Losing Their Star Helped The Lions Find Their Way
Willie Green grabbed the water bucket and snuck up behind Wayne Fontes. Photographers raced over. Fontes must have known. He stood there anyhow, looking innocently away as the clock ticked down. Whoosh! Green doused his boss. Fontes yelped.
Wouldn’t you know it?
Even when he wins, they dump on him.
“I can’t tell you how great I feel,” a raspy-voiced Fontes said after the Lions captured the Central Division, beating Green Bay, 30-20, in the last game of the regular season. “It shows what you can do when players believe.”
PACKER BACKERS DON’T CARE WHAT’S IN A NAME
* Lions 20, Green Bay 14: I have a rule. I never pick teams whose quarterbacks spell their name one way, and pronounce it another. Got that, Brett Favre?* Dallas 29, NY Giants 10: The Giants keep talking about the wind in Giants Stadium. Sorry. That wind would have to...
FAREWELL, GOLDEN BOYTRAGIC ENDING TO A GOOD LIFE
CHELSEA — The trophy stands near a plate of Christmas cookies in the middle of the kitchen table. On the black plastic base is a fading inscription, “Member, 1959 World Champions.” Above the base is the gold-colored statuette, a little boy, in...
SPORT ISN’T IMMUNE FROM LIFE’S FINAL TALLY
Because I could not stop for Death,He kindly stopped for me, He held his darkened carriage low,And waited patiently.A chill across these pages blewA blanket ripping free,As we journeyed to the fallen souls Of 1993.AT first we passed the tennis courtsOf Arthur...
A PRINCE OF THE CITY FIGHTS A NEW BATTLE
His old life ended in the early morning of his 54th birthday, when his wife felt him moving in bed, woke up and saw his eyes open, but his face frozen in pain. His right side had gone limp, and his left side seemed to be crawling back to retrieve it.”Win?”...
IMAGINE WHAT THEY’D GET IF THEY WERE HEALTHY
* Chicago 10, Lions 6: The Lions gave lots of money this week to Barry Sanders, who’s injured, and Bennie Blades, who’s injured. I’d feel a lot better if they gave it to someone who’ll be playing tomorrow.* San Francisco 27, Houston 20: Oops!...
PRETENDING TO SOUND A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS
They skate into my driveway. They tackle my milk box. They dribble on my doorbell.They have come a-carolin’, yet again, just in time for a sporting good Christmas.Stop. Look. Listen . . . Wayne Fontes singing “Little Drummer Boy”I need a running back...
AFTER ROUT, DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT FIRST PLACE
(Parental advisory: Anyone who says the words “We’re still in first place” in this column will be whacked on the head. You have been warned.)Take a good look, folks. There go the 49ers, a real playoff contender, a January team, a franchise with the...
LIVE, IN OUR STUDIO, LET’S WELCOME SANTA
It was only a matter of time before Santa Claus did the talk show circuit.The bidding was furious. Everyone from Barbara Walters to Howard Stern wanted an exclusive with the old man. They all promised “fair and equal” treatment. Some offered millions of...Stay Connected
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