Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page B2

2B WWW.FREEP.COM MONDAY, JAN. 13, 2014 Even more LIONS Photo galleries: Check out the best moments of 2013, plus 15 possible NFL draft picks this spring. TIGERS Big influence: See which current Tigers coach Frank Thomas credits for his HOF bid. WOLVERINES Maize-N-Brew: Some analysis on the Doug Nussmeier hire from our guest blogger. SPARTANS The Only Colors: More Michigan State sports notes and analysis from our guest blogger.

REDWINGS Video: It was an emotional night Saturday for Tomas Tatar, who scored in a 3-1 win. PISTONS Chat transcript: Did you miss Vince Ellis' chat with fans last week? Read the replay. coverage at freep.com JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! Facebook: facebook.comfreepsports Twitter: Ofreepsports RedWings Team supports Tatar after father's death Tomas Tatar will leave the Wings through Thursday to attend the funeral of his father, Jan. parent dies. "The way you honor your father and your mother and your past is by continuing to do what you should do and playing hard and doing things well," Babcock said.

"He's going to have a different relationship with his dad now. "I lost my mom early, too, and I pray to my mom every night during the national anthem. I never ever wanted to let her down. He can be the same way. His dad is here with him.

It's a different kind of relationship, but it can still can be one that's real supportive for him." Tatar said. "I was glad I was able to see him at Christmas, spend time with him." Tatar has been with the Wings barely a whole calendar year and is only 23, but as Daniel Cleary put it, "it feels like he's been on the team for 10 years." Tatar is irrepressible, as a player and a person. "The kid's been through a lot," Jimmy Howard said. "All our hearts go out to him." Tatar had four shots on net in Sunday's 1-0 loss at Anaheim. One night earlier at Los Angeles, he scored the winner, dedicating the goal to his dad.

Tatar looked like a power forward in setting up the Wings' first goal that night by Riley Sheahan stickhandling through L.A.'s zone. "He's got a good personality," coach Mike Babcock said. "He's just infectious. He's got energy, guys like him. He competes hard.

He's not a big man, but he plays hard. He's got an ability to score, loves the guy, not scared of the puck. "There's a lot of guys, even in the NHL, it's hard to believe, but they go out there hoping the puck doesn't come to them. He's hoping the puck comes to him." Babcock connected with Tatar on a personal level in sharing how to go on after a By Helene St. James Detroit Free Press Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif.

Tomas Tatar found comfort in hockey and his Red Wings family. Over the past week, he has gone from the thrill of being named to the Slovaki-an Olympic team to the devastation of losing his father, followed by two emotional games in southern California, the first of which saw Tatar honor his father with a game-winning goal. "He's a mentally tough kid," friend and linemate Todd Bertuzzi said Sunday at the Honda Center. "The way he's played is terrific." Tatar will leave the Wings through Thursday to attend the funeral of his father, Jan, who died last week after a liver ailment. Tatar had flown home during the NHL Christmas break knowing his dad was very sick.

He wasn't sure if his dad realized he had been selected to represent their homeland in Sochi next month. "I've got to go home and say last bye to my dad," Wolverines Pistons Spartans Green agrees: MSU has 'great' potential By Joe Rexrode Detroit Free Press Sports Writer EAST LANSING Draymond Green and coach Tom Izzo usually were on the same page when Green played at Michigan State. They see the same thing with the current Spartans as Izzo said Saturday a team with good pieces that is still "not very cohesive yet." "Good team, very good, but just haven't scratched the surface of how good they can be," Green said in the locker room at the Breslin Center after No. 5 MSU's 87-75 overtime win over Minnesota. "Part of that is getting healthy.

Once they get healthy and play together, everything is gonna flow better. But overall, I think this team can be great. And when I say great, I really believe it. "It's not like bias (toward) Izzo. I've seen a lot of teams in college basketball, and I don't see why Michigan State isn't better or can't match up with any of them." The Spartans played Saturday without senior forward Adreian Payne (sprained foot), got Travis Trice back from an illness, are working Gary Harris (ankle) and Matt Costello (mononucleosis) back into heavy minutes, and now might have another sick player in Branden Dawson.

