Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Induction Event is Friday

Mateen Cleaves, Reggie McKenzie named honorary captains for 58th induction event

DETROIT – Organizers of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame 58th Induction Event say Friday's ceremony will feature several new elements.

In addition to the induction ceremony, organizers said there will be the tip-off/kick-off by Honorary Co-Captains' Mateen Cleaves (Class of 2013) and Reggie McKenzie (Class of 1994), a statewide radio broadcast of the induction ceremony and a new Treasures of the MSHOF award.

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Cleaves and McKenzie will open the ceremony at the Max M. Fisher Music Center, and then turn the program to event emcees and local television personalities.

A new MSHOF element this year will offer the opportunity for statewide sports fans to listen to the induction ceremony in its entirety on radio airwaves via the Spartan Sports Network under the direction of Will Tieman, organizers said.

To recognize the behind-the-scenes people the organization said is important to the fabric of sports throughout Michigan, a new Treasures of the MSHOF award has been developed by a statewide panel of sports media and industry veterans, who have named the inaugural awardees:
--Friday Macklem, longtime Detroit Lions equipment manager
--Legendary Lions and prep sports stat man Walter Dell
--Connie and Dell Sweeris, "ping pong diplomacy" superstars from Grand Rapids
--The 1959 Hamtramck Little League World Champions
--Detroit's pioneering Negro League team, the Detroit Stars.

The 58th MSHOF Induction Class includes:
--Jim Brandstatter - longtime UM/Detroit Lions broadcaster, award-winning Michigan Replay host
--Dorne Dibble - MSU football All-American, member of Detroit Lions NFL Championship teams
--Jason Hanson - Pro-Bowl placekicker, NFL record holder, recorded 19 game-winning field goals
--Alexi Lalas - All State Cranbrook HS, Hermann Trophy winner, member of Olympic/World Cup teams
--Nick Lidstrom - Detroit Red Wing captain, 12-time NHL All Star, seven-time Norris Trophy-winner
--Tom Mach - Catholic Central HS football coach, 17 Catholic League titles, 10 MHSAA championships
--John Smoltz - eight-time All Star, Cy Young Award winner, 200-plus wins and 150-plus saves

For more information visit michigansportshof.org.

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