Sports OT:Griffin vs Ping Pong Diplomat

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Del Sweeris was summoned to Van Andel Arena last week to challenge Grand Rapid Griffin Gustav Nyquist to a table tennis match.

Sweeris, now an accountant, was a key figure in the so-called Ping Pong Diplomacy that helped improve relations between the United States and China in the 1970s and paved the way for Pres. Richard Nixon's trip to China.

Nyquist, a left wing, is a top prospect in the Red Wings organization. He's also a mean ping pong player.

But he was no match for Sweeris, a Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Famer with more than 40 years of table tennis practice behind him. Sweeris whipped Nyquist in three sets.

==Watch above: Sweeris and Nyquist talk about their heated but friendly match.==