Detroit Free Press

BLAME ‘EM ALL, ESPECIALLY JOEY

BLAME ‘EM ALL, ESPECIALLY JOEY

Eddie Drummond tried. Kick after kick, punt after punt, the Lions' return specialist rambled through defenders Sunday at Ford Field, going outside, cutting inside, delivering 20, 30, 40 yards worth of real estate, handing Detroit terrific field position. Problem was, once he got tackled, he came off the field.That left the rest of the Lions.Not ready for Prime Time. Prime Time teams don't take a breath after a good victory. Prime Time teams treat third downs like a holy grail. Prime Time teams beat opponents when they're down. Oh. And Prime Time teams complete easy passes.
WONDERING IF YOUR LIFE REALLY MATTERS

WONDERING IF YOUR LIFE REALLY MATTERS

'So what is your new book about?"I've been having problems with that question. When you wait six years to write something new, when you pour your heart and soul into making it good, explaining it seems hollow and unworthy."But what is it about?" How do you answer? Strangely enough, seeing those images on the anniversary of Sept. 11, I think I found a way.
BACK TO THE FUTURE IN MERRY LAND OF IZ

BACK TO THE FUTURE IN MERRY LAND OF IZ

EASTLANSING -- Less than a minute into Wednesday night's Michigan State-North Carolina game, the shot clocks went out, and someone had to root around in the storage closets and drag out the old corner units. Prop 'em up. Plug 'em in. So already, the night was going back in time.
BRYANT CHARGED, SAYS THE SEX WAS CONSENSUAL

BRYANT CHARGED, SAYS THE SEX WAS CONSENSUAL

Don't look now, but cable TV news just wet its pants. The story it prays for every programming day tumbled from the lips of a clean-cut young district attorney Friday afternoon, against a backdrop of the gorgeous Colorado Rockies."After much deliberation, charges were filed today against Kobe Bean Bryant," said Mark Hurlbert, the DA in Eagle County, Colo. "The defendant is charged with one count of sexual assault, a class three felony. . . ."Penalties are (if convicted) prison terms: four years to life imprisonment."
READ ALL ABOUT IT: BARRY IS STILL RETIRED

READ ALL ABOUT IT: BARRY IS STILL RETIRED

There used to be this "Saturday Night Live" routine in which Chevy Chase, as the Weekend Update newscaster, reported on the death of Spain's dictator, Francisco Franco. Every week, Chevy would say, "This just in: Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead!"It's starting to get that way with Barry Sanders, isn't it? Every few months, we get a new report, a man on the microphone, a newspaper account, an eyewitness. The message is always the same: "This just in. Barry Sanders is still retired."This just in: Water is still wet.This just in: The sun is still hot.
MCVEIGH’S BLOOD WILL STAIN ALL OF US

MCVEIGH’S BLOOD WILL STAIN ALL OF US

Good morning. Are you ready to kill someone?We do it Monday. All of us. We kill a man. You, me, everyone on your block.There will be no actual blood on our hands. None that we see, anyhow. But it will be there. A drop of blood. Human blood. Blood belonging to the worst mass murderer in history, Timothy McVeigh, a wicked, remorseless killer -- but blood nonetheless.
GRANGER’S SPARTAN LIFESTYLE A THROWBACK

GRANGER’S SPARTAN LIFESTYLE A THROWBACK

OH, SURE, that might have been fun. Different girlfriend every week? Being a "player" on the party scene?Might have been fun. Just wasn't him. Not A. J. Granger. When he arrived as a freshman at Michigan State, he already had a high school sweetheart. And after he graduates in a couple of months, he's going to marry her. Same girl."The other guys on the team can't believe it," he admits. "They keep saying to me, now you got four months left as a single man, now you got three months left . . ."
LIFE’S BRILLIANT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF POND

LIFE’S BRILLIANT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF POND

Let's begin with the brussels sprouts. There was an attempt at a world record: Who could eat the most in one minute?"You won't want to miss this!" the host said.Now, I had no idea they kept records on brussels sprouts. But I am behind on all things British and Irish. This became clear during a book tour last week in Dublin and London.

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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