Detroit Free Press

DON’T BLAME THE BEARER FOR LEWIS’ BAD NEWS

DON’T BLAME THE BEARER FOR LEWIS’ BAD NEWS

If someone created all the bad news in the world, then he would be responsible for it.But if the bad news were already there, and that someone just told you about it, would he be the problem -- or a depressing reminder?That's the stand-off we have this morning, the day Reggie Lewis's number will be raised to the rafters of Boston Garden. A cloud of doubt will ride up that rope, alongside the green and white banner. And in a country never satisfied until we blame somebody, the fingers are pointing -- but in the wrong direction.
MARKETING WOULD FIX MEN’S TENNIS FAST

MARKETING WOULD FIX MEN’S TENNIS FAST

WIMBLEDON, England -- There's nothing wrong with men's tennis that a hamburger, some running shoes and a Coke wouldn't fix.Allow me to explain.Every year I come to Wimbledon, it's the same tongue-clucking story."The men's game is fizzling," critics moan. "There is no interest. No one is watching. Kids back home think a racket is what you make at a Hanson concert."To which I say these five words: Hey, dummy, remember the NBA?
WEEPY WIMBLEDON ALWAYS A TEARJERKER

WEEPY WIMBLEDON ALWAYS A TEARJERKER

You cry when you lose Wimbledon. Some cry on the inside, and some cannot help it, the tears flow right there on Centre Court, in front of everyone.You wouldn't think there was much in common between Jana Novotna, the blond Czech who hopes to win her first Grand Slam today, and Boris Becker, the redheaded German who Thursday waved good-bye to this tournament forever. But they do share this: They have both shed tears for Wimbledon.
SINS OF THE PARENTS, TEARS OF THE CHILDREN

SINS OF THE PARENTS, TEARS OF THE CHILDREN

The little girl died of starvation. She was 4 years old. Her mother didn't like the way she looked -- said her face reminded her too much of her father -- so she didn't feed her. The child withered to skin and bones. When the cops found her dead body, they also found six other living children, who slept together on one mattress in the rat-infested New York City apartment. The 32-year-old mother, now facing murder charges, was pregnant again.
PETERSON LEARNED EARLY HOW TO KEEP MOVING

PETERSON LEARNED EARLY HOW TO KEEP MOVING

The sisters were doing it for themselves. There were two of them, Tonda and Trina, older and younger, 2 1/2 years apart. They would compete at every little thing, racing, eating, jumping. Tonda vs. Trina.And then along came baby brother."We figured we could double-team him," Tonda says now, laughing. "It would be the girls against the boy."
UNDER FIRE, COACH QUITSSHAME ON EVERYONE WHO LET THIS HAPPEN

UNDER FIRE, COACH QUITSSHAME ON EVERYONE WHO LET THIS HAPPEN

One false move. That's all you get now. One false move and they chop your head off, leave you hanging upside down in the spotlight. Too bad, see ya, thanks for joining us in The Public Life. A good man is without his job this morning. He might never coach again, all for a mistake that is made a thousand times every day all over this country. Gary Moeller's crime was not getting drunk and making a fool of himself -- heck, they'd have to fire half the football people in America for that.

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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