Detroit Free Press

THIS IMAGE WILL ENDURE: HARBAUGH BACK TO PASS

THIS IMAGE WILL ENDURE: HARBAUGH BACK TO PASS

ANN ARBOR -- I hope you were watching. I hope you were glued to your TV set and had all your relatives over and you videotaped the whole darn thing. Otherwise, I don't know if you'd believe me when I tell you how the Michigan Wolverines beat their archest of arch-rivals, Ohio State, to cap their season Saturday:They passed them to death.That's right. Over the middle, down the sidelines, in between defenders, a short touchdown lob and a long touchdown bomb. Three touchdowns by air, 230 aerial yards all told.
EVANS COMES OUT SWINGING AND THE RED SOX GO DOWN

EVANS COMES OUT SWINGING AND THE RED SOX GO DOWN

"I still got it."-- Ralph Malph Yes, he does. Still have it. The old one-two.Darrell Evans.Back-to-back homers. Back-to-back RBI singles. A month shy of 39 years old. Darrell Evans.Designated hitter against right-handers. That's his new role, remember? His first base job was taken away the last week of spring training. He wasn't happy. His fans weren't happy. Designated hitter against right-handers.
IF YOU’VE GOT THE MONEY, BEARS HAVE GOT THE RHYME

IF YOU’VE GOT THE MONEY, BEARS HAVE GOT THE RHYME

NEW ORLEANS -- "OK. OK. Quiet in the studio. Bears, are you ready? This is the moment we've been waiting for. The follow-up to the 'Super Bowl Shuffle.' Do it right and it could be a gold record -- not to mention huge video sales. Big bucks, fellas. It'll be great. OK. Mr. Perry, try not to drool quite so much this time. And Mr. Fuller, don't dance. Just, uh, sort of stand there, OK? Remember, guys, let's sing on the beat, not in between it. All right. Is everybody ready?""YEAH! . . . Of course! . . . DO IT! . . . I'm hungry . . . WOOO! . . . Where's the broads?"
THAT’S THE WAY!SHERIDAN CHANGES INTO TIGERS HERO

THAT’S THE WAY!SHERIDAN CHANGES INTO TIGERS HERO

The game, the playoffs -- the season, really -- had all come down to this:bottom of the eighth, Tigers losing, the October wind blowing mean and hard.And who was at the plate? Clark Kent.All right. Pat Sheridan. What's the difference? Unlikely heroes? The Tigers' No. 9 hitter? Tall, skinny, glasses? That Pat Sheridan? Wait. Give him a phone booth. Turn your back. "What's he gonna do?" you ask. "Hit a home run?"Whack.
A REDHEAD, A RELIEVER ARE UNLIKELY TIGER HEROES

A REDHEAD, A RELIEVER ARE UNLIKELY TIGER HEROES

It was somewhere in the middle of the eighth inning Friday night, with the wind whipping cold and blowing dangerously out to right, when every Tiger fan inside this sold-out Tiger Stadium closed his eyes and prayed."The bullpen?" the fans whispered. "Please. Not the bullpen. Anything but the bullpen."
FOR THE RED WINGS IT’S DO AND DYE

FOR THE RED WINGS IT’S DO AND DYE

EDMONTON, Alberta -- Let's check out Shawn Burr's head. It now has three flavors. Coffee on top, vanilla in the middle, strawberry around the ears. It's the latest. It's the greatest. The Stanley Cup semifinals.Red Wings hairdos.
TIME RUNS OUT: LAKERS 108 PISTONS 105 GUTSY PISTONS REFUSE TO QUIT BUT FALL SHORT AGAINST LA

TIME RUNS OUT: LAKERS 108 PISTONS 105 GUTSY PISTONS REFUSE TO QUIT BUT FALL SHORT AGAINST LA

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- They lost? They lost. Those are all the words needed. There was only one team in the world Tuesday night for Detroit, and all night long -- in this breathtaking Game 7 of the NBA final -- that team, the Detroit Pistons, fought off defeat like some Atlas in basketball sneakers, the weight of the world on their shoulders. Until finally, with just moments left in the longest season in the history of the game, their shoulders buckled and the world caved in.
MIKEY IS CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’

MIKEY IS CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’

LOS ANGELES -- This is your nightmare speaking, Los Angeles. This is your darkest fear. This is the voice of a city where men get their fingernails dirty, not polished, where cars are constructed, not leased, and where most adults -- are you sitting down? Are you comfy in the hot tub? Got lots of bubbles? -- work for a living.Oh, god. Not that, huh?Move over, LA. Detroit is coming. Book us a room, and put that crown in it -- the one the Lakers have worn for the last year as NBA champions. We'll take that home, thank you. And maybe a few of those towels.

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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