Time Out with Tany

THIS COLUMN WAS WRITTEN IN FRONT OF A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE

QUICK QUIZ
Most Major League baseball players go through an entire career without once hitting into a triple play, yet this player hit into four of them. Name him.

A.  Richie Allen
B.  Don Mincher
C.  Brooks Robinson
D.  Tom Reeder

QUOTABLE QUOTES

Former Major League pitcher Bo Belinsky, after losing a game 15-0, "How can a guy win a game if you don't give him any runs?"

Norm Van Brocklin, on his 1980 brain surgery, "It was a brain transplant. I got a sportswriter's brain so I could be sure I had one that hadn't been used."

Golfer Sam Snead, "Foot action is one of the main differences between a good golfer and a duffer."

IDLE THOUGHTS

I took my two boys, Sam and Joe, to Saginaw Valley State University for the Detroit Tigers' Caravan. Nearly 1,200 people attended the event, which featured a number of Tiger players and coaches, along with television broadcasters Mario Impemba and Rod Allen. I still don't understand why SVSU officials made people stand outside in frigid weather when they could have filed in and taken a seat in the bleachers. I know the gathering is an annual media event, which is supposed to hype the upcoming season, since I've attended many of them during my days as a sports editor. When people set these things up, they should always consider the fans. They are the people paying for the tickets to the games. . . and thus, helping pay the player's salaries.

Kudos to Citidel Broadcasting Co., Inc. which nabbed the rights to broadcast the Great Lakes Loons baseball games for the 2007 inaugural season. In addition to the WHEELZ 101 (WYLZ 100.9) broadcast, Loons fans will be able to access live broadcasts via the Loons website www.loons.com. Brad Golder, a former play-by-play broadcaster for the Nashville Sounds and the Vanderbilt University baseball team, will be the play-by-play broadcaster and also serve as the Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations.

Have you about had it with the Duke lacrosse sexual assault case? The credibility of both the accuser and District Attorney Mike Nifong has gone into the dumpster. The accuser has not said that one of the three players charged did not commit any sex act on her during the alleged attack. Nifong, meanwhile, has excused himself from the case. I've got a sneaking hunch this will get a tad bit uglier before all charges are dropped.

The Columbus, Ohio, rock band former known as the Dead Schembechlers recently announced that it is changing its name to the Bastard Sons of Woody. The band, composed of Ohio State University football fans, announced upon the death of former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler that it would change its name to avoid the appearance of insensitivity.

Hats off to Larry Preston, the president/CEO of Tri-Star Trust Bank in Saginaw. Preston was honored with the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce's Spirit of Saginaw Award for his outstanding effort in developing the Heroes for Kids golf fundraiser. The event pits local golfers with current football players from both the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Preston will be the first to admit that Michigan's LaMarr Woodley and MSU's Clifton Ryan, both Saginawians, played a key role in getting the fundraiser off the ground two years ago. Money raised helps fund summer recreation opportunities for children in Saginaw, after the Saginaw City Council unceremoniously pulled the plug on recreation funding.

I see where the Germania Town & Country Club will be opening to the public to golf on its 18-hole course during the 2007 golf season. There will be "golf only" memberships available to the public. This past year the Germania celebrated its 150th year. It was established on the East Side of Saginaw on Sept. 2, 1856 and is the oldest club of its kind in Michigan.

Remember Nook Logan? He's the former Detroit Tigers' center fielder who was traded to the Washington Nationals. Well, he made history when he became the fifth player in baseball history to hit his first two career homers in the same park with different teams in different leagues. Logan had hit one homer at Coors Field in Denver during interleague play while with the Tigers. He then hit his first homer for the Nationals at Coors Field.

Soccer star David Beckham is $250 million richer after joining the Los Angles Galaxy of the Major League Soccer League. The world-class midfielder (yes, he brought his wife, Victoria, the former Posh Spice) will try to help the 11-year-old league gain prominence on the American sports landscape, but don't count on it. At 31, he's already a step behind the elite players. Most Americans still can't grasp the whole soccer/football thing.

Whatever happened to Steve Garvey?

PREDICTION * SUPER BOWL XLI
Indianapolis Colts 27
Chicago Bears 10

QUICK QUIZ ANSWER

C. Brooks Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles.