DEMERS’ RIDE TO VICTORY IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE
He finished shaving as the city locked its desk. He pulled on his pants as the city shut the lights. He came down for coffee as the city left the office. It was 5 o’clock. He was going to work. “How do you feel?” I asked Jacques Demers, jangling my...
A BRILLIANT FIGHT, A BRILLIANT CON
Sugar Ray Leonard leaps after hearing the decision. LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Sugar Ray Leonard was hanging on the shoulders of his trainers, his legs stringy, he expression dazed, and Marvin Hagler was doing a boogaloo shuffle in the middle of the ring. This was the...
COMEBACK PLAYER AT 21? YZERMAN TAKES IT IN STRIDE
Aw, come on. The guy doesn’t even shave. Comeback Player of the Year? Steve Yzerman? The one with the Reebok sneakers and the jeans and the face off a teen magazine cover? This Steve Yzerman? The Comeback Player of the Year? How old is he? Nine?
“Twenty one,” he says, shyly, sipping a Coke.
On The Mound, Sweating, Is Where Morris Belongs
“Jack, if . . . ” a reporter began.
“Jack, but . . . ” a reporter began.
Oooh. This was too good. Jack Morris couldn’t resist. He leaned back smugly against his locker and began to sing.
“If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a Mer-ry Chris-tmaasss.”
Pause.
“Dandy Don Meredith,” he quoted, “Monday Night Football.”
Jack Morris, Monday afternoon baseball.
Red Light Signals Stop For Wings Fans’ Dreams
There were bodies all around the net and the clock was down to 1:11 left in overtime — overtime! — and somebody shot, at first nobody was sure who, but suddenly the St. Louis players were leaping into the air and the sellout crowd in Joe Louis Arena rose to its feet desperately looking for the red light, where was the red light, it couldn’t be over without the red light . .
IS THE SPARK STILL THERE?
Sparky Anderson used to play baseball with Buckwheat. That’s right. The Buckwheat. From “The Little Rascals.” In a Los Angeles playground, when they were kids. I’m not making this up. “He’d come in a limo, right from the...
HOW THEY SEE IT
* MITCH ALBOM: Hagler in eight. Five years off is five years off. * GEORGE PUSCAS: Hagler, by knockout within eight rounds. He’s slower than even a rusty Leonard, but he’s a born middleweight.* CHARLIE VINCENT: See Sugar Ray. See Sugar Ray hit Mr....
HOW THEY’LL FINISH
John Lowe AL East AL West NL East NL WestToronto Kansas City St. Louis San FranciscoNew York Minnesota New York CincinnatiDetroit California Philadelphia HoustonCleveland Texas Pittsburgh Los AngelesBoston Chicago Chicago San DiegoBaltimore Oakland Montreal...
Iu’S Smart Rises Above The Crowd
NEW ORLEANS — A huge electronic TV screen hovered over the Superdome floor Monday night, like God’s eyes, and the players below in this NCAA championship flashed across in glorious motion. This was basketball of the 80’s, instant-instant replay. Look up and see yourself dribbling. And as the final minutes evaporated before nearly 65,000 crazed spectators, there was only one question in the house: Who would be the star? Who would be the final face on that massive screen, looking down at us all? No one knew.
Stay Connected
The only newsletter dedicated to updates, exclusive content, and giveaways of Mitch's books!