Detroit, MI
Rocket predictions: News ‘experts’ pick their favorites, dark horses and winners
Detroit — The Rocket’s back.
The PGA Tour returns to Detroit Golf Club this week, for the sixth playing of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, which has struggled at times to put together a star-studded field, but hasn’t struggled in producing the drama.
Every Rocket has had its fair share of story lines, and drama. The tournament has had two playoffs, including Rickie Fowler’s triumph over Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin, last year. And the tournament’s had its fair share of marquee winners, including Tony Finau in 2022 and Bryson DeChambeau in 2020.
Who will it be this year?
The News’ resident golf “experts” weigh in, before the action gets under way at Detroit Golf Club on Thursday.
Tony Paul, reporter
▶ Favorite: Tom Kim has to be the popular pick this week in Detroit, given his performance at the Travelers, where he led almost the entire tournament until late on Sunday, when Scottie Scheffler passed him by (no shame in that) and eventually won in a playoff. Kim knows how to go low, and he’s done it in Detroit. Cameron Young will be atop a lot of folks’ list, too, after his 59 on Sunday, and his tie for second in Detroit in 2022, but if the rough is thick, Young and his erratic driver could have some issues.
▶ One to watch: I’m extremely curious to see how 15-year-old Miles Russell handles his first appearance in a PGA Tour event, in the tournament on a sponsor’s exemption. He did just swell in his Korn Ferry Tour debut, becoming the youngest player ever to make the cut on that circuit. He played Detroit Golf Club earlier this year, and apparently tore the place up (and he also swung by Oakland Hills, shooting 67-68 from the tips).
▶ Dark horse: Neal Shipley. He joined the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Viktor Hovland and a handful of others in earning low-amateur honors at both the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year. He since has turned professional, and projects to be one of those quick-to-the-winner-circle fellas.
▶ Winner: Rickie Fowler. The Rocket hasn’t had a repeat winner, but I’ll say that ends this year. He’s struggled since his breakthrough win in Detroit a year ago, but turned it on the Travelers, just in time for one of his favorite stops.
John Niyo, columnist
▶ Favorite: Cameron Young is the highest-ranked player in the field, and he’s coming in hot, fresh off firing a 59 on Saturday at the Travelers. But with his combination of power and touch, he’s also a perfect fit for this Donald Ross course, as he proved with a runner-up finish to Tony Finau in 2022
▶ One to watch: Chris Kirk is a horse for this course, no doubt. His tie for 14th here last year was his fourth straight top-25 finish, a run that includes a dozen rounds in the 60s.
▶ Dark horse: J.J. Spaun has made the cut in every RMC — no one else can say that — and last year’s T33 was his worst finish to date. Recent results aren’t great, but a Motor City visit might be just what he needed.
▶ Winner: Taylor Pendrith followed up a runner-up finish here in 2022 with another top-15 last year at DGC. After notching his breakthrough win at the Byron Nelson this spring, I’m picking him to double up this week in Detroit.
More: The News’ tee-to-green coverage of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, all right here
Craig Yuhas, assistant sports editor
▶ Favorite: Tom Kim. Without a star-studded field, Kim stands out as someone that should have a great chance after finishing second at Travelers Championship. The biggest problem is how much gas do some of the better players, including Kim, have in the tank? Kim is playing his ninth event in a row, and many will be playing their fourth or fifth tournament in a row this week. He seems to be handling it the best right now.
▶ One to watch: Rickie Fowler. His win at last year’s RMC was a big breakthrough as he embarks on the second half of his PGA Tour career. His play has been steady but not spectacular since. He will have a big following, as he always does, when he’s here. Maybe that is the jolt his game needs to get back rolling to finish off the season.
▶ Dark horse: Adam Schenk. He’s had a up-and-down year, but when he’s good, he’s really good. Schenk finished seventh last year here and maybe this is the week the Purdue alum breaks through for his first career victory.
➤ Winner: Akshay Bhatia. After winning the Texas Open the week before the Masters, Bhatia struggled for a minute before putting it together and is trending in the right direction — T22 at Memorial, T16 at U.S. Open and T5 at the Travelers. I like him to win, but I wonder how he holds up. This will be his eighth tournament in a row.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
Detroit, MI
Detroit man to stand trial for assault on police officer
A 19-year-old Detroit man accused of dragging a police officer while fleeing on the city’s west side last month has been ordered to stand trial, officials said Tuesday.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said a 36th District Court judge bound over Raymonte Darrell Adams for trial in the county circuit court on Jan. 15. His trial is scheduled to begin on March 17, according to its records.
Adams’ attorney was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday.
