MIKE WILLIAMS

It’s easy to spot newbies in the Michigan International Speedway infield – they have a yellow sash of sorts, which is really just caution tape tied in a circle. The “rookie stripe” mimics an on-track ritual, as NASCAR requires rookies to have a yellow stripe on their rear bumper. His first MIS race was in 1974 – he was 14, came to that race with his dad and watched his “hero” Richard Petty win. The FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race is at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 7. “People are coming back to racing, it seems like.”Some fans are disappointed MIS only has one race weekend now.

Two people with knowledge of the deal say the Seattle Seahawks are expected to sign DK Metcalf to a three-year contract extension worth up to $72 million and $58 million guaranteed.

South Dakota head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, a former Wolverines assistant, has guided her 10th-seeded Coyotes on an improbable NCAA Tournament run. But according to one of her closest peers in the college ranks, South Dakota’s postseason run isn’t that stunning. Grand Valley State head coach Mike Williams was an assistant under Plitzuweit at Grand Valley from 2003-07, winning a Division II national title together in 2006. 3 seed Michigan (6:30 p.m., ESPN2), Plitzuweit spoke highly of her time in Ann Arbor. “I thought I was going to be a kindergarten teacher; somehow I ended up as a college basketball coach.

Grand Valley State University’s bid for a NCAA Division II championship came to an end in Wednesday night’s national semifinals, falling 77-53 to Glenville State University at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala. The Lady Pioneers advance to Friday’s title game while Grand Valley ended its season at 31-3. Grand Valley battled through adversity and defeated Missouri Western in Monday’s Elite Eight to advance to Wednesday’s semifinal. The Lady Pioneers went on a 22-12 third-quarter run to go up by eight. Grand Valley shot 37.93 from the floor, made 1-of-13 3-point attempts and was 8-of-18 from the free throw line.

Grand Valley State University is trying to make it two. The Lakers defeated Missouri Western 67-44 in Monday afternoon’s NCAA Division II Elite 8 at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala. Grand Valley also was 12-of-14 from the free throw line. Grand Valley held a 41-31 edge on the boards, with Kulas, Qay Stanton and Courtney Sharland pulling down seven rebounds each. The Lakers held Missouri Western to 29.41 percent shooting for the game and 2-of-14 from 3-point range.

Tuesday was a wild day in the NFL, and not just because of the 4 p.m. ET deadline for teams to use the franchise tag. 9:08 a.m: Dolphins tag Mike GesickiESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the “Dolphins have placed the franchise tag on TE Mike Gesicki, per league source.”10:01 a.m: Cowboys tag Dalton SchultzNFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports “The #Cowboys are franchise tagging TE Dalton Schultz, source said, keeping another playmaker in the fold. The signing period for franchise players begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 16 and ends on the Tuesday following the 10th week of the season.”

The NFL’s salary cap for 2022 will be $208.2 million — a healthy increase from the previous, pandemic-impacted years.

This is the first of a seven-part series previewing the Detroit Lions’ positional needs heading into free agency. Green (Cardinals), DeSean Jackson (Raiders)Breakdown: Brad Holmes barely dipped his toes into the free-agent pool after taking over in Detroit last season. That’s what the Lions believe anyway, and they now appear poised to be players when free agency opens next week. The deadline for the franchise tag is today. After playing under the franchise tag last year, he is expected to hit free agency this season.

DAVISON, MI – Although they’ve played 15 games, in some ways Davison’s boys basketball team and coach Mike Williams are still strangers. Because Williams wasn’t hired away from Beecher until July, he didn’t get to oversee the Cardinals during the summer season. So it’s not surprising the Cardinals have a 5-10 record after losing 57-56 Saturday to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in the first Cardinal Classic. Notre Dame countered with a 14-4 run to take a 45-39 lead with 4:10 to play. We just gotta keep grinding.”Against Notre Dame, Davison had three freshmen, a sophomore and seven juniors in the lineup.

The Associated Press will hand out its individual NFL awards on Feb. 10 at NFL Honors in Los Angeles.

There are four teams still in the hunt for an NFC wild-card berth.

Davison visited Arthur Hill Tuesday, marking the return of former Arthur Hill head coach Greg McMath, former assistant coach Greg Lawson and former Saginaw junior high phenom Greg Lawson II. But it also marked the return of the Arthur Hill boys basketball team, which played its first home game since Covid forced it to forfeit a playoff game and end the 2020-21 season. Arthur Hill enjoyed the return more than Davison’s Saginaw players and coaches, jumping out to an early lead and hanging on for an 83-68 Saginaw Valley League win. He followed with 15 points in the fourth quarter – including three 3-pointers – as Davison cut the Arthur Hill lead to single digits. “My guys played a great first half, but I think they took the foot off the gas in the second half,” Arthur Hill coach Anthony Davis said.

