Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 25

pctrott4frcc4Jrcs5 if SUPER BOWL XL dm UNTIL Scoreboard 6 Teeing Off 9 U-M, MSU football 10 Lions 10 Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005 313-2-6663 wwA.frwp com J71 rw 1 Yzerman returns, says Wings will be among league's best Iff 1 1 NF ST JMI )Hl v.j."k Red Wings general manager Ken Holland locked up captain Steve Yzerman for another year, tendered an offer to de-fenseman Chris Chelios, is working on re-upping with the team's restricted free agents and trying to figure out what goaltender he tan live with. The big news Tuesday, though, was the long-awaited announcement that Yzerman would be back for a 22nd season with the franchise. He was offered a deal worth between $1.5 million and $2 million last Wednesday and, after two days of telephone tag, he and Holland finally connected. Though his team at the moment is in shambles only 12 players are under contract Yzerman expressed confidence that he'll be playing with a Stanley Cup contender.

"With all teams, I think between now and next month, teams will be dramatically different," Yzerman said. "But I expect ours to be extremely competitive, one of the best teams in the league." Yzerman is known as one of MARY SCHROEDf RDetroit fm Press A year after he joined the Wings, Yzerman lived in a riverfront apartment, and did his own laundry. 1983 vs. 2005 then and now 1 V. It- See WINGS, 6D Career scoring leaders i There has been a lot of water under the Zambo-ni since 13-year-old Stevie Yzerman joined the Wings in 1933.

BIG EAST SPORTS Then: In '83, Washington won the Super Bowl, Baltimore the World Series, Philadelphia the NBA title and the New York Islanders the Stanley Cup. Now: The reigning champs are the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, San Antonio Spurs (barely, over the Pistons) and the last Stanley Cup? We can't remember. SHOW BIZ WAYNE GRETZXY 2,857 804 1,963 A MARK MESSIER 1,887 694 1,193 A GORDIE HOWE 1,850 801 1,049 A last episode of "MA'''-'SH." Now: Everyone's hot and bothered by "Desperate Housewives." SAY IT AIN'T SO Then: George Brett called out over pine-tar incident. Now: Rafael Palmeiro bawled out (and suspended) for testing positive for steroids. Career moments Oct.

1983: Yzerman scored a goal in his NHL debut at Winnipeg. May 1989: Won Pearson Award as NHL's top performer in voting by the players' union. Feb. 1993: Became third Wing to reach 1,000 points, joining Gordie Howe and Alex Delvec-chio. Nov.

1996: Passed Del-vecchio (1,281 points) for second on Wings' all-time scoring list. June 1997: Hoisted the Stanley Cup for first time as Wings swept Philadelphia. June 1998: Won Conn Smythe as playoff MVP as Wings won second straight Cup. Nov. 1999: Became 11th player to reach 600 goals, scoring on Edmonton's Tommy Salo.

Feb. 2002: Won Olympic gold with Canada. 1, RON FRANCIS I 1.793 0 549 1,249 A Luke in 1983: Dad Anakin in 2005 MARCEL DIONNE 1,771 731 1,040 A STEVE YZERJWAN 1,721 Then: "Ghandi" won eight Oscars and "Return of the Jedi" set an opening day box office record with $6.2 million. Now: "Million Dollar Baby" was this year's big Oscar winner and "Revenge of the Sith" scored $50 million in opening day receipts. BOOB TUBE Then: More than 125 million viewers were desperate to watch the 678 1,043 A I 1 MARIO LEMIEUX i.7oi KiKIHMONF DOr'iR EMuM 1 Captain Steve Yzerman, celebrating a winning goal in the Wings' 2003 season opener, says the year off has helped him lose five pounds.

"During the season, you're always eating pre-game and post-game meals, Yzerman said. "My diet is much better." 6S3 1,018 A A GOOD DAY TO BE A PRO ATHLETE IV SIIAQUILLC O'NEAL PLACIDO POLANCO I 4 YEJIP.5, St 8.4 MILLION He says Tigers will be very good' Heat gets a steal of a deal mi I I'RIVS 1 RV 1-i KyCFNECUIDI iki.i Picking apart Pclanco Placido Polanco's statistics in 32 games with the Tigers this season and for his career: AB HR RBI AVG 2005 127 22 2 17 XI Cawr 3,049 4'i 911 bb 311 ,29 hi MARK TtKHILyAssociated PiPsS Sports' big contracts TIGERS LOSE TOM'S Detroit drops fifth in row. Page 5D. "We're absolutely thrilled," he said of the signing. Since being acquired from the Phillies for Ugueth Urbina on June 8, Polanco, 29, is hitting .362 (46-for-127) with 22 runs and 17 RLTs in 32 games.

For the season, Polanco is hitting .337 (96-for-285) with 48 runs and 37 RBIs in 71 games. He leads active second basemen, with a minimum of 400 games played, with a career fielding percentage of .991. Polanco said one of the reasons he signed was that he believed the Tigers are putting together a "very good team here." "If I didn't think we had a chance, I wouldn't have "Shaquille can name his price," said his agent, Perry Rogers. "And the price he named was winning." O'Neal never looked to go elsewhere. I le didn't even speak with other clubs.

"I'm very excited about my new agreement with the Heat," O'Neal said in a statement released by the team. "This contract allows me to address all of my family's long-term financial goals while allowing the Heat the ability to acquire those players thai we need to win a champion ship." O'Neal was vacationing Tuesday in Rome. I AntO'ne VVa'ker traded to Hrat in largest trade in NBA history. 2D. MIAMI Shaquille O'Neal probably left millions on the bargaining table.

What he wants most isn't more money, but more championships. O'Neal signed a five-year contract with the Miami 1 leat on Tuesday, a deal that gives the 12-tisne All-Star center added financial security while allowing his team salary flexibility to pursue other players. 1 Ie'll make $20 million in each of the next five seasons in an agreement believed to include incentives. He was to have earned (5 million this coming season, but opted out of that deal for a longer-term pact with less monev annually. Kyle Farnsworth said no to a contract extension before he was traded to the Braves, but Placido Polanco's response to a long-term offer from the Tigers was an emphatic yes.

Polanco agreed Tuesday to a four-year, tract extension $1.6 million per season that will keep him in Detroit through "I'm very happy with this," the second baseman said. "I said from the first day I got here that I was at home." President and general manager Dave DomLrowski called Polanco a "quality player" who helps stabilize the Tigers. Player ar5 Woney Aip 10 jc'fT 10 v0rp! MVr i 0 "0" K.ym 7 c-. 12 Shan 6 fiip.il 'i P'r v'fT V' ii'iMi-- 7 nv 'i -rt See DEAL, 4D.