Israel Idonije has Sept. 29 and Nov. 10 circled on his calendar. Those are the days the Detroit Lions will face their arch rivals, the Chicago Bears, this season. After spending nine years in the Windy City, the Canadian defensive lineman will don the Lions colours this season after signing a one-year deal in Motown as a free agent. The six-foot-six, 271-pound Idonije, a native of Nigeria who grew up in Brandon, Man., has no axe to grind against his former team. "Every week you prepare to play a different team, thats football," Idonije said during a telephone interview this week. "I know its a business and its all part of it. "Chicago has a new regime there and wanted its own people and I understand that. Now, Im just looking forward to suiting up and getting after it on the field twice a year when we play the Bears. I feel the same way when I play the Cleveland Browns because I was with them my first year and I always make sure they remember I was once a Brown." The articulate Idonije originally signed with Cleveland in 2003 as an undrafted free agent following his college career at Brandon. He began the season on the Browns practice roster but was waived before joining Chicagos practice roster later that year. Idonije spent nine seasons with the Bears, registering 28.5 career sacks and 272 tackles over 134 career games. He had a career-best 7.5 sacks last year and new GM Phil Emery -- who hired former CFL head coach Marc Trestman this off-season -- wanted Idonije back but at substantially less than the US$2.5 million the 32-year-old defensive lineman earned in 2012. Idonije had met with both Tennessee and San Francisco this off-season before reaching an agreement with Detroit. Contract details werent divulged but Idonije will reportedly receive $1.005 million with the Lions -- the $940,000 veteran minimum along with a $65,000 signing bonus. Idonije gives the Lions plenty of flexibility on its defensive line as he played both tackle and end effectively in Chicago. The expectation is Idonije will see more time on the outside with Detroit given that Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley have established themselves as starters at tackle. The addition of Idonije would also give the Lions the luxury of bringing defensive lineman Ziggy Ansah, the fifth overall selection in this years NFL draft, along slowly. Although he signed a one-year contract, Idonije says he has plenty of good football left. "I think I have two, three great years still in me," he said. "My first six years I didnt really play a lot and I think that helped save my body. "The last three years Ive been able to play at a high level and Im looking forward to doing what I can to help the Detroit Lions win a championship." Idonije played in Super bowl XLI when Chicago squared off against Indianapolis in the rain at Miami but it was the Colts who hoisted the Lombardi Trophy afterwards following a 29-17 victory. While Idonije will have to adjust to a new team and city, there will be a sense of familiarity for him in Detroit. The Lions, like the Bears, are part of the NFC North (Green Bay and Minnesota are the other division rivals) which means theyll play six games against teams Idonije has faced often over his NFL career. "Detroit just seemed like the best fit for me," he said. "When you look at the guys Ill be lining up with (on the defensive line) and all the weapons they have on offence, it was a great opportunity. "Its tough leaving Chicago after being there so long . . . but again you have to look at this as a business. When you do, it becomes easier to make that adjustment and focus on the next step." Idonije certainly stayed busy while his football future sorted itself out this off-season. He operates Blessed Communion -- a company that manufactures communion products -- as well as his charity, the Israel Idonije Foundation, both in Chicago. And earlier this year Idonije unveiled "The Protectors," his debut comic book series roughly three years after he created Altheta Comics, a publishing company. "Its something I started working on in 2007 at training camp," Idonije said. "Its a story about athletes who must save the world from an evil force looking to enslave all of humanity." Idonije comes by his love of comics honestly, saying he became a big fan of them as a youth. His first exposure was with a Green Lantern series and he became hooked immediately. But dont expect Idonije to feature himself in The Protectors. "No, not at all," he said. "I just think were telling a great story and Ive got a few more Id like to see unfold in the future." Custom Florida Panthers Jerseys . 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Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. Mary Kom, who has been in a prolonged absence from boxing and failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics, has decided to return to the light flyweight 48kg division amid speculation that it is among the two categories that the International Boxing Association (AIBA) is pushing for inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo Games.I have decided to move back to light flyweight because that is my original weight category, Mary Kom, an Olympic bronze-medallist, told PTI. I feel the most comfortable competing in it and I dont have to punish my body to maintain this weight. I am feeling very positive once again and just wait and watch what I do now. ?Mary Kom is set to be honoured with the AIBA Legends Award during the world bodys 70th anniversary celebrations on December 20. The award comes as a bright spot in a rather disappointing year during which Mary Kom, a multiple-time Asian champion, missed out on qualifying for the Rio Games after losing early in the World Championships in May.There was speculation that Mary Kom might even call time on her career after she accepted a Rajya Sabha nomination from the government, but she put those rumours to bed by saying she was raring to get back into the ring.?I have got the fire back. I have been training and I feel competitive. I felt bad when I could not make it to the Olympics, it was a heartbreak but I am over it now and back to what I do best in the ring. I think AIBA is going to include light flyweight in the Asian and Commonwealth Games and it could also makke it to the Olympics, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.ddddddddddddChing Kuo Wu, the AIBA president, has already stated that he considers it his responsibility to ensure that womens boxing categories increase from the current three - 51kg, 60kg and 75 kg - to five by the 2020 Games. ?Mary Koms trainer Chhote Lal Yadav, who is now an assistant coach with the national womens team, said she had already started training with rigour.?The power in her punches has increased manifold because of this decision as she no longer has to work hard to increase her weight. Light flyweight is her natural weight and that has improved her strength. She has been training hard and will be a force to reckon with, Yadav, who is here as Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) coach in the ongoing mens National Championships, said.In fact, I can say that she is going to strike it big in this category. There are very few girls who match up to her in this division even after these many years.Incidentally, Mary Koms last world title, in the 2010 Barbados edition, came in the 48kg category, while four others had been achieved in pinweight (46kg) prior to that. She had jumped to flyweight 51kg after it was included in the 2012 Olympic Games.Mary Kom went on to win the bronze medal in the London Games. She also won a gold medal in the 2014 Asian Games where womens boxing made its debut. ' ' '