BOSTON - Well, if that was rust scraping off the Pistons on Tuesday night, it was the Celtics who were scraping it. Don't just blame the six-day layoff. Too many times in Game 1 of these Eastern Conference finals, the Pistons moved to the hoop and suddenly were without the ball - because a Boston player swiped it, poked it, swatted it or just plain took it. Steals? It was like watching a police video on purse snatchings.
DALLAS - It was steaming hot outside American Airlines Arena, temperatures in the 90's, bad ice weather, a bad omen for a northern team, and the Red Wings didn't need any more bad omens. But unworthy teams stumble and fall, while worthy champions stumble but come back harder. And so the Wings, after two losses in trying to close this series, came down to Texas, stood tall against the fire, then threw themselves into it Monday night.
It might be strange, when picking your poison, to have a preference. But if you're a Pistons fan, you might regret Sunday's departure of LeBron James and the Cavs. They may have been the defending Eastern Conference champs, but they sure looked more beatable than Boston.Yes, I've heard the reasons the Celtics might be a better foe for Detroit. They've yet to win a playoff game on the road. They needed seven games to finish each of their two series. They're still gaining playoff experience - while Cleveland has been there.
So what CAN you call someone today? When Barack Obama used the word "sweetie" in addressing a Detroit TV reporter last week, it made national headlines. He was scolded by the media. Fingers wagged. Tongues clucked. "Uh-uh-uh," the conscience-makers said, "you're stepping over the line."And maybe he was.But where is the line? I've been thinking ever since this happened about the things we call each other when we call each other, and it seems they are all bad at one point or another.
DALLAS - Robbery. That's all there is to it. Hockey goals are hard enough to come by in the playoffs, especially when you're inches away from the Stanley Cup Finals, but when you have them swiped, well, you have to cry foul.The truth of Game 4 of these Western Conference finals is that the Red Wings drew first blood but had their sword yanked away and the corpse cleaned and stuffed. Pavel Datsyuk clearly scored on a slap shot from the left side in the second period, but it was waved off by an official who claimed Tomas Holmstrom was in the crease.
Mitch Albom writes about running an orphanage in impoverished Port-au-Prince, Haiti, his kids, their hardships, laughs and challenges, and the life lessons he’s learned there every day.
