Detroit Free Press

Of all the scenes I can picture in my mind -- and with an imagination like mine, that's a pretty nasty collection -- I cannot envision anyone throwing a rat at Jack Nicklaus.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The problem with college basketball, some say, is too many freshmen in ripped undershirts, too many sophomores with police records, too many juniors with agents, and not enough seniors. You remember seniors, don't you? The elder statesmen of the game? Not long ago, a coach would say, "We have a good team; we start five seniors." Today, five seniors is a golf tour.Which is what makes tonight's matchup between Kentucky and Syracuse both pleasant and -- I know this is a funny word when talking about college sports -- educational.

"Robinson, I need a man that will take abuse and insults. If some guy slides into you and calls you a black so-and-so, you'd come up swinging. And you'd be justified. But you'd set the cause back 20 years.""Mr. Rickey, do you want a ballplayer who's afraid to fight back?""Jack, I want a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back."There was a long pause."Mr. Rickey, if you want to take this gamble, I promise there will be no incident."-- Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey, as recounted by the scout who brought them together, Clyde Sukeforth.

"I believe in the church of baseball."From the movie "Bull Durham" ANAHEIM, Calif. -- We have a problem. We've had a fight. We have fallen out of love with the sport that used to delight us, and now baseball has come back, holding flowers, asking for forgiveness.This will not come quickly. For some, it might not come at all. I begin to make my peace the way I knew I would once I arrived here, at the hotel, for tonight's Tigers opener against the California Angels.I call John Doherty's room. At 9 a.m.Sleeping.I call at 10. Still sleeping.

Sometimes it comes down to talent, sometimes it comes down to skill, sometimes it comes down to momentum, coaching, pregame speeches, fights. And sometimes it comes down to a bounce. Here was Tomas Sandstrom, in overtime, simply looking to clear the puck, and on the move he flicked it high into the air.Here were Slava Kozlov and Igor Larionov, skating down center ice, watching Sandtrom's offering come out of the lights.

Oh, Curt. You sad, misguided soul. How can you pick the Green Bay Packers to win this Super Bowl when everyone knows the Patriots are a lock?(Ed. note: Mitch Albom is lying through his teeth. He does not believe the Patriots will win.)The Patriots are the superior team, Curt. They have a better running game and a coach who can win the Big One. What's the matter? Can't your 114-year-old eyes see that?(Ed. note: Never mind the age jokes. Only a fool would believe what Albom is saying.)