Detroit Free Press

WINGS SEND A CHOIRBOY TO KILL CHICAGO’S SNAKES

WINGS SEND A CHOIRBOY TO KILL CHICAGO’S SNAKES

CHICAGO -- It was over in an accident, a freak, a mini-moment that was here then gone, so fast that Shawn Burr couldn't really remember how it took place. But now, in the crowded locker room, that was all anyone wanted to know."Did you see it coming?" someone asked."I sort of did," he answered, smiling."Did you mean to knock it in?" someone yelled."I was just trying to get out of the way," he said."Where did it hit?" came the question."On the glove," came the answer."Which hand? Which hand?" they hollered.
AN AMERICAN IN SCOTLAND:IN SEARCH OF ST. NICKLAUS

AN AMERICAN IN SCOTLAND:IN SEARCH OF ST. NICKLAUS

TURNBERRY, Scotland -- Yes, I admit it. The very first thing I did, after driving two hours to this craggy coastal golf course, past the cliffs and the firth and the moist green countryside, and the cows and the sheep and the Scottish man in the plaid skirt -- not that I think skirts are bad for men, necessarily, but why plaid? -- the very first thing I did was get onto the fairways of this 115th British Open and see if I could find Jack Nicklaus.I know, I know.
A RUDE GREETING FOR MORRIS

A RUDE GREETING FOR MORRIS

MINNEAPOLIS -- He stood alone on the mound, glaring at the hitters, the roar of 55,245 frenzied fans ringing in his ears. Up came his leg, back went his arm, with a whiplash twist the ball was coming home. . . . Coming home. That was the theme, wasn't it? Jack Morris was coming home. He grew up here. Across the river. He was pitching Thursday night at the Metrodome before his parents, uncles, aunts, cousins. . . . "BIG DEAL!" the sellout crowd seemed to roar. Tonight he was the enemy. Tar him.
‘THE TAKING OF GIBSON’: THE DAY FREE AGENCY DIED

‘THE TAKING OF GIBSON’: THE DAY FREE AGENCY DIED

We could make it a movie. It might work. Call it "The Natural II: The Kirk Gibson Story." Redford plays the lead. Or maybe Don Johnson -- he's already got the whiskers. We open with flashbacks. Gibson as a child. Hitting a Wiffle ball. Breaking a window. Kissing a pretty girl. Gibson at college. Smacking home runs. Running with a football. Kissing a pretty girl. Gibson as a Detroit Tiger. Swinging a mean bat. Stealing bases. Leading the club to the 1984 World Series, where -- we need slow motion for this -- he hits a dramatic home run in the final game and leaps for joy. Music swells.
HEARTS, PLANS ARE BROKEN WHILE BECKER GOES KAPUT

HEARTS, PLANS ARE BROKEN WHILE BECKER GOES KAPUT

NEW YORK -- There's a broken heart for every light on Broadway, and this morning there are a few million more.Bye-bye, Boris Becker.See ya next year, when you're old enough to drink.Yes, meine kinder, it's sad but true -- Boom Boom went bust bust, as Boom Booms will do.It happened here at the U.S. Open, just one round before the West German's much-anticipated showdown with John McEnroe -- the No. 1 player in the world -- which CBS had planned to televise Wednesday night in glorious prime time.

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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