by Mitch Albom | Nov 18, 1996 | Detroit Free Press
And now for the Lions’ newest weapon:
Prayer.
“The good Lord did it,” said Luther Ellis.
“I know I found religion,” said Brett Perriman.
“Somebody wanted us to have a break,” said Van Malone.
What they were talking about, of course, was the last play of Sunday’s game, a play that had “fade to black” written all over it. The Seattle Seahawks were lined up for a very makable 42-yard field goal that would have sent the Lions to their fifth straight loss, swallowed their meager playoff hopes, and assured them a spot in the Waste Of Talent Hall of Fame.
by Mitch Albom | Nov 17, 1996 | Detroit Free Press
Let’s talk about TV helicopters. Let’s talk about TV helicopters hovering over a police chase. Let’s talk about TV helicopters reminding us how their pictures are “exclusive” and their pilots heroic. Let’s talk about TV helicopters...
by Mitch Albom | Nov 16, 1996 | Detroit Free Press
You do not write the script. All athletes learn this eventually. You can affect the script. You can star in the script. You may die at the end of the script. But you cannot write it. Too many things happen.
by Mitch Albom | Nov 14, 1996 | Detroit Free Press
Chris Osgood hit the ice like a paratrooper without a chute. Save! He snapped to his feet, turned the other way and hit the deck once more. Another save! He barely caught his breath when the puck came flying at him again, enemies all around, a shot by Joe Sakic,...
by Mitch Albom | Nov 10, 1996 | Detroit Free Press
The trick — if you want people to vote for casino gambling — is to talk as if it’s someone else’s money on the table. You talk about the millions that will come in. You talk about fat piles of taxes. You never say that money is coming from the...
by Mitch Albom | Nov 9, 1996 | Detroit Free Press
In the locker room before the game, Rick Mahorn sat in the corner, holding a cup of coffee, the old evil smile creasing his face. On the large TV screen, silent footage flashed of the night’s opponent, the Chicago Bulls. Mahorn rolled his eyes, sipped from his...
by Mitch Albom | Nov 4, 1996 | Detroit Free Press
GREEN BAY, Wis. — This was all you needed to see, safety Ron Rice, pointing at the sky. “The sun! It was the sun!” he screamed, as if the refs should throw a flag on Mother Nature.
by Mitch Albom | Nov 3, 1996 | Detroit Free Press
Note: I was terribly disturbed by a report that showed 30 percent of Americans would rather shop on Tuesday than vote for president. Four years ago, I wrote the following poem about apathy. Although I have racked my brain for a new way to say it, this might be the...
by Mitch Albom | Nov 1, 1996 | Detroit Free Press
HUT ONE: Finally, it’s upon us, the annual Michigan- Michigan State game, where Spartans fans accuse Wolverines fans of being rich, spoiled, candy-panted dweebs, and Wolverines fans retort, “Run along, Sparty, time to chew your cud.”
* HUT TWO: In games like these, of course, the trash talk at the line of scrimmage can be very entertaining:
by Mitch Albom | Nov 1, 1996 | Detroit Free Press
Corky MeineckeIt won’t be as much fun — how can it be, with Allan Houston’s pretty jumper residing in New York? — but there’s no reason why the Pistons can’t win another 46 games and qualify for the playoffs. Trouble is, they still...