Morris 69, Montrose 43Monte Missentzis scored 20 points and Owen Emmendorfer had 10 to lead Montrose (1-2). Senior Bretton Overfield added 12 points and sophomore Michael Cook had eight offensive rebounds. Kalen Williams added 12 points and four steals, Lexi Kosmowski supplied 10 points and four rebounds and Alisha Isenberg chipped in eight points and 10 rebounds. Genesee Christian 53, Beecher 31Ava Boike led Genesee Christian (1-1) with 24 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. Haven Chapman added nine points and 15 rebounds while Brooklyn Lange also scored nine points.

LAPEER, MI – The schedule says this is the first week of the boys high school basketball season in Michigan. There wasn’t much the Lightning didn’t excel at in posting a 69-57 victory over Davison, which is expected to be one of the Flint-area’s top teams this season. It definitely is what we hoped for.”Logan Dunbar led Lapeer with four 3-pointers en route to a game-high 20 points. As a team, Lapeer made 12 3-pointers. Braylen Himmelein led Davison with 10 points, Teon Armstrong added nine, Dane Coleman had eight and heralded freshman Greg Lawson had five.

DAVISON, MI – For the last several years, Mike Williams never shied away from sharing the high expectations he had for his high school basketball teams. And more often than not, Beecher delivered, giving Williams six Division 3 state titles in the last 10 years. And Williams is also working to mold a young team while trying to instill his ideas. “Better than to be expected, just putting in a new system and trying to change the culture,” Williams said when asked how things are going at Davison. “He’s going to play a very big factor,” Williams predicted.

Justin Herbert threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams with 2:17 remaining and the Los Angeles Chargers held off the Pittsburgh Steelers 41-37 on Sunday night.

FLINT – Keyon Menifield will be heading west to play college basketball. Menifield, the Division 3 Player of the Year who led Beecher to the state basketball championship, announced on Twitter that he has signed to attend the University of Washington next year. Despite playing four seasons on the varsity for Beecher, Menifield received just two college offers – from Eastern Michigan and Cleveland State – before deciding in June to reclassify and enroll at The Skills Factory in Georgia. The 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 26 points, 9.3 assists, 6.6 steals and 4.7 rebounds as a senior at Beecher. MORE:Keyon Menifield reclassifies for 2021-22Is Menifield the most underrated player in Michigan?

Austin Ekeler scored three touchdowns, including a 3-yard score with 1:31 remaining as the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Cleveland Browns 47-42 in a wild shootout Sunday.

Justin Herbert’s touchdown toss to Mike Williams with 32 seconds to go lifted the Los Angeles Chargers to a 30-24 victory over the Chiefs.

Greg Zuerlein connected on a 56-yard field goal as time expired to give the Dallas Cowboys a 20-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Justin Herbert threw for 337 yards and a touchdown to help the Los Angeles Chargers beat Washington 20-16 in an ugly Week 1 matchup full of turnovers and big penalties.

A Leon County circuit judge handed down the sentence for Denise Williams, rejecting arguments from her attorney that she was only a minor participant in the plot to kill her husband, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. Mike Williams, a 31-year-old real estate appraiser, disappeared in December 2000 during what was supposedly a solo duck hunting trip to a lake in Jackson County.

FLINT – Mike Williams’ departure to Davison has left Beecher searching for a new athletic director and basketball coach. Williams spent 19 years coaching basketball at Beecher, where he won his sixth state championship in April, and he added the AD duties to his workload last year. Now, the Bucs are looking to fill both positions after Williams was hired as Davison’s basketball coach and dean of students two weeks ago. With Harris, Cummings and Lee leading a strong returning cast for Beecher, Williams said not to be surprised if the Bucs win another state championship in 2022. MORE:Mike Williams hired as Davison basketball coachKeyon Menifield dazzles in leading Beecher to state titleBeecher hires Richard Klee as new superintendentBeecher already thinking about another state title

FLINT, MI -- Weeks after winning his sixth state title since 2012 as the Beecher High School men’s basketball coach, Mike Williams is taking a different coaching job Davison Community Schools. Williams will begin as the head basketball coach and dean of students at Davison High School this month, according to a Tuesday, July 6 news release from the district. The championship coach served as the athletic director and head basketball coach at Beecher High School. Before Beecher, Williams taught at Flint Northwestern for 18 years, per the release. “This is not a reflection on Beecher,” Williams said.

