FOX Sports Detroit Doesn't Shy from Cabrera DUI Story

• Web visitors flock to breaking news coverage of Tigers'star Miguel Cabrera

• Foxsportsdetroit.com scores 2nd busiest traffic day

The center of the Detroit sports universe on Thursday, Feb. 17 was nearly 1,200 miles away in Florida for breaking news that turned spring training into turmoil, and for a much-anticipated hockey game. FOX Sports Detroit's web and production departments were on hand to capture both for fans back home.  

All Hands on Deck

When it was learned Tigers first baseman and 2010 AL MVP runner-up Miguel Cabrera had been arrested late Wednesday night on DUI suspicion, Foxsportsdetroit.com's Dana Wakiji changed gears and delivered the website's initial story that later was highlighted "above the fold" on MSN.com.  , Wakiji ended up working a doubleheader on Thursday, also covering that night's Red Wings-Lightning hockey game. 

Meanwhile back in the Motor City, FS Detroit's digital content manager Mike Happy deployed two other veteran writers -- Dave Dye and Mike O'Hara  -- to provide viewpoints and perspective on the Cabrera situation.  Also contributing was Foxsports.com national baseball writer Jon Paul Morosi (a former Tigers beat writer).  Web visitors could also view the official police report.

Late in the day, Tigers executive Dave Dombrowski (left) addressed the Cabrera situation with the media at the Tigers spring training headquarters in Lakeland, a session captured by FSDetroit.com web producer Michael Heidner.  Videographer Kevin Guralewski provided footage of the impromptu presser that aired in that night's Red Wings Live pregame/postgame on the linear channel.

The Cabrera coverage boosted FSDetroit.com to its second busiest traffic day in both overall page views and unique visitors.

Hockeytown Moves South

Meanwhile, in other news, an hour down the road, Detroit and Tampa Bay met for their only regular-season meeting, the first time Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman faced his former club as general manager of the Lightning.  Foxsportsdetroit.com set the scene earlier in the week with a story and video about Yzerman's new role.

FOX Sports Detroit's telecast of the Red Wings 6-2 victory (in front of a highly-partisan Detroit crowd in the enemy's arena) earned a 5.24 HH rating in metro Detroit, the network's third-highest rated game of the season and 35% above the season average.  Red Wings Live provided a game recap and player/coach reaction, content that was also made available on Foxsportsdetroit.com.