Detroit Free Press

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?
RICHARDSON COULD BE THE NEXT FROSH HERO

RICHARDSON COULD BE THE NEXT FROSH HERO

ISEE BIG things. I see alley-oops and thunder jams. I see blocks that swoop like the hand of God. I see liftoff from the foul line, astronaut hang time, two-fisted dunks that leave the rim in need of medical attention. I see tip-ins, put-backs, "gimme-that-ball" rebounds, so high he could spray paint his name on the backboard.I see a future of big nights, big numbers.I see Jason Richardson.And he is sitting on the bench.
WEBBER’S LEGAL DEAL TRIES WITNESS’ PATIENCE

WEBBER’S LEGAL DEAL TRIES WITNESS’ PATIENCE

Aw, shucks. Now that Chris Webber has called another last-minute time-out -- to cut a deal with prosecutors over felony charges -- there goes my chance to be a star witness. Not that I think of myself that way.But Webber's lawyer did.That lawyer, Steve Fishman, told anyone who would listen that I had important information that would prove his client's innocence. He drew up a subpoena. He went to court to get me to testify.He even accused me of hiding from responsibility, as if saving his client's butt was a civic duty.
GOOD, BAD AND UGLY AT OLYMPICS

GOOD, BAD AND UGLY AT OLYMPICS

SYDNEY, Australia -- The Olympics end today. The final medals will be decided. But I'm ready to name my own winners and losers of the past few weeks.By the way, I am a purist.Only gold ...and tin.Olympic Comeback* Gold: To out-of-retirement swimmers Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres. They came. They saw. They delivered.* Tin: To French track diva Marie-Jose Perec. She came. She saw. She ran away.New Olympic Event* Gold: Triathlon. Every time you watch it, you think "grueling."
THROUGH THICK AND THIN, YOU’RE STILL A LIONS FAN

THROUGH THICK AND THIN, YOU’RE STILL A LIONS FAN

"So, Mitch," I am asked as the NFL season is about to begin. "How do you know you're a Lions fan?"That's easy.You know you're a Lions fan if you expect 5-11, but still kid yourself about 11-5.You know you're a Lions fan if you believe Joey Harrington is "The One" -- but you once said that about Andre Ware.You know you're a Lions fan if you hate Barry Sanders for quitting the team, but deep down, you don't really blame him.
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

LOS ANGELES -- They were three seconds from the top of the castle. Three seconds from a hammerlock on this series. And then Kobe Bryant lifted as high as a man can go without a trampoline, and Richard Hamilton got a hand up but not enough body, and the ball flew toward the hoop with every ounce of Lakers legend spinning a cloud of pixie dust around it. You knew it was going in. You could have closed your eyes and seen it.

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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