; Flint Inner City Junior olf Association operated byMr. Shelton eeley and Flint Junior Golf Association, perated byMs. Judy Hamilton. She did very ell in the Flint programs and went on to capture, the Flint Junior olf Association's Junior Championship in the summer of 2003 and nner-up in 2004. However, by the seventh grade Shasta had The area Flint Journal news-


market is in turmoil, the Pistons team is in the middle of a downturn, the approximate $500 mil- lion Pistons’ price tag and there is no world class arena in the city. Joe Louis is serviceable, but it is simply outdated.


I would love for the Ilitches to spearhead a world


class arena downtown. I think building it behind the Fox Theater would be the perfect place in keep- ing with the walkable entertainment sports model. Across the I 75 Freeway would be okay but not ideal.


If this Cinderella story comes true, the Motor


City would jump to the head of the line for hosting an NBA All-Star Weekend.


two major development pro- grams: Flint Inner City Junior Golf Association operated by Shelton Neeley and Flint Junior Golf Association, operated by Judy Hamilton. She did very well in the Flint programs and went on to capture the Flint Junior golf Association’s Junior Cham- pionship in the summer of 2003 and runner-up in 2004.


By 15, the intensely competi-


out above the rest in city vol- leyball this season. In a closely fought battle for the city cham- pionship, Central High had the advantage because it had Shasta Averyhardt.


“The 6-foot-1 junior middle


hitter was the difference in the city tournament as the Indians went 3-0 to claim the title.”


She had 223 kills, 75 aces,


ad wasn't the only one driving golf balls. The nge owner had some cut down clubs and that art the whole process.


mer- o u s l ineup changes throughout the contest as coaches evaluate personnel.


So what do Lions fans


and I make of Detroit’s 23-7 loss to the Steelers in their exhi- bition opener? A loss is a loss, and in the last ten years or so Lions fans have seen way too many losses – exhibition and regular season games.


I’d like to see a “W” registered after any


contest with an opponent. I do not care if they were playing tiddlywinks against the vaunted Steelers, after too many years of futility the Lions’ fans just want to see a “W” after any Detroit contest.


The Steelers came into the contest vulner- Biography


SHASTA C. AVERYHARDT, was born Flint,Michigan on January 05, 1986, the The fact of the matter is Detroit is the state’s


Over the years I have consistently railed about


able versus the Lions. They had almost as many questions as the Lions. Two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberg- er was serving a suspension, and Pittsburgh was coming off a very disappointing 2009 season that saw them miss the NFL Playoffs after they had won the Super Bowl following the 2008 campaign.


thought we did some good


things early in the game,” Schwartz said, “but we had some penalties that took some of that away which was disappointing to see. You can’t finish the game like we did


T h e L i o n s ’


first contest of the 2010 season was halted in the second quarter because of a storm that saw lightening and thunder overwhelm the game with 1:31 left in the first half, and it de- layed the game for and hour and 13 minutes.


When I reflect on the Lions’ initial contest,


there were some positive signs as several players the Lions are counting on to move the team out of the NFL basement made encour- aging first impressions Saturday.


In particular million dollar quarterback


Matthew Stafford showed command of the of- fense as evident in his three series of work, which saw him complete 8 of 11 passes for 61 yards, with one touchdown (2 yards to Calvin Johnson) and one interception on a pass that


in the third and fourth quarters and feel good about it.


“You want to see players reinforce the


good things they are doing in practice. Un- fortunately, for some of our guys, they rein- forced some of the negatives and they need to pick it up because they are running out of time.”


The Lions were penalized 11 times for 88


yards and had three turnovers, including the one interception. Also, starting middle line- backer DeAndre Levy missed the Steelers contest with an injury. Unfortunately, his re- placement, Jordon Dizon, suffered an injury in the Pittsburgh game and by all accounts it appears to be a season-ending knee injury.


Leland Stein can be reached at lelstein3@ aol.com. Fundraiser for rising golf star Averyhardt


CHRONICLE STAFF REPORTS Four-time medalist and SWAC


conference champion, Shasta Averyhardt is a golfer on the move with hopes for making the LPGA.


The Flint native recently quali-


fied and played in the U.S. Women Open at Oakmont in Pittsburgh, Pa.