He said he's getting tests today. Two games await the Spartans (15-1, 4-0 Big Ten) this week: a Wednesday trip to Northwestern (7 p.m., Big Ten Network) and a Saturday game at Illinois (8 p.m., BTN). As for Green, he took advantage of a rare five-day break in the NBA to get home for a quick visit. His Golden State Warriors beat Boston at home Friday and play Wednesday against Denver. The Warriors are 25-14, and Green is averaging 4.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in his second season.

Green has been in some dustups this season, including an ejection and $15,000 fine for elbowing Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers. "I don't really try to get T'd up, but at the end of the day, I try to bring intensity to the floor whatever that is," Green said. "I think that's sometimes what our team needs." SMALL AND SPEEDY Nussmeier to study QBs By Mark Snyder Detroit Free Press Sports Writer With the many decisions facing new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, he knows the first priority will be the quarterbacks. And on his first day, he wasn't ready to commit to a hierarchy at the position that features injured incumbent Devin Gardner, sophomore Shane Morris, recovering junior Russell Bellomy and true freshman Wilton Speight, an early enrollee. Nussmeier was asked on an video by host Eli Zaret: "Have you made any assessment, is the competition open, or is this something that you've already decided?" He gave an evasive answer.

He also said he hasn't watched much film yet. "It's a quality group of young men, and having been somewhere (Alabama) where we recruited some of those players in the last couple years in Shane and Wilton, and Devin what he's been able to accomplish to date, I look forward to getting in the room with those guys, getting to know them and helping them grow as players," Nussmeier said. It's a complicated situation, beginning with the uncertainty of Gardner's health. Gardner started the past Vi years but showed up to the introductory news conference in a walking boot and crutches Friday. His only public response about the injury was a social media message last week that "it is healing really well and feels better and better everyday!" As ambiguous as that is, still needing assistance six weeks after suffering an injured foot against Ohio State keeps his status in doubt for the near future.

The injury gave Morris a chance to start the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. He was effective, though not spectacular. Bellomy returned from an anterior cruciate ligament tear to practice in the bowl season but didn't play. Speight enrolled last week, so he is in team conditioning workouts and will participate this spring. they started throwing the ball to the post and got a couple of three-point plays.

For the most part, we stopped the part we wanted to stop with that lineup." NO FLY ZONE: Cheeks has encouraged Drummond to be more aggressive around the basket as far as blocking shots. The 20-year-old had 11 blocks over the weekend in the two victories, raising his season total to 69. RECOGNITION: The Pistons recognized the late Alex Graham as part of their "Game Changer" program. Her parents, Bill and Susie, along with Team Alex, accepted the award for Graham, who died of cancer. When she was diagnosed as a teen, Graham was instrumental in the creation of a public-service announcement encouraging others to smile at children with cancer.

Team Alex, a cycling group, has raised more than $2 million for Make-A-Wish Michigan. NOTEBOOK: Saturday's victory was No. 300 for Cheeks. The Pistons are 7-12 at home. Detroit had a season-high 32 assists Saturday.

Drummond is averaging 12.7 and 12.7 rebounds. By Perry A. Farrell Detroit Free Press Sports Writer In the throes of losing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead Saturday night to Phoenix, coach Maurice Cheeks had to combat the Suns' small lineup with one of his own. At times in the fourth quarter, Cheeks had Josh Smith at center, Kyle Singler at power forward, Rodney Stuckey at small forward, Brandon Jennings at shooting guard and Will Bynum at point guard. "We have never practiced with that lineup," Cheeks said.

"They went small with four players and Chan-ning Frye." Greg Monroe entered the game late, but during crunch time of the 110-108 victory, he and Andre Drummond served as spectators. Monroe finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Drummond had 13 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots. Smith scored the game-winning basket and had 25 points and 11 rebounds. But it is becoming more obvious that there are times when the big lineup needs to be disbanded in favor of a Pistons small forward Kyle Singler drives on the Suns' P.J. Tucker on Saturday night, rick osentoskiusa today ning streak.

