Tonight’S The Nightz: The Tall Man In The Middle Lost — And Found — Family
NEW ORLEANS — When tonight’s game is over, and the Michigan kids look anxiously for their parents in the tunnel, the way most college players do, Juwan Howard will be alone for one hurtful moment. He was raised by his grandmother. She died the day he committed to Michigan. So when his teammates share their joy, or seek parental comfort, when they hug their mothers and fathers, Howard will close his eyes and pretend he’s hugging his Grandma.
“Just because I’m here, and she’s there in heaven, doesn’t mean we can’t do the same thing as these guys.”
Team Of My Own? Watch Out, Folks!
First, I fire the organ player.
Hey. It’s my team. My rules.
I fire the organ player, because organs are for church, carnivals and ’60s groups such as Paul Revere and The Raiders. Which might be a good name for my team. The Raiders. Or maybe The Rough Riders. I’ll tell you this much: my team will not be named after a bird. The Orioles? The Cardinals? What were those owners smoking?
Also, no peanuts. Go throw shells on someone else’s carpet.
My team. My rules.
Oh, the possibilities! If I owned a baseball team? It’s like Tevye in
“Fiddler on the Roof”:
THE TALL MAN IN THE MIDDLE LOST – AND FOUND – FAMILY
NEW ORLEANS — When tonight’s game is over, and the Michigan kids look anxiously for their parents in the tunnel, the way most college players do, Juwan Howard will be alone for one hurtful moment. He was raised by his grandmother. She died the day he...
WEBBER LEARNS PEACE THE PRICE FOR FAME
NEW ORLEANS — On the night before what might be the last college basketball game of his life, Chris Webber decides to take a walk. Get out of the room. Get some air. It is something we all might do. Relieve the tension. Try to relax. But that’s where the...
TWO COACHES, SIMILIAR RESULTSIN KENTUCKY, PITINO IS BIGGER THAN THE DERBY
NEW ORLEANS — I spent a few weeks with Rick Pitino last season. For a magazine profile. Followed him around the country, stayed near his home in Lexington, Ky. Got to know him. Ate lots of meals together. You know what I remember most — besides the fact...
AS ROSE GOES, SO GO THE WOLVERINES
NEW ORLEANS — The black plastic joystick is cradled tightly in his hands. Big hands. Long fingers. He raps his thumbs, faster, faster.”Nothing! You got nothing!” he taunts his opponent, the buttons going at warp speed. On the TV screen, cartoon...
COLLEGE HOOP DRAMA DUNKED BY TIME-OUTS
NEW ORLEANS — What if this column were about a man hanging from a cliff, and you read it all the way to the final paragraph, and now he’s dangling by only one finger, cold wind howling in his face, and, uh-oh, he’s starting to slip –Stop. Have...
Once Again, Heathcote Rewards A Loyal Aide
The last time Jud Heathcote switched jobs, he made sure the guy behind him got to take over. This was his thinking: You’re loyal, you work hard, you get rewarded in the end. He even delayed his exit a few days when he heard the big shots might pull a fast one on his assistant. They didn’t. The guy got the job: head coach, Montana. And Heathcote left happy. That was in the early
’70s, when a lot of people had different ideas about life.
Michigan 77 . Temple 72Fab 5 Revivedembattled U-M Discovers Winning Can Be Fun Again
SEATTLE — Finally, when they were close enough to smell the gumbo, the years seemed to melt off them, the pressure, the spotlight, the endless questions that had put wrinkles on their confidence, dripping off now, as they grew lighter, lighter, until Jalen Rose slapped the ball away — a steal!
Stay Connected
The only newsletter dedicated to updates, exclusive content, and giveaways of Mitch's books!