by Mitch Albom | Sep 29, 1998 | Detroit Free Press
Here they come again, the “other” Lions, the ones that always appear just as you’re about to give up on them. You know these Lions. They do everything right. They do everything the other Lions don’t do. They use their talent, they use their strength, they make crunching hits, incredible catches, dazzling runs that pretty much blow the roof off the Silverdome.
And like the piece of chocolate cake that appears just as you swear you’re going to start your diet, they suck you back in. You become a fan again.
by Mitch Albom | Sep 28, 1998 | Detroit Free Press
“Right now, I’m in awe of myself.”
— Mark McGwire, after Sunday’s game
That was no home run, that was an exclamation point.
Mark McGwire’s final rocket shot of the season — which launched on the last Sunday in September, traveled more than 370 feet, and landed in a leftfield box at Busch Stadium, plopping into a group of partying lab researchers — was more than McGwire’s 70th of the year. It was more than the all-time record. It was more than nine better than Roger Maris, whose mark they said might never be broken.
by Mitch Albom | Sep 27, 1998 | Detroit Free Press
When those in power say they’re doing what the American people want, you can pretty much bet they have their own interests in mind.
Take Kenneth Starr. For the past four years, he has pursued the president’s every conversation, memo, phone call and sneeze. He has spent more than $40 million in taxpayer money. He insists he is doing what the American people want — even when the American people tell him they’re sick of him.
by Mitch Albom | Sep 25, 1998 | Detroit Free Press
Attention, please: Whoever came up with the bright idea of starting the Big Ten season with Michigan vs. Michigan State, you can go back to your cave now.By making it both teams’ conference opener, the schedule-makers have killed the hysteria normally associated...
by Mitch Albom | Sep 24, 1998 | Detroit Free Press
Afew weeks ago, on a visit to Japan, I heard a knock on my hotel room door. It was a Japanese colleague holding a videotape and smiling broadly.”McGwire hit No. 61!” he said. “Want to see?”The next weekend, during a football game back home,...
by Mitch Albom | Sep 21, 1998 | Detroit Free Press
MINNEAPOLIS — With the sellout crowd roaring like an evil engine, and the Lions down to the last play that mattered, Charlie Batch took the snap, dropped back, looked desperately to the end zone — and got absolutely flattened by John Randle.
So there’s one thing he and Scott Mitchell have in common.
by Mitch Albom | Sep 20, 1998 | Detroit Free Press
Irecently returned from Japan. I have the business cards to prove it.
There are business cards in my pants pockets and my shirt pockets. Last night I found one in my hair. This is because Japanese people, upon meeting in a business setting, immediately bow and present their card. And you are supposed to present yours.
Unless, of course, you don’t have one. Like me. In which case you stand there holding their cards and smiling stupidly, like the neighbor who has no candy for the trick-or-treaters.
“I am honored to meet you,” my Japanese associates would say.
by Mitch Albom | Sep 18, 1998 | Detroit Free Press
Marcus Ray knows better. He’s a senior, he’s a captain, he had all last year to hang with his buddy Charles Woodson and witness, up close, the vultures that come swirling when you have NFL potential. He’s seen fast talkers. He’s seen the jewelry and the nice suits and the fast cars.
by Mitch Albom | Sep 17, 1998 | Detroit Free Press
Here we go again. That splash you just heard was the Lions and their fans jumping back into the murky waters of a quarterback controversy. No matter which side you take in Wednesday’s bombshell announcement by coach Bobby Ross
— Scott Mitchell out, Charlie Batch in — don’t view this as a tidy answer for the Lions’ woes.
It never is.
by Mitch Albom | Sep 14, 1998 | Detroit Free Press
When you take a few months off and then come back to work — as I do today — it’s comforting to know that certain things remain the same.
Barry Sanders giveth . . .
…and Scott Mitchell giveth away.
That old song was sung again Sunday afternoon at the Silverdome, where it was hot enough to faint, and, thanks to Mitchell, understandable if you did. Here was Sanders scoring three touchdowns, racking up 229 yards of brilliant offense, and leaving the highlight people scrambling for film.
And here was Mitchell handing the game over.
Not once, but twice.