MORRIS TWP., MI – Could Keyon Menifield and Carmelo Harris ended up playing college basketball together after leading Beecher to the Division 3 state basketball championship? It’s a possibility since Toledo has shown interest in both of the Bucs’ All-State guards. Since winning the state title, Menifield said he’s also received interested from Louisville, Boston College and Toledo and that list is likely to grow this summer. Menifield, a senior, led Beecher with 37 points against Iron Mountain as the Bucs finished the season with a 16-1 record. Harris, a junior, had 16 points in the championship game and like Menifield, was named to the Division 3 All-State first team.

– Beecher’s rally celebrating the Bucs 2021 Division 3 state basketball championship wasn’t even over Thursday when coach Mike Williams began talking about winning it again next year. But the purpose of the gathering was to celebrate the Bucs’ sixth state championship under Williams since 2012 and their ninth overall since 1976. Before the varsity basketball team entered the gym, Beecher also recognized members of the junior varsity basketball team, girls varsity basketball team, volleyball team and football team. When the varsity basketball team entered the gym, each player was carrying a championship trophy representing the school’s various district, regional and state titles. Nine of the deceased were mentioned by name, a group that included legendary Beecher basketball coaches Mose Lacy and Leonard Robinson.

Kings of Leon’s rock and roll journey has taken them from an NFT to the NFL.

FLINT – Flint Beecher has turned into a factory for outstanding point guards. “He’s the most unique out of the players that I’ve coached,” said Mike Williams, who was named D3 Coach of the Year. At one point in the second half, he was outscoring the entire Iron Mountain team. Junior Carmelo Harris is expected to be the next great Beecher point guard. MORE:Division 3 boys basketball All-State teamDivision 4 boys basketball All-State teamKeyon Menifield lifts hearts of Beecher basketballKeyon Menifield is latest outstanding Beecher guardBeing named Beecher AD bittersweet for Mike Williams

Presenting the 2021 Associated Press Division 3 boys basketball All-State team for Michigan, as selected by a panel of 11 sports writers across the state. Menifield led Beecher (16-2) to its sixth state championship since 2012 with a sensational performance in a 75-47 victory over previously unbeaten Iron Mountain. COACH OF THE YEARMike Williams has led Beecher to six state championships since 2012. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake MayMike Williams, Flint BeecherThe Bucs won their sixth state championship since 2012 under Williams, who led Beecher to a 16-1 record. Honorable mentionMatt Bauer, HemlockBruce Koopman, McBainMORE:Division 4 All-State team2021 Division 1 girls basketball All-State2021 Division 2 girls basketball All-State2021 Division 3 girls basketball All-State2021 Division 4 girls basketball All-State

The Detroit Lions are picking inside the top 10 for the third consecutive NFL draft, so let’s take a look back through the rocky years of selections. Detroit holds Pick 7 come Thursday’s draft, representing the team’s 27th try picking inside the top 10 since 1960. 5 -- BYU DE Ezekiel “Ziggy” AnsahEzekiel Ansah had 30 sacks in his first 46 career games, but injuries and a regime change in Detroit led to his exit. He’s remained involved with the franchise, serving as the color commentator for Lions games over the past couple of seasons. 10 -- Kansas QB John HadlJohn Hadl never played a snap for the Detroit Lions, opting for life in the AFL with the San Diego Chargers.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Beecher boys basketball team has spoiled its community with state championships in the last decade. So when Beecher clobbered Iron Mountain, 75-47, on Saturday afternoon at the Breslin Center, it was not much of a shock. LIVE UPDATES RECAP: Keyon Menifield dazzles in leading Flint Beecher to ninth state boys basketball titleA year ago, Williams’ father passed away after a battle with COVID-19. As proof of Beecher’s excellence on defense, it held Iron Mountain Mr. Basketball finalist Foster Wonders scoreless through two and a half quarters of action. For Iron Mountain, Jurgen Kleiman had 12 points and 8 rebounds while Dante Basanese added 11 points.

How is it Keyon Menifield of Flint Beecher is not a finalist for Michigan’s Mr. Basketball Award? Against previously unbeaten Iron Mountain, Menifield scored 37 points as Beecher won its sixth state title since 2012 and ninth overall. Here’s how the game developed:Fourth quarter0:00: Beecher wins sixth state title since 2012 and ninth overall with a 75-47 win over Iron Mountain. Keyon Menifield is on the bench with a Beecher record 37 points in a state finals game. 7:59: Second half underwayNot sure how Keyon Menifield wasn't a finalist for Mr. Basketball.