Authorities allege Adams was behind the wheel of a car used in a Dec. 10 assault of a Detroit police officer on the city’s northwest side.
Police said the incident happened at about 11:40 p.m. in the 19300 block of Saint Mary’s Street near Seven Mile and Greenfield roads.
They said officers conducted a traffic stop on Adams’ vehicle and during their meeting, he allegedly drove toward them in an attempt to flee. Officers fired their weapons at the vehicle, striking Adams multiple times. However, the vehicle continued to travel, allegedly striking a police officer and dragging him, according to authorities.
A short time later, investigators found Adams with gunshot wounds lying in the roadway in the 19400 block of Rutherford Street, about two-tenths of a mile from the traffic stop. Medics took him to a hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Four days later, the prosecutor’s office charged Adams for his role in the incident with assault with intent to murder, third-degree fleeing and eluding as well as resisting and obstructing a police officer.
If convicted, he faces up to life in prison for the assault with intent to murder charge, up to five years for third-degree fleeing and eluding and up to four years for the resisting a police officer charge.
Two weeks ago, another Detroit police officer was injured after being dragged by a car fleeing a traffic stop on the city’s east side.
Last May, a Sterling Heights man was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly dragging a deputy U.S. Marshal who was trying to arrest him.
In March, a man was arrested after dragging Marshals with a car and crashing into a Warren hotel.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
@CharlesERamirez
Detroit, MI
Michigan senator introduces bill to repeal cage-free egg law
(CBS DETROIT) – As the price of eggs continues to climb, one state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would repeal Michigan’s new law requiring all eggs sold to be cage-free.
Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton, said bird flu is the primary reason the price of eggs has skyrocketed.
“Here in Michigan we’ve lost 6.5 million hens, more than 16% of the national total,” said Theis.
Theis added that Michigan’s new cage-free egg mandate isn’t helping reduce costs.
“While these systems aim to improve animal welfare, they also increase the risk of bird flu spreading among the flocks and making egg production even more expensive. Those added costs are passed directly to you, the consumer, at the grocery store.”
She has introduced legislation that would repeal the cage-free egg law.
“This legislation won’t fix egg prices overnight, but it will remove unnecessary regulations, giving our farmers the flexibility they need to rebuild their flocks and stabilize their egg supply.”
Detroit, MI
Detroit council approves ban on selling dogs, cats at pet shops in city
Detroit is banning the sale of dogs and cats at retail pet stores in the city, under a new ordinance the city council approved Tuesday.
In a unanimous vote, the council approved the measure, which still allows breeders to still sell dogs and cats directly to the public. Pet stores also could work with animal adoption groups to sell rescued animals.
“This is just one step in the right direction,” said Councilwoman Angela Whitfield Calloway, who introduced the ordinance.
Detroit doesn’t have any retail pet shops that currently sell dogs and cats, but supporters said the measure is preventative in case an operator does want to open in the city. It prevents retail shops from selling dogs and cats that may not be bred by responsible breeders.
“This is not banning breeding,” said Ariel Lefkovits, a public policy specialist who focuses on puppy mills for the Humane Society of the United States, who addressed the council before Tuesday’s vote. “This is not banning the sale of dogs or cats to the public. It’s only affecting pet stores.”
Lefkovits said there’s nothing at the state level that prevents a puppy mill in a Midwestern state from shipping their puppies into a store in Michigan, which is why cities can step in.
“We are working and fighting for regulations at the state level. That also takes time,” she said. “The cities have this power and responsibility to say, ‘We’re going to protect our own community.’”
Detroit is the latest Michigan community to ban the retail sale of dogs and cats. Eastpointe, Royal and 9 other Michigan communities also have bans in place.
Some councilmembers asked questions about enforcement and other ways to make sure pet stores were only selling dogs and cats from responsible breeders or were taking care of animals properly. But in the end, the entire council voted in favor of the ordinance.
“Everyone may not want a rescue dog through the humane society,” said Council President Mary Waters. “They may want to go to a pet shop. But how do we ensure that if a pet shop wanted to open, that those dogs that are sold have come from a licensed breeder?”
Lefkovits said even if a breeder is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, those standards of care are “very minimal” and enforcement isn’t enough. Even when inspectors go in and issue citations, “there’s not meaningful enforcement happening.”
Waters supported the ordinance but said more work needs to be done because the measure doesn’t address the root issues at stake.
Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero called for the creation of a taskforce to address the city’s broader issues with breeders and strays.
“We have organizations that are addressing the issues that we deal with in the city of Detroit every single day and they’re doing it alone. We should be able to help you fill in the gaps,” she said. “…But this highlights the need for us to address the real issues in the city.”
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