A fundraiser will be held on


Saturday, Sept. 4, at the Detroit Golf Club, 17911 Hamilton Rd., starting at noon. The event will also include a driving range clinic, photo opportunities, and 9 holes of golf.


Averyhardt is a member of the


Duramed Futures Tour, owned by the LPGA. She has won many junior events such as the Michi- gan GAM Championship, the Michigan Powerbilt Champion- ship, and the Michigan Big-I Championship. She was a med- alist and runner-up in the State of Michigan Amateur Champi- onship and winner of nine col- lege tournaments in the division –1, SWAC conference at Jackson State University.


She grew up playing in Flint’s


227 digs and 90 blocks. The two- time captain and third-year letter winner


also


made the Sagi- naw Valley All- Academic team as a straight “A” student. While at Flint Central she was the first as a sophomore to lead Flint Cen- tral High to a city golf champion- ship and the first girl from a Flint school to qualify for a state tour- nament. She was named all- state in golf as a sophomore and junior at Flint Central High.


As a senior


transfer student, Averyhardt left Flint Central High to take on suburbia Grand Blanc High School, where her one goal was to be on a more competi- tive golf team. The other goals were to help win the state cham- pionship and of


course practice at prestigious Warrick Hills Country Club. She was welcomed by Martha Ryan, a four-time state championship girl’s golf coach at Grand Blanc High. However, during this time she was still under the watchful eye of PGA swing guru Jack Selt- zer a “pro’s pro” in Flint.


At Grand Blanc High she was


named team co-captain and thru inspiration, solid league play and a first place regional win, the team headed to the state cham- pionship in East Lansing on the Michigan State course. Of course the team won the state champi- onship and this was the start of a three-peat future series for coach Ryan girls.


At the end of high school,


Averyhardt had become an avid golfer and a force to deal with in girl’s amateur golf in Michigan. She won titles in the summer golf tournaments, the state of Michigan Powerbilt champion, the state Westfield PGA quali- fier, and the state of Michigan Independent Insurance Company qualifier.


Always looking for improve-


ment in her golf swing her dad en- couraged her to let PGA teaching professional Rick Kent of Loch Lomond in Grand Blanc Michi- gan take a look at her swing. Kent did a great job of fixing a swing problem that affected her timing at impact. He also noticed the similarities between Shasta’s swing and Michele Wie’s swing on tape. “It was eerie,” he said.


Her new and current swing


guru is Bill Baldwin, named by Golf Digest as the “Best Teach- ing Professional in the State of Michigan.” He is located at King Par Golf and has been a master professional since 1988 out of Flushing Michigan and Orlando Florida.


Averyhardt currently attends


Jackson State University in Jack- son Mississippi on scholarship.


“My primary goal is to play on


the (LPGA) Lady’s Professional Golf Association,” Averyhardt said.


For more information, call (313) 345-4400.


By Leland Stein III It was just a preseason game, right? The


Lions start 2010 with loss


Now when I say disappointing 2009 season,


Lions first game of the 2010 campaign was played in one of the NFL’s toughest cities and stadiums – Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field — for a visiting team and against a team that has won more Super Bowls (six) than any other fran- chise in the NFL.


COMMENTARY It is hard to judge a


team’s real improve- ment during pre- season games, because the subs t i tu- tion pat- tern re- quires n u -


it is all relative, mind you, because that Steel- ers did produce a 9-7 campaign that saw them beat four eventual playoff-bound teams – the Green Bay Packers, the Minnesota Vikings, the Baltimore Ravens, and the San Diego Chargers.


Now think if our Lions had produced a


similar record. I think all in the state of Mich- igan would have celebrated extensively.


LIONS FANS WILL expect more than autographs from QB Matthew Stafford this season. – Andre Smith photo


bounced off the hands of rookie running back Jahvid Best.


Many feel and so do I that the Lions’


strength this season will be its defensive front four. In fact, they indeed showed signs and were impressive, led by Kyle Vanden Bosch, Cliff Avril and rookie first round draft pick Ndamukong Suh.


“We got good pressure and we only blitzed


one time,” coach Jim Schwartz told reporters after the game. “The plan is for the defensive line to carry our defense. We devoted a lot of resources to improving that area. But we still have a long ways to go.”


Still, some old signs that have haunted the Lions for too many years r e a r e d their ugly heads.


“ I


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