EAST LANSING – Flint Beecher had hopes of playing in the Division 3 basketball state title game last year but saw their season come to an end because of the pandemic in March. They’ll now seek their ninth state title and first since 2017 when they face Iron Mountain 3 p.m. on Saturday. The Comets saw their season come to an end Thursday, but not before winning a conference, district and regional championship in 2021. And while they were unable to advance to the state title, HH coach Chad Mortimer was grateful to have the opportunity to even be in this situation during this unprecedented season. “We believe that last year we had the team to come down here and make it happen,” he said.

Beecher defeated Reese 89-58. Beecher defeated Reese 89-58. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake MayThe Beecher boys basketball team rallies together in the locker room before playing Reese in the Division 3 boys basketball regional championship on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at Reese High School. Beecher defeated Reese 89-58. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake MayBeecher head coach Mike Williams lifts the Division 3 boys basketball regional championship trophy after his team defeated Reese 89-58 on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at Reese High School.

The game was originally scheduled for March 2 but was postponed because Grand Blanc had to enter a 10-day quarantine. “We were looking forward to (playing Grand Blanc) We’re playing the best that we’ve been playing. I talked to (Grand Blanc coach) Mike Thomas last night and it was going to be great for both or our teams. Mike is a championship coach and I’m a championship coach. These kids have helped me get through my grief.”MORE:Grand Blanc boys basketball team in quarantineFlint-area basketball highlights for March 10Flint-area girls basketball Power RankingsFlint-area boys basketball Power RankingsMiss Basketball watch list for March 11

GOODRICH, MI – Is Keyon Menifield of Beecher the most underrated basketball player in Michigan? Williams, not one to blow smoke about anything, isn’t the only person who thinks Menifield is the most underrated player in the state. I’d take Keyon over him.”The game vs. Goodrich marked the fifth time in six games Menifield has scored at least 30 points. He’s only scored fewer than 20 once and he’s leading the Flint-area in scoring at 28 points a game. With that said, is it possible he’s the best player in the entire state?

For Flint, James Williams scored 13 points and Julian Gardner had 11. Karl Stevens scored 13 to top Richmond (1-3). Diamond Williams added 11 while Jamira Shumpert and Ceana Washington added 10 apiece. Imlay City 69, Richmond 16Mary Lengemann scored 16 points and Abigail Thibodeau scored 11 for Imlay City (6-1). MORE:Grand Blanc boys basketball team quarantinedFlint-area boys basketball Power RankingsFlint-area girls basketball Power RankingsVote for Flint-area basketball Player of Week

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, MI – Jacoby Sanders isn’t one on of those guys who needed an athletic scholarship to go to college. Sanders’ brother, Earnest, is playing football at Kentucky and his father Earnest Sanders III played football for Michigan from 1993-96. “It’s the best opportunity for me,” said the 6-foot, 165-pound Sanders, who was flanked by his father and football coach Anthony Branch when he signed his letter of intent. Sanders also plays basketball and will likely be one of Beecher’s top players this season. You are an example for all kids coming up.”Sanders said he had eight offers to play football.

FILE - In this Dec. 15 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn speaks after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, in Carson, Calif. The Los Angeles Chargers have fired coach Anthony Lynn less than two seasons after he led the franchise to the AFC divisional round. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo, File)COSTA MESA, Calif. – A four-game winning streak at the end of the season wasn't enough to save Anthony Lynn's job with the Los Angeles Chargers. Lynn led the franchise to the playoffs in 2018 but Los Angeles had losing records the last two seasons. Hired by the Chargers in January 2017, Lynn was the first Black head coach in franchise history and had one year remaining on his contract.

DETROIT -- The Lions (5-11) could have moved up in the draft order following their season-ending loss to the Minnesota Vikings. But all six teams in front of them lost too, leaving Detroit sitting pat on the seventh overall pick heading into this year’s NFL draft. This is the third straight time Detroit has landed a top-10 pick, selecting cornerback Jeff Okudah third overall this year after landing tight end T.J. Hockenson with the eighth overall pick in 2019. Hockenson turned into a Pro Bowler in Year 2, the franchise’s first tight end to do that since David Sloan in 1999. The Lions haven’t picked seventh overall since taking receiver Roy Williams in 2004.

Herbert, the sixth overall pick in the April draft and third QB taken, completed 21 of 33 passes for 253 yards. Badgley also split the uprights from 43 yards late in the second quarter to extend LA’s lead to 13-0 at halftime. After the Chargers went three-and-out, Drew Lock scored on a 1-yard keeper for Denver's first rushing touchdown in seven games. And after Badgley's late field goal, the Broncos got to midfield. McManus then had a 37-yard field goal attempt bounce off the left upright, his first miss inside 40 yards since 2017.

