Peete: Better Late Than Neverlions’ Rookie Savors Chance To Play In Nfl

by Mitch Albom | Aug 11, 1989 | Detroit Free Press

Once upon a time — last year, I believe — when Rodney Peete got the measles, the whole country got the measles. He would flick on the hospital TV and see updates on his condition. The nurse would deliver a newspaper, and he would see his face on the front page. “PEETE TO MISS BIG GAME?” So intense was the media crush, that the hospital switchboard had to use three phony names to ward off reporters.

“I was registered under ‘Willie Jackson’ one night, and some guy still got through,” Peete recalls. “He said, ‘Is Rodney Peete there?’ I said, ‘Sorry, you have the wrong room.’ “

Our Lions Don’T Have Two Feet To Stand On

by Mitch Albom | Aug 6, 1989 | Detroit Free Press

They get up each morning, and there is no football. Eddie Murray puts on a suit and goes off to the bulk food business. Jim Arnold rolls out of bed and sees what’s for breakfast. When the sun loses its heat they head for deserted fields — Murray uses a high school in suburban Detroit, Arnold finds a middle school outside of Nashville — and they kick. And kick. And kick. To absent teammates. To absent opponents. To the air.

“It’s frustrating,” says Murray.

“It’s lousy,” says Arnold. “I’m ready to rock and roll, and I’m just hanging around here.”

No Fear Of Heights From Lions’ Gnats

by Mitch Albom | Aug 4, 1989 | Detroit Free Press

“Don’t want no short people round here. . . .”

Randy Newman

This is great. This is really great. I am standing in the cafeteria of the Lions’ training camp, talking to several players, and I am looking at them eye to eye. My neck does not ache. They do not threaten to step on me. They are my size. This is great.