Detroit Free Press

MOST COMMENCEMENT SPEECHES HAVE 2 SIDES

MOST COMMENCEMENT SPEECHES HAVE 2 SIDES

Attention: young people about to graduate college. Put down that beach ball!This is not a typo. I went to graduation ceremonies at George Washington University last weekend, and all during the speech -- made by a prominent government leader -- the students were tossing a beach ball, punching it from section to section, like at a Jimmy Buffet concert. I kept waiting for someone to interrupt the future of global economy by yelling "PLAY MARGARITAVILLE, DUDE!"
IT’S A NATURAL IN SPORT; HERE TODAY, THEN …

IT’S A NATURAL IN SPORT; HERE TODAY, THEN …

"They come and they go, Hobbs; they come and they go."Robert Duvall to Robert Redford in "The Natural"I always loved that line, but I never realized how true it was in sports until last week. While vacationing out West, I went to a jazz concert in a small California nightclub. Not long after I sat down, a man and his wife sat next to me. The man smiled and said, "How you doing, Mitch?"
BRENT JUST ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL

BRENT JUST ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL

THE LIVE ALBOM:* Every now and then I have to wonder about our business. On Monday morning, the front-page story of both Detroit newspapers was Brent Musburger getting fired. And of course, for USA Today, this was MAJOR NEWS. Meanwhile, TV reacted with typical perspective. One broadcaster said: "Who'd have thought in one year the Berlin Wall would come down and Brent Musburger would leave CBS?"* Yeah. I can just see those East Germans pouring over the border. "Next, comrades, we free Brent!"
COACHES SHOW GAME’S IMPORTANCE

COACHES SHOW GAME’S IMPORTANCE

Although I have forgotten many stories from my youth, there is one I will always remember. It concerned my father. There was a snowstorm. A bad one. The car stalled in the middle of nowhere. I was a newborn infant, in need of food, and so my father left my mother and me in the car, and ran through the snow until he found a small tavern. He pleaded with the unreasonable owner, asking for milk. The owner kept saying no. His wife overheard the conversation, came from the back with a carton of milk, and said, "Take it. For your son."My father thanked her, found us, and fed me.
EXCUSES? BRONCOS HAVE ‘EM TO SPARE

EXCUSES? BRONCOS HAVE ‘EM TO SPARE

THE LIVE ALBOM* Ever since I returned from the Super Bowl, people have been asking me, "How did you like the game?"* And I say, "Fine. How did you like the Grenada Invasion?" * Excuses The Broncos Can Use This Summer:1. "Can you believe those refs?"2. " . . . and the next thing I know, this guy has stolen my uniform and is out there screwing up--"
LIONS’ HEROICS CAP WEEKEND OF WONDER

LIONS’ HEROICS CAP WEEKEND OF WONDER

I can retire now. I've seen it all.In one weekend, I watched Michigan finally beat Notre Dame, on a fourth-down bomb that surely would have made Bo Schembechler quit the game and go into baseball, if he hadn't done that already. Then I watched the Chippewas from Central Michigan, who were supposed to be happy with the invitation to play Michigan State, stuff their RSVP down the Spartans' throatsand beat them, 20-3. Thanks for having us, George. We had a great time.
U-M DATES WITH DUKE ARE TOP-NOTCH AFFAIRS

U-M DATES WITH DUKE ARE TOP-NOTCH AFFAIRS

Chris Webber sat across the table, a plate of spaghetti in front of him. He wore a green sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers, and he looked even younger than his age. He spoke about turning pro. This was last February, when he was still a student, still part of the Fab Five."I can't imagine next year, when we play Duke, and me not being there," he said. "I already know the date, Dec. 11. I can't see myself with some NBA team, watching on TV. I've got to be there."

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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