FLINT – The second round of the high school football playoffs don’t begin until Friday in the Flint area but one local team is already through to the third round. Beecher received a forfeit victory over Harbor Beach in Division 8 because of COVID-19 issues, Beecher athletic director Mike Williams told MLive-The Flint Journal Tuesday. Beecher (6-1) and Harbor Beach (4-3) were scheduled to meet Saturday afternoon. The game was going to be a rematch of the 2018 regional finals, when Harbor Beach won 35-0 in a snowstorm. Beecher is second Flint-area team in a week to be involved in a COVID-related forfeit.

He’s got to do better but we could have done some other things better,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said. “This is how you grow as a team," Brees said. The Chargers (1-4) fell to their fourth straight loss by a touchdown or less, and the second in overtime. Then Brees found Cook open behind the Chargers’ secondary on third-and-long to tie it early in the fourth quarter. Saints: Enter their bye week, followed by a Week 7 home date with Carolina on Oct. 25.

Howard, Cameron Brate and rookie Ke’Shawn Vaughn — caught scoring passes from Brady, who threw four of them after the Bucs fell behind 24-7 in the second quarter. I can honestly say that if this had been last year, we would have gotten beat by 20,” Arians said. “We’ve got to keep building on the confidence in one another because there’s nothing we’re doing out there that’s perfect," Brady said. Ndamukong Suh forced a fumble inside the Los Angeles 10 with the Chargers attempting to run out at the clock. ... Howard was carted off late in the fourth quarter with what the Bucs described as an Achilles tendon injury.

I think theres a lot of teams in the league right now that are dealing with all kinds of injuries.He's right. Teams all over the league were sent scrambling during camp. Certainly not during training camp when players are going hard to make the roster as the start of the regular season rolls closer. It's the soft tissue injuries and those things that you are trying to prevent with the ramp-up period," Bitonio said. That will certainly be something to monitor as the regular season begins and teams deal with injuries and potential replacements.

"When the public talks about COVID-19, it seems we similarly want to discredit those who are infected, or even the disease itself," Caitlin says in her latest column. Usually, when I talk about listening to survivors, its in reference to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. When I shared the story on Twitter (@ctaylormn), I wrote: Proud of this one a Frenchtown Township #COVID19 survivors story. Thats when the parallels between listening to survivors of sexual violence and COVID-19 struck me. So I added something extra at the end of my tweet Listen to #survivors (of all kinds)!Contact Caitlin Taylor at ctaylor@monroenews.com.

Mike Williams, 73, of Frenchtown Township, tested positive on April 5 for COVID-19 coronavirus. Are you having any trouble breathing?No, not any more than usual, Mike Williams asserted from the comfort of his living room couch. On April 5, Williams tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. ProMedica Monroe home health care nurse Andrea Tocco officially discharged him as a COVID- 19 patient and his quarantine requirements were lifted. After 70 years, Williams has created quite the laundry list of health conditions that would make him particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 respiratory virus, including age.

Ten years ago, when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, 60 Minutes put a large team of about 20 staff members on the assignment. One producer, Nicole Young, went searching -- by boat and helicopter -- for spilled oil, which hadn't made landfall in the Gulf yet. Another producer, Michael Karzis, was tasked with learning the science of oil rigs and deepwater drilling. But it was one of the youngest members of the team who found the remarkable oil rig worker named Mike Williams. Williams' interview also shed new light on the causes of the explosion.

The mother of 5-year-old Taylor Rose Williams has been arrested and charged in connection with the girl's disappearance, authorities said Tuesday. Hours before police announced the arrest, investigators found remains that they believe to be Taylor in rural Alabama. Earlier Tuesday, police in Demopolis, Alabama, released a statement saying that the team searching for Taylor had found human remains. CBS affiliate WJAX-TV reports there were blue tents set up where the remains were believed to have been found. Taylor Williams CBS NewsThe child was reported missing from her Jacksonville, Florida, home last Wednesday.

The Broncos search for answers continues in Los Angeles, where theyll face their AFC West rivals in Week 5. The Chargers sit at 2-2, as they make their way through an early season similarly filled with struggles. Both the Broncos and the Chargers need a win this week to keep up with the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Flacco, who was supposed to bring veteran leadership to this offense, has also imported his struggles from Baltimore. Philip Rivers doesnt always respond well to pressure and can be forced into mistakes, or at least questionable displays of judgment.