Ontario will hold forward’s ECHL rights

ONTARIO, Calif. – The Ontario Reign, defending Pacific Division Champions and proud affiliate of the NHL’s 2012 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings, have announced that right winger, Devin Setoguchi, has been suspended by the team. The Reign hold his ECHL rights allowing him the opportunity to return to the team at a later date.

Setoguchi, 25, was the first current NHLer to join the Reign this season and played a total of 10 games with Ontario; he earned 13 points (4g, 9a) during his time with the team. The Taber, Alberta native signed with the Reign on November 6 and played in his first game on November 7 where he earned two assists and was named the First Star of the night.

The five-year NHL veteran is currently on contract with the Minnesota Wild where he played during the 2011-12 season and ranked fourth on the team with 36 points (19g, 17a). Prior to the Wild, Setoguchi played with the San Jose Sharks, where he was first drafted eighth overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, over a four-season span racking up 159 points (84g, 75a) in 267 games.

Final bell rung for boxing iconic trainer

By Leland Stein III

DETROIT - Well, no more dog walks together or eating that great barbeque. The final 10-count bell has been rung at Greater Grace and my friend, and more importantly, a friend to thousands has been laid to rest.

Emanuel Steward a certified Detroit and international icon has gone home. The humble founder of Detroit Kronk Boxing Team, an HBO Boxing commentator and Hall of Fame trainer, probably would have blushed if he could have seen the spectacular celebration given to him by the multitudes of pugilist, media peers and admirers.

Men and women from all over the world found their way to Detroit to honor a man that only wanted to help others, the only way he knew how. Get them in the gym and in the process sneak some life lessons to them that more times than not stuck.

I understood the depth and breadth of Steward’s impact in the Sweet Science, but I was even surprised to see the overwhelming inclusion of individuals that he has cajoled.

In all our dog walks and general conversations he never bragged about the company he kept and experienced.

He just would have been happy to know that Mayor Dave Bing, Aretha Franklin, Judge Mathis, Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence, Bob Arum and Jim Lampley were there to celebrate his noteworthy life.

But he would have been impressed with the pugilist that came to acknowledge how he turned good athletes into champions.

Some of those champions in attendance were Sugar Ray Leonard, Hilmer Kenty, Milton McCrory, Lennox Lewis, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, Thomas Hearns, Michael Moorer, Evander Holyfield, Iran Barkley, Jimmy Paul and Roy Jones, just to name a few, were all there and spoke of the legendary memories that Steward has left us all with.

Franklin, the Queen of Soul, stood in the church pew and blasted out a special ad-lib song that was generated just for Steward.

"Emanuel flew away," Franklin sang, as she started to improvise and the applause grew and tears started to well in my eyes. "Emanuel Steward was a good man! Yes, he was. He was a champion . . . Oh, yes, he was. You have to be, you've got to be, a champion to train one . . . Oh, yes, you do."

Representing Steward’s HBO family was Lampley. He talked about their special bond. “I can truly say that Emanuel was my best friend,” he exclaimed, “but I’m sure all of you here and many more across the world can say the same thing. If there was any man that lived up the Dr. (Martin Luther) King’s dictum it was Emanuel. He judged people by the content of their character and not the color of their skin; he was truly color blind.”

Breaking me down even further was Hearns, who Steward took off the streets and turn into a legendary multiple champion.

Soaking in tears, Hearns shared: “This is hard for me. I said this morning that I would be alright. I tried to make Emanuel proud of me. He was a very special man in my life. I wouldn't be the man I am today without Emanuel Steward in my life. He was more than a trainer to me -- he was like a dad. He taught me things, and I saw my life change.”

Wladimir, who flew in from Germany said: “We have lost a friend, but Manny Steward lives in the hearts of all of us. He had a great gift from God. I will carry on all my life what he taught me. He was a great mentor.”

"I had the opportunity to meet Emanuel about 40 years ago," Bing said during an uplifting but heart-wrenching memorial service. "We had great respect for each other, and I have always looked upon him as a friend. He represented his family and the city of Detroit with dignity. He always made me very proud to know him.”

Leonard called Steward a trainer of life. “He saved the lives of kids out there by putting them in a sweaty gym,” he recalled.

Said Holyfield: “Nobody ever lost when they did what Emanuel Steward told them to do in the ring.” Lewis echoed the sentiments of many: “Emanuel was there for my major fights -- I wish I was there for his. He is the greatest trainer that ever lived. We can't forget his contribution to the sport of boxing. I can only rejoice in his memory."

Leland Stein can be reached at lelstein3@aol.com or Twitter @LelandSteinIII

Corona Centennial Returns to Championship Game against familiar rival

By Gary Montgomery
BVN Staff

The California State Football Championship matchups are set and local powerhouse, Corona Centennial (14-1) is back in the mix after a brief one respite. The Huskies punched their ticket to the big game by beating City Section champion Harbor City Narbonne (13-2) at Cerritos College on Friday night.

