Detroit Free Press

COUGHLIN DICTATORSHIP WILL BE OVERTHROWN

COUGHLIN DICTATORSHIP WILL BE OVERTHROWN

* Detroit 27, Jacksonville 17: The players in Jacksonville are complaining about a dictatorship under head coach Tom Coughlin. I don't know. Just because you have to ask permission to sneeze doesn't mean it's a dictatorship. Pick vs. spread: Jacksonville. * Pittsburgh 21, New England 20: Terrific quarterback. Brilliant coach. I thought those two things alone were supposed to put you in the playoffs. What happened, Pats? Pick vs. spread: New England.
NAGANO TAUGHT US TO TAKE OUR SHOES OFF AND TO OPEN OUR MINDS TO CHANGE

NAGANO TAUGHT US TO TAKE OUR SHOES OFF AND TO OPEN OUR MINDS TO CHANGE

NAGANO, Japan -- The Games began, for many of us, the moment we took off our shoes. It is a Japanese custom politely -- but forcefully -- inflicted on visitors as soon as they step inside. And in retrospect, it serves as a fitting symbol of these mild and friendly Olympics, which often required stepping out of old-heeled ways and getting used to a new soul, or what Monty Python might call "something completely different."
YES, IT’S A WACKY WORLD IN MERRY OLD ENGLAND

YES, IT’S A WACKY WORLD IN MERRY OLD ENGLAND

LONDON -- Yes, once again, it's time for our annual report on our forefathers across the pond, the people who gave back Hong Kong but kept the Spice Girls, the people for whom the Fourth of July is simply another lousy day in the colony business, yes, I'm talking about the Brits.What's 'appening ovah 'ere?
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY — THE RED WINGS DOSSIER

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY — THE RED WINGS DOSSIER

To: President Bill ClintonThe White HouseWashington, D.C.Dear Mr. President:We, the citizens of Detroit, can't tell you how thrilled we are that our Red Wings are facing a Washington, D.C., hockey team for the Stanley Cup. The prospect of you attending a Wings game is truly exciting.I believe you know our team. They were guests at the White House. No sir, they didn't stay in the Lincoln Bedroom. We don't have that kind of money. We had to give it to Sergei Fedorov.
NCAA: GOOD NEWS AND BAD FOR U-M

NCAA: GOOD NEWS AND BAD FOR U-M

Everyone checks their mail this time of year. But the folks at Michigan weren't looking for Christmas cards. They were waiting for a letter to render judgment on their basketball program. And this week, just before the holidays, the NCAA dropped some news in the mailbox.Now, in the spirit of the holidays, I will not reprint the actual NCAA language here, since reprinting anything the NCAA says could result in instant sleep, and who needs that with all the Christmas shopping left to do?
OFF NIGHT BY WINGS WON’T BE FATAL, RIGHT?

OFF NIGHT BY WINGS WON’T BE FATAL, RIGHT?

CHICAGO -- As someone once said, if you're going to lose a game by forgetting your style, getting slammed on the boards, misplacing your scoring touch, half-hearting your defense, and generally lacking the speed, strength and desire that brought you your success, you might as well do it when you're up three games to none.
BROKEN WINGSAVALANCHE WINS, 4-1, TO END DREAM SEASON

BROKEN WINGSAVALANCHE WINS, 4-1, TO END DREAM SEASON

DENVER -- The dream died in the mountains, a mile above sea level, where the air is thin and it is difficult to breathe. And as cold reality sank in -- one goal behind, two goals behind, three goals behind -- you could feel the Red Wings players gasping, suffocating, all the good things they had done this season crashing to earth like a boulder during an avalanche. Or should we say, Avalanche?Snowed under.

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!