The top two teams in the Danish Festival men’s softball tournament had to face each other three times to decide the outcome. In the end, All American Communications topped Ed Koehn Automotive Group two out of three times, including 17-10 in the championship game.

For the second year in a row, Slow Bob’s won the women’s division of the Greenville Danish Festival Softball Tournament. Slow Bob’s, based out of Lake Odessa, beat Michigan Fusion 21-7 in the final game to claim their second straight crown.

So finishing fourth in the 100-meter hurdles isn’t good enough? I pretty sure the actual runner I’m speaking of, Lolo Jones, would possibly say that. After all, she was the one working her tail off the past four years with the hope of winning Olympic gold.

Conditions were hot and dry this past weekend with temperatures hovering in the mid-90s, but that didn’t stop more than 1,200 youths and adults from packing the streets of downtown Belding for this year’s annual Gus Macker tournament. With 326 teams participating in this year’s tournament, downtown Belding once again was transformed into “Mackerville, USA” as teams competed in the 3-on-3 basketball tournament on Saturday and Sunday.

The 2012 London Summer Olympic Games officially get underway tonight in England with the spectacular opening ceremony. This will be the third time London has hosted the Summer Olympics. They also hosted in 1908 and 1948. London was selected to host the 1944 games, but the games were canceled due to World War II.

A huge crowd was on hand Saturday night at Crystal Motor Speedway to watch a spectacular night of racing sponsored by Engine Pro.

In order to repeat as champions of the Greenville Men’s Slowpitch Softball Tournament, Sports Galore would have to win three straight games, including two in the finals. Team Rowdy allowed them to win one of the two finals games, but then came back from a deficit to take the tournament.

Boys and girls ages 8 to 13 can participate in the Ford Escape Soccer Skills Challenge at Green Public Schools at 111 N. Hillcrest St. Hosted by Ed Koehn Ford, the Soccer Skills Challenge will have youths compete in a series of challenges designed to encourage teamwork, improve their soccer skills and most importantly, have fun. Participants will receive points based on their performance of the six different soccer kills — toe taps, foundations, juggling (right and left foot) and dribbling (right and left foot). The top-scorers, a boy and girl from each age group, will be awarded a trophy at the end of the event.

Downtown Greenville was a busy place this weekend as the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament took to South Lafayette Street for a little ballin’. More than 170 teams were on hand to play in the tournament, which was interrupted briefly by a rain shower Saturday afternoon.

Prior to this season I had only been to one other Major League ballpark not home to the Detroit Tigers. A few years back I made a trip to Milwaukee to catch a Brewers and Chicago Cubs game. It was an excellent ballpark and time, but It wasn’t the same not watching the Tigers.