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June 13, 2007
BY GEORGE SIPPLE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Steve Yzerman and Jimmy Devellano shared another special moment Tuesday.

Devellano, the Red Wings' senior vice president, accompanied Yzerman to the Detroit Athletic Club for the announcement of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame's class of 2007. Devellano drafted Yzerman fourth overall in the 1983 NHL entry draft while general manager of the Wings.

Yzerman was the last of 11 people announced for induction. The date for the dinner has not yet been determined, but it is slated for after the Super Bowl but before the start of spring training.

Yzerman thought it was fitting to be a part of the 2007 class, since Devellano was inducted last year.

"I followed him into Detroit a year later," said Yzerman, now a vice president with the Wings. "He came in '82, I came in '83. ... To follow him in feels somewhat appropriate. He brought me to Detroit and looked after me when I was a young kid here. Kept a close eye on me and he's always been a huge supporter of mine."

Joining Yzerman in the 2007 class are local amateur hockey supporter and Plymouth Whalers owner Peter Karmanos, play-by-play announcer and sports talk-show host Frank Beckmann, U-M Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard, Olympic gold medal swimmer Clark Scholes (Michigan State), NHL Hall of Famer and Wings great Norm Ullman, Pistons player and coach Ray Scott, Olympic gold-medal kayaker Greg Barton, Michigan men's basketball standout and Flint native Glen Rice, Detroit Stars legend Turkey Stearns and Ceciliaville founder Sam Washington.

Scott and Scholes were among the inductees to join Yzerman for Tuesday's announcement.

Scholes, a native Detroiter who won gold in the 100-meter freestyle in the Helsinki Summer Olympics in 1952, said the induction was an honor, especially for "something I was fortunate enough to accomplish before most of you in this room were born."

"I will never forget it and am very appreciative," he said.

Scott was also touched by the honor. "To think that you did something in your life that would warrant your children seeing you honored for all time is an incredible statement in a lifetime," said Scott, who lives in Ann Arbor.

FULL STORY

LadyRedWings

Damn straight, Steve Yzerman's the MAN.

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