"They had four smalls and put Frye in there as a small as well," Cheeks said of Phoenix. "They ran the pick-and-roll, and we had to make a decision on putting five smalls out there so if they ran the pick-and-roll we could switch it. Then quicker lineup that can switch out quickly on three-point shooters. Singler responded by tying his season high with eight rebounds. With five days of practice before facing Utah on Friday, Cheeks can think about more tinkering.

The Pistons have a two-game win Tigers Four campers might get big chance 0k Lions Emerging Ross says he proved he belongs By Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Sports Writer Nothing much went right for the Lions in the second half of the season. They lost six of their final seven games, missed the playoffs for a second straight year, and their coach got fired. But one bright spot from an otherwise dismal November and December was the emergence of return man Jeremy Ross. Ross took over as full-time returner for Micheal Spurlock for the final six games and became the Lions' most dangerous threat at the position since Eddie Drummond made the Pro Bowl nearly a decade ago. Ross returned a kick and a punt for a touchdown in the same game, averaged 29.3 yards a kick return, and his 16.2-yard punt-return average was the best in the NFL for players with at least 15 returns.

"I think I've proved I can play at this level, at a high level," Ross said after the season-ending loss to the Minnesota Vikings last month. "Not just play and be mediocre, but actually do some great things in this league, so I'm hoping people see that and hoping I get another opportunity next season." An exclusive-rights free agent, Ross almost certainly will be back, and after bouncing around the league the past three years, he shouldn't have to worry about making a roster. An undrafted rookie out of Cal, he was cut by the New England Patriots in training camp of 2011, spent that year on the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad, joined the Green Bay Packers' practice squad in 2012 and was cut by the Packers after the playoffs last year and early this season. three seasons at Triple-A, including a career-high 43 last season at Columbus. He batted .251 in 131 games over the past three seasons with the Indians and Phillies.

Outfielder Trevor Crowe. Crowe, 30, is a former first-round pick, selected 14th overall by the Indians in 2005. He has played all three outfield spots. Crowe hit .304 with 16 stolen bases in 60 games last season for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Crowe played in 60 games last season for the Astros, hitting .218 with six stolen bases.

He has played in 265 major league games over the past four seasons, including time with the Indians. tle for a spot in the bullpen in spring training. In 20 games and 28 innings at Triple-A Charlotte last year, Marinez fanned 26 and walked 16. Right-hander Eduardo Sanchez. Like Marinez, Sanchez could battle for a bullpen spot out of spring training.

Sanchez pitched in 43 games over two seasons with the Cardinals in 2011-12. In four games with the Cubs last season, he allowed five hits and five walks with five strikeouts in 6Y3 innings. Sanchez, who turns 25 next month, struck out 35 in 40i3 innings in Triple-A last season. Outfielder Ezequiel Carrera. Carrera brings speed to the organization.

Has 98 stolen bases over the past By George Sipple Detroit Free Press Sports Writer Among the 16 players the Tigers have invited to major league camp are some newcomers who could join the roster during the season. If not, they'll provide organizational depth at Toledo. Here's a look at four newcomers who might have a shot at playing for the Tigers this season. Right-hander Jhan Marinez. Marinez made his major league debut in 2010 with the Marlins.

He hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2012 when he appeared in two games for the White Sox. With a fastball that reaches 97 m.p.h., Marinez, 25, was someone scouts thought could bat ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION Treatment by licensed Michigan medical doctors Our custom blended prescription medication works when Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis fail See results on your first visit or no charge Guaranteed! Works for virtually all medical conditions including diabetes, prostate surgery, etc. Premature ejaculation Gain control and last 30, 60, 90 minutes even after climax Satisfy your partner with confidence OUR PHYSICIANS OFFER PERSONALIZED SOLUTIONS TO FIT YOUR NEEDS No herbal pills or surgery Private, confidential and affordable Round-trip gas reimbursement if more than 60mi. from Detroit. For FREE information in complete confidence call (248) 289-4680 now.