Detroit Free Press

SORRY, FANS: BEARS’ WIN VS. SAINTS CONVINCED ME

SORRY, FANS: BEARS’ WIN VS. SAINTS CONVINCED ME

* CHICAGO 17, LIONS 9: I tried. I really tried. Every way I could, I looked for a reason to pick the Lions to win this thing. But it's not just Rodney Peete being injured. The Bears went to New Orleans and beat an undefeated Saints team last week. That was impressive. I will say this: If Chuck Long gets into the game, all bets are off.* MINNESOTA 21, TAMPA BAY 12: I don't see why the Bucs didn't give Long a shot. They've tried just about everyone else at quarterback.
GRAMBLING’S KICKER WROTE HIS OWN SCRIPT

GRAMBLING’S KICKER WROTE HIS OWN SCRIPT

As a sports writer, you hear stories. Some are incredible. Some they ought to make into a movie. And, once in a while, you hear one even the movies wouldn't believe.Which brings us to Gilad Landau, placekicker, Grambling State University. You'll probably notice him if you watch Grambling play Southern this weekend at the Silverdome. He is one of only two white players on the team. And when he goes to kick a field goal, he stands over the ball, wiggles his fingers near his ears -- like a schoolkid making a face -- then boots the thing a mile.
50 PLUS 1!FIELDER PUTS FINAL TOUCH ON SEASON OF TRIUMPH

50 PLUS 1!FIELDER PUTS FINAL TOUCH ON SEASON OF TRIUMPH

New York -- He swung the bat and he heard that smack! and the ball screamed into the dark blue sky, higher, higher, until it threatened to bring a few stars down with it. His teammates knew; they leaped off the bench. The fans knew; they roared like animals. And finally, the man who all year refused to watch his home runs, the man who said this 50 thing was "no big deal" -- finally even he couldn't help himself. He stopped halfway to first base and watched the ball bang into the facing of the upper deck in Yankee Stadium, waking up the ghosts of Maris and Ruth and Gehrig.
HERE I GO AGAIN – LIONS GOOD PICK AGAINST PACK

HERE I GO AGAIN – LIONS GOOD PICK AGAINST PACK

* LIONS 21, GREEN BAY 20: I took a lot of heat for saying the Lions would at least cover the spread last week. As it turned out, all they covered was their eyes. Wouldn't you, if you lost by 45 points? So I write that off to Washington, to Opening Day jitters, to bad sushi the night before, whatever. I pick them to win this week, and if they lose, at home, against the Green Bay Packers, I promise, right here, I am not picking them again this year.

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.

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