Hey, Wichita, It’S Still A Free Country
Let’s talk about terrorism.
Not the kind that puts bombs under car hoods; that is terrorism we associate with foreign countries. No. Let’s talk about a terrorism that is taking place right here, right now, in the heartland of America.
Kansas.
Wichita, to be exact.
In the past four weeks, Wichita has become a battleground. The jails are stuffed. A judge requires 24-hour police protection. And workers inside an abortion clinic stay days at a time, sleeping on cots, afraid if they leave they will not be allowed back in.
TIGERS’ HOURS DRIVE A MAN TO … HOCKEY
TORONTO — Before anyone gets upset over the Tigers’ dropping two of three to the Blue Jays — and needing five hours to knock in their first run Thursday night, in a game that was longer than a Russian novel and even less understandable — let me...
Tune Is Familiar, And Jays’ Pitch Is Perfect
TORONTO — There are certain lessons you learn as a kid that, try as you might, you can never forget: 1) An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 2) Don’t go out with wet hair. 3) Upon smashing your mother’s favorite antique vase while playing Masters Of Destruction with your kid brother, always blame the dog. 4) Good pitching beats good hitting.
Cerutti Earns An Efor Effort, But No W
TORONTO — Before we talk about the game, which the Tigers lost, or the ill-fated starting pitcher, John Cerutti, who used to hang out with the Prince of Monaco — I am not making this up — I must tell you about the GRAND OPENING.
Of the roof.
I have seen many things as a sports writer, having done this job since the Captain and Tennille were actually allowed out in public. But there is one thing I have never seen in all my years: I have never seen a retractable roof open.
Tigers Hot In August? Now, That’S A Story
I return from vacation. My arms are full. I can barely see over the things I carry. Brochures. Scuba fins. An elephant gun. Ideas. I have ideas.
“Look, boss,” I say, dumping the mess on his desk. “Great stuff here. Mountain climbing in Ecuador. A kayak race in Siberia. Tractor pulls in Idaho. Great stuff.”
He glares at me.
“OK,” I say. “Maybe the tractor thing isn’t great. But we can work with it.”
“What are you talking about?” he says.
“Ideas. Story ideas. How we can get through August on the sports pages.”
BIG BOYS DESTROYING OUR FIELD OF DREAMS
Baseball has always been, at its heart, a little boy’s game. So when talking about baseball — or in this case, baseball stadiums — it might help to try to think like a little boy.As a little boy, I held my father’s hand as we walked into old...
No News, Good News On Road Less Traveled
I took a vacation. I went to France. When I go away, I like to go far away, someplace where they don’t speak English. I do this not because I enjoy ordering what I think is a hamburger, only to have the waiter bring me ox brains.
I do it because going someplace where they don’t speak English is the only way to escape my addiction.
My addiction is the news.
ALAS, POOR BORIS, LOSING MAKES FOR MUCH MISERY
WIMBLEDON, England — Well, here’s one good thing about unknown Michael Stich winning the Wimbledon championship Sunday: It put Boris Becker out of his misery. The way Boris was suffering all day, screaming at himself, hiding beneath a towel, making faces...
