by Mitch Albom | Nov 27, 1988 | Detroit Free Press
Kenyatta Jefferson did not see the gun until it was inches away. The man shot him in the head. He fell to the ground, and landed at the feet of his friend, Willie Tucker. He remembers his blood dripping on Willie’s Nike sneakers, and someone pleading, “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot.”
Then Willie ran. The man shot him in the shoulder. Derrick, Kenyatta’s older brother, heard the shots and came running back toward the store. “You shot Kenyatta!” he screamed.
The man said, “Here’s what you get for Kenyatta.”
He shot Derrick in the leg. Then he fled.
by Mitch Albom | Nov 24, 1988 | Detroit Free Press
OK, men. Simmer down. I want to welcome everyone to our annual Detroit Sports Thanksgiving dinner. Chuck? Bo? Jacques? All you players? We ain’t seen each other in a long time, and I just want to say–“”THANKS, SPARKY. LET’S...
by Mitch Albom | Nov 21, 1988 | Detroit Free Press
MILWAUKEE — He kept yanking off the headphones to go hug a lineman, or to pat a tackle on the butt, and then he had to search for the headphones and quickly yank them back on. It was that kind of day. His heart kept cutting in on his work.
by Mitch Albom | Nov 20, 1988 | Detroit Free Press
I am glad the Lions have a new coach. And I hope he does well. But in order to save his job for next year, Wayne Fontes must improve morale, sharpen up the offense and win games.
Plus, he must establish a coaching personality. As a defensive co-ordinator, Fontes was known as a nice guy who was liked by his players.
Good. But head coaching is a different animal. You need a style. You need a gig. You need . . . an act.
But which act to choose?
by Mitch Albom | Nov 20, 1988 | Detroit Free Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The ball was coming down from the darkening sky, there were two men around him, the angry crowd roaring like certain death, he was on the goal line, he bent his legs and he leapt in the air and all he could think of was . . . practice.
by Mitch Albom | Nov 20, 1988 | Detroit Free Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The ball was coming down from the sky, there were two men around him, the angry crowd roaring like death, he was on the goal line, he bent his legs and he leapt in the air and all he could think of was . . . practice.”A drill,” wide...
by Mitch Albom | Nov 18, 1988 | Detroit Free Press
THE LIVE ALBOM:
* Now here’s something nice. In the past week I’ve spoken to Kirk Gibson, Dan Petry and Walt Terrell. All are former Tigers. All play now in California. And all live in Michigan during the winter.
by Mitch Albom | Nov 15, 1988 | Detroit Free Press
The New Guy was already on the phone Monday morning when the old guy came in to tell him he was leaving.
“You can have the office now,” said Darryl Rogers.
“Oh, no, that’s not necessary,” said Wayne Fontes.
“It’s OK. I got all my stuff out.”
“Thanks . . . I’ll just stay here for a while.”
by Mitch Albom | Nov 14, 1988 | Detroit Free Press
So that did it. Losing to Tampa Bay at home in the final seconds was enough to send Darryl Rogers packing. Fine. Just as well. The Lions were a pantomime team by this point, just going through the motions. He had to go. Everybody knew it. And so did he.Oh, he’ll...
by Mitch Albom | Nov 13, 1988 | Detroit Free Press
Today we talk about comedy, football and the Lions, which can easily be confused as the same subject.On Thursday, Lions punter Jim Arnold made his stand-up comic debut at a local comedy club. The place was packed, and the crowd included several of his teammates....