The Huskies 41-34 victory propelled the Inland power to its fourth appearance in the Championship game. Centennial will face the dreaded nemesis from the north, Concord De La Salle (14-0) on Saturday in the Open division game.

De La Salle, a near permanent fixture as the northern champion earned its return trip by beating Folsom 49-15 in Friday’s north Regional finals. Corona and Concord will square off for the fourth time in the Championship game since it return at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

Friday’s games include the Division 4 clash between Modesto Central Catholic (13-2) against Solana Beach Santé Fe Christian (11-3) at 4 p.m.

Long Beach Poly (12-3) takes the field at 8 p.m. against Granite Bay in a battle for the Division 1 title.

On Saturday, Kentfield Marin Catholic (14-1) takes on San Diego Madison (13-1) for the Division 3 title at noon.

At 4p.m., Oakdale (14-1) and Gardena Serra (13-2) tangle for the Division 2 title.

The marquee matchup between the state’s two best teams Corona Centennial and Concord De La Salle begins at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available online or at the Home Depot Center box office.

G. Montgomery can be reached at sports@blackvoicenews.com

Graeme McDowell breaks a 2-year drought with a win at Tiger’s World Challenge

By Gary Montgomery
BVN Staff

Thousand Oaks – For the 14th consecutive year, Tiger Woods assembled 18 of the world’s top golfers to help raise money for his foundation, the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Woods and his father Earl launched the first tournament back in 1999 at the Grayhawk Country Club in Scottsdale Arizona. After that, play was moved to its current home at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks.

The course nestled in the Santa Monica mountains winds through the pristine canyons, bordered by lavish estate homes.

Tiger won the Challenge in 2011 with birdies on the final two holes chasing down leader Zach Johnson. Trailing Johnson by 1 at the 17th, Tiger birdied to tie heading to 18 where he sank a 10 foot birdie putt to beat Johnson by a stroke and win his fifth World Challenge victory─ adding to his previous victories in 2001, 04, 06, and 07.

Tiger’s 2011 win also marked the beginning of his comeback (although many believe he never left) to prominence. After winning last December, Tiger scored three victories in a season for the first time since his shortened 2008 season when he won four times.

Those three wins propelled Tiger back to no. 2 in the world in the World Golf Ranking, moving all the way from 23rd the previous year.

Although, much maligned by the American media, Tiger remains the only American player in the top 5 World golf rankings for 2012. Currently at No. 2, Tiger will be chasing a red hot Rory Mcllroy to reclaim his No 1 spot in 2013.

But this year, it was all McDowell. His second round 66 gave him the sole lead and he never relinquished it. “He likes it here. The golf course suits his game, and he keeps the ball in front of him, and he’s a beautiful putter,” said Tiger when asked about McDowell’s dominance. “His ball flight is, I think, perfect for how the conditions are. He hits it flat and loves to draw it, and it’s going to take a lot of the spin off it, which is great,” Tiger continued.

Although nobody likes winning golf tournaments as much as Tiger, without winning, he was no doubt elated at the successful turnout. Thousands of fans roamed the rained soaked course to get a glimpse of their favorite golfer. There were dozens of young men dressed like Rickie Fowler in bright orange attire and sideways tilted hats.

The Tiger Woods foundation’s mission is to provide resources to young people through innovative programs and support so that these youth can attend college and are prepared to properly to succeed.

One of the primary vehicles is the five-year old Earl Woods scholarship offered through the foundation. To date, the World Challenge has also raised more than $25 million for the community. In 2012, the Tiger Woods Learning center in Anaheim is expected to serve more than 15,000 students.

The new Earl Woods scholars program will welcome 17 new students this year. To date, 100 percent of Earl Woods Scholars graduate with their bachelors degrees. The program celebrates its second graduating class this year.

The five year old Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim has become an educational inspiration to many. So successful that TWLC’s have been expanded in Washington, Pennsylvania, and Tiger’s resident state of Florida.

Woods foundation has 25 fulltime employees working on a variety fun raising events, including seven annual tournaments and the very popular Tiger Jam held in Las Vegas. Tiger seldom touts his philanthropic successes and the media doesn’t talk much about them but Tiger Woods Learning Centers are making a difference in a huge way.

Like his foundations, Tiger’s game is on the rise too. Sitting comfortably in the World’s No. 2 spot behind Rory, Tiger has to be excited about his chances to regain his former No. 1 status.

At this point, Tiger’s swing change is nearly complete. The major piece of his game holding him back now is his putting. Tiger missed short birdie putts on multiple holes on Sunday to stop potential rallies but I wouldn’t count Tiger out in 2013.

G. Montgomery can be reached at sports@blackvoicenews.com