Sports Roundup: Michigan Gold!

Olympics

Pierre Vaultier of France held off hard-charging Nikolay Olyunin of Russia to win gold in men's Olympic snowboardcross on Tuesday.  The competition also gives the United States another medal as Alex Deibold grabbed bronze after narrowly edging teammate Trevor Jacob in the semifinals.

In women's giant slalom, Julia Mancuso of the U.S. missed a gate on her first run. It's her last event this Olympics but she's not ruling out trying again in four years. She'll head home with a bronze in super-combined.   In the event, Tina Maze earned her second gold medal, winning from the front on a rainy and snowy course.  American teenager Mikaela Shiffrin placed fifth in her Olympic debut.

The kids from Michigan have won Ice Dancing gold.  Two-time world champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White edged defending Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada.  The 27-year old Davis, of West Bloomfield and 26-year old White, of Bloomfield Hills, train at Arctic Edge in Canton. Both are students at the University of Michigan.  Davis and White earned silver four years ago in Vancouver and yesterday became the first Americans to win the ice dancing Olympic championship.  A Russian couple finished third to win the bronze.

The U.S. broke a 62-year medal drought in two-man bobsled last night.  Steven Holcomb and Steve Langton brought home the bronze for us.

Olympic hockey continues today as four men's qualifiers take place in Sochi. Team USA will have its eye on the contest between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The winner of that contest heads to the quarterfinals to face the U.S. tomorrow afternoon, with puck drop slated for Noon.

The U.S. is sharing the medal count lead with host nation Russia.  Each country owns 19 medals including five golds. The Netherlands is second with 17 medals while Norway and Canada are next with 15 medals each.  Germany owns the most gold medals at the Games with eight.

Bode Miller did an interview from Russia with the "Today" show yesterday, to talk about his interview from Sunday where the reporter made him cry after his race.  The reporter was NBC's Christin Cooper, and she caught a lot of heat afterwards for pushing Bode too hard to talk about his dead brother.  But Bode said it wasn't her fault.

Pistons

The Detroit Pistons take on the Charlotte Bobcats tonight at the Palace of Auburn Hills.  Detroit is a half-game behind the Bobcats for the final playoff spot. The Pistons are 22-and-30, good for ninth in the Eastern Conference.

Big Ten Basketball

Michigan and Michigan State are both sliding in the latest "USA Today" top-25 poll.
The Wolverines dipped from 18th down to 20th after losing to Wisconsin on Sunday.  The Spartans fell from 10th to 14th after their loss to Nebraska.  Michigan State plays at Purdue Thursday.  The Wolverines are off until Sunday's meeting with Michigan State in Ann Arbor.

Girls Basketball

Coldwater at Harper Creek postponed again until Wednesday.

Boys Basketball

Harper Creek at Coldwater postponed again until Wednesday.

Bellevue 46, Pittsford 26 Cole Madry had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

State Poll

St. Phillip is down to #6 in the Statewide Class D poll after their loss to Bronson last week.  Also in the boys’ poll: Battle Creek Central received nine votes for honorable mention in Class A and Homer received eight votes for honorable mention in Class C.

In the girls’ poll, Gull Lake moved into the No. 9 spot in Class A; Marshall is ranked eighth in Class B.  Athens moved up two spots to No. 6 in Class D.  Olivet got an honorable mention.

Tigers

The Tigers will hold their first full-squad practice today.  The first exhibition game is a week from today against Florida Southern. Detroit signed a half dozen minor leaguers to contracts Monday, but still have a lot of unsigned players on their 40 man roster.