Sitting in the office on Monday morning I found myself continuously checking the online leader board of the U.S. Open. Not before long the desire became too much so I left to watch the final holes at my apartment.

What draws fans to such sports spectacles as the Open? Maybe it’s the sheer amazement and/or jealousy of the pro’s skills. Maybe it’s a chance to admire the beauty of a course like Bethpage Black.

EMU women’s basketball receives $15K

To help increase awareness of women’s basketball, Eastern Michigan University received $15,000 on June 16 from the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball Grant Program.

“We are delighted that the NCAA has awarded EMU a grant to enhance our marketing efforts and increase attendance,” Athletic Director Dr. Derrick Gragg said in a statement. “This is a very exciting time for our women’s basketball program, and this money will allow us to extend our reach and introduce new fans to our team.”

Once teammates on Eastern Michigan University’s baseball team, Kyle Rhoad and Jimmy Gulliver soon will be playing professionally on opposite sides of the country.

They were selected in last week’s MLB draft – Gulliver by the Detroit Tigers (20th round, 600th overall) and Rhoad by the Texas Rangers (33rd, 994th).

Rhoad signed Saturday and is set to play for the Spokane (Wash.) Indians. Physical pending, Gulliver was expected to sign today with the Oneonta (N.Y.) Tigers.

“It’s every kid’s lifelong dream to play professional baseball,” Kyle Rhoad said in a phone interview today.

Karanja is an All-American

Senior Josh Karanja placed sixth in the steeplechase at the NCAA Track and Field Championship Friday at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. By finishing in the top eight, he’s considered an All-American.

Karanja, a Mid-American Conference champ, completed the race in 8:40.16, and he is Eastern Michigan University’s lone All-American for the 2008-09 academic year. Brigham Young University senior Kyle Perry won the race in 8:29.24.

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings are on the brink of bringing back the Cup.

Sparked by playing at home with one of their top players making his series debut, the Wings put the franchise on the brink of a second consecutive NHL championship with a 5-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals Saturday night.

The win at Joe Louis Arena gave the Wings a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and they can capture the 12th Stanley Cup in team history with a win in Game 6 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh tonight. The game is at 8 p.m. and is on NBC and CBC.

What a difference one player can make. After losing two games in Pittsburgh, the Detroit Red Wings needed a boost if they wanted to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions.

And they got one in Game 5 of the Finals on Saturday night in the return of Pavel Datsyuk, who had missed the previous seven games with an injury. He had two assists in the 5-0 win over the Penguins and helped lead Detroit to a 3-2 series lead.

“What a huge lift,” Wings forward Daniel Cleary told The Detroit News on Saturday. “He’s a MVP candidate, like you took (Evgeni) Malkin out of their lineup.”