He likes boats. You probably didn't know that. He keeps one in a Detroit marina, complete with bathroom, shower, microwave, couch -- "That ain't a boat, that's a house!" says teammate Mark Aguirre -- and sometimes during the season he'll go down and sit in that boat, not going anywhere, just rocking on the water and taking it all in.
Getting them lined up for the photo was the best part."Yo, Big E! Get in here.""Where's my shirt, man?""Picture time! All right!""Get Ledgehead in here.""You're Ledgehead.""Hey, Tiptoe, get out of the front, man. You never smile.""At least he's got his pants on this time.""BIG E, GET IN HERE!""Why they taking our picture?""Yo, Lomas, your calves cramping yet?""Oh, funny, funny.""Hey, photo man. What kind of lens you using?""Must be one of them super wide angle lenses.""Definitely."
For a few minutes Sunday night, he was his old self, firing those high-arching jump shots that threaten to bring down rain before they swish through the net. Two points. Another two points. Then he drove deep into the Atlanta defense and did the between-the-legs thing, the trademark left-right-left-right dribble -- sort of like the old Ali shuffle -- followed by a one-handed whip pass across the court. Beautiful. Then he led a fast break. Then he stole the ball. Then he shot again. Two points.
* Lions 23, Green Bay 19: The Biggest Game Of The Year -- this week, so far, until now, depending on what happens.* Philadelphia 19, Dallas 17: When it comes to the Eagles' playoff chances, I paraphrase a famous quote: If not now, when, if not Cowboys, then who?
Khhlmmphph!Thought I'd parachute into this column.And now, sticking with that theme, allow me to parachute into your charitable thoughts, the way "Fan Man" -- that's what he's calling himself -- came parachuting into the ring Saturday night in Las Vegas. (In the old days, by the way, a guy interrupts a big fight, they beat him up and leave him in the street. Today, he goes to the hospital and gets a Movie of the Week.)
EAST LANSING -- The miracle came so fast, so crazy, that now, minutes after the victory, no one could recall how it happened. Was it Ken who knocked it from Tony, or Dwayne who knocked it from Steve? Did Mark dive for the ball? Wait. Was Mark even in there? Who knew? Who could keep it straight? It was the madcap final minute of a madcap Big Ten championship and the players were like pinballs bouncing off the rubber -- ping! -- the ball came loose -- ping! -- the ball came loose again . . .
In some ways, this is the hardest column I have ever had to write, hard because, for the first time in my life, I have no interest in writing it. This has never happened before. I love my work. I love wandering around the sports world, breathing in its funny drama, writing it down.
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.
