By TIM RATH

Sports Editor

Summer sports in Michigan could be thought of as more repetitive than reruns on television.

For those with a taste for the outdoors, Michigan is well known as a summertime hunting, fishing and boating hot-spot. If those three aren’t to your taste, well, enjoy playing basketball in 85humidity.

People that prefer to watch other people do the exercise seem to have the Detroit Tigers as the be-all, end-all for summer spectating fun. Those that are sick of the “Bless You Boys” can normally be found counting down the days until the Lions kick off, which can be a pretty tragic endeavor.

However, there are many options for who that wish to stray off the beaten path. From spectator fun to extreme sports, Michigan has something for everyone.

For those exhausted of the million-dollar contracts and extreme disappointments that have plagued Comerica Park this season, there remain many other options to catch a live baseball game.

A ride to Lansing (an hour and a half drive from OU) to watch the Class A Midwest League Lansing Lugnuts is an enjoyable day-trip at an affordable price.

Only slightly out of the state, traveling to Toledo, Ohio to watch the Mud Hens play at Fifth Third Field can prove a nostalgic experience for fans old enough to remember Tiger Stadium. The home of the AAA affiliate to the Tigers features an overhang roof section of the stands that will inspire memories of the past while you watch future Tigers on the field.

If baseball isn’t your cup of beer, perhaps you have a need for speed. The Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn hosts three different NASCAR Cup Series races all throughout the summer from the scenic Irish Hills.

For racing closer to home, Belle Isle’s annual Grand Prix takes place this year from Aug. 28 to 31 and features both “the high tech cars of the American Le Mans Series and the high-speed stars of the IndyCar Series,” according to www.TellUsDetroit.com.

For those who do not consider the summer to have truly arrived until they’ve nearly passed out from dehydration, there are plenty of lesser-known options to leave them bathed in sweat just the same.

Disc golf is an easy and fun choice that enjoys the distinction of being available nearby campus. Just take a walk to the Auburn Hills Civic Center Park near the corner of University and Squirrel Road. You’re in for nine holes of frisbee-tossing goodness. They even sell discs inside the civic center, too.

However, the extremist in us may not be content to fling rubber all summer. When the urge strikes to do something a little crazy, take a trip to one of the five Great Lakes that surround Michigan. Not just to swim or boat, mind you, but to surf! Unbeknownst to many, surfing is a prevalent activity for many in every Great Lake, however, it should be known in advance that Lakes Superior and Michigan offer the best waves, by far.

Aside from surfing, the waters of Lake Superior offer a perfect environment for paddlesports such as canoeing and kayaking. In addition to getting an excellent workout, you’re guaranteed to catch a terrific mountain view or end up underneath a waterfall.

Finally, for those of us that prefer reading about sports to participating in them, the Class of 2008 of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame includes Detroit Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman, WJR broadcaster Frank Beckmann and University of Michigan footballer Desmond Howard. Cheer on these sporting heroes at www.MichiganSportsHOF.com.

Whatever your game, it’s clear that Michigan has something for every athlete’s taste. For those athletes that get by on their taste alone, Pastrami Joe’s World Reuben Eating Contest in Marshall on July 19 is an ultimate celebration of gluttony that is sure to amuse the average spectator, if not horrify them.