Detroit Free Press

TOWER OF BABBLE: IGNORE ALL THE TALK

TOWER OF BABBLE: IGNORE ALL THE TALK

BECAUSE A flipping puck came off Chris Osgood the wrong way, because that puck wound up in the net, because the Red Wings went from a lead to a tie, a tie to overtime, overtime to a breakout, and a breakout to an Avalanche goal that ended Game 4 -- because of that, explanations abound.
PUDGE FACTORILITCH THINKS HE HAS FOUND HIS YZERMAN FOR THE TIGERS

PUDGE FACTORILITCH THINKS HE HAS FOUND HIS YZERMAN FOR THE TIGERS

Until Monday, Comerica Park was a big building with a home plate. Now the Tigers have something to put behind it.His name is Ivan (Pudge) Rodriguez, he's a catcher, a leader, a newly minted world champion -- and he just became the face of Detroit baseball. With his stocky build, shiny black hair and big-toothed smile, he does not look anything like Steve Yzerman, the Red Wings' charismatic captain.But he does to one man: Mike Ilitch, the guy who signs the checks.He just signed his baseball Yzerman.He's betting $40 million on it.
HULL-ACIOUS!HULL NETS GAME-WINNER; ANOTHER WIN NETS CUPTHESE NUMBERS TELL THE STORY FOR THE WING

HULL-ACIOUS!HULL NETS GAME-WINNER; ANOTHER WIN NETS CUPTHESE NUMBERS TELL THE STORY FOR THE WING

RALEIGH, N.C. -- It was only a number. It was only one shot. And Brett Hull has taken a million shots in nearly two decades in this league. But here he was Monday in the Stanley Cup finals, taking a beautiful feed from Boyd Devereaux, dropping to one knee and firing away. The "ping" off the post was like a magic password that opened the trap door. The puck ricocheted into the net, a secret tree house appeared, and Hull climbed into a very exclusive club.
IN ELIAN’S CASE, ANSWER IS SIMPLE

IN ELIAN’S CASE, ANSWER IS SIMPLE

In this country, land of the free, the Supreme Court just heard arguments over whether grandparents have rights to see their grandchildren.Those in favor say a child needs a grandparent's love. Nothing, they say, is more important than family.In this same country, land of the free, lawyers claim that a 6-year-old boy is better off away from his father than with him. They say that returning Elian Gonzalez to Cuba, where his father lives, would be bad for the boy. Some things, they say, are more important than family.I ask the obvious question:Which is it?
LET THE GAMES BEGIN . . . NOT IN NEW YORK

LET THE GAMES BEGIN . . . NOT IN NEW YORK

NEW YORK -- No. No. A thousand red lights no! New York City hosting the Olympic Games? Who came up with this idea? Someone stuck in a taxi, trying to get across town? Yeah, here's what we need. More . . . people!Somehow, in a runoff that makes Mondale-Coleman look normal, New York was selected as America's official bid for the 2012 Summer Games. The city it beat out was -- and I hope you're sitting down -- San Francisco. Right. Because when it comes to late August, where would you rather be -- alongside a breezy Pacific Ocean or inhaling bus fumes in 90-degree heat?
PISTONS CAST OFF MAGIC WITH HARD WORK AND A FRESH PRINCE

PISTONS CAST OFF MAGIC WITH HARD WORK AND A FRESH PRINCE

Tracy McGrady was surrounded by doom. He tried to lose Michael Curry on a screen, but Chauncey Billups slid over. He tried to lose Billups, but Cliff Robinson slid over. He tried to go past Robinson, but here came Curry again, with Ben Wallace on the way, and McGrady fell, grabbed at the ball and, with no other option, looked desperately to the ref and called time out.
THE ROAR OF ’04ON OPENING DAY, THE NEW, 4-0 TIGERS HAVE FANS CHEERING FOR ALL THE RIGHTREASONS

THE ROAR OF ’04ON OPENING DAY, THE NEW, 4-0 TIGERS HAVE FANS CHEERING FOR ALL THE RIGHTREASONS

The last time baseball was played at Comerica Park, the crowd was on its feet for the final out. Six months later, Thursday afternoon, as shadows fell on a misty Opening Day, the scene repeated itself, with fans once more on their feet as the Tigers left the field.There is only one difference between the ovations, but it is all the difference in the world.The last time was pity. This time was praise.
FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, THE GAMES WERE DANDY

FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, THE GAMES WERE DANDY

SYDNEY, Australia -- And with that, we end these 2000 Olympic Games! They were spectacular, weren't they? See you in 2004!Uh, Mitch. Why are you upside down? Funny. I was going to ask you the same thing. Maybe it's being Down Under, where today is yesterday, yesterday is tomorrow, up is down, and how about that Olivia Newton-John?She sings in the opening ceremonies.She sang.What are you talking about?She sang in the opening ceremonies. Those were two weeks ago, mate.Two weeks ago?

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.

Subscribe for bonus content and giveaways!