Detroit Free Press

LONG HAS HAD PRACTICE IN KEEPING FOLKS WAITING

LONG HAS HAD PRACTICE IN KEEPING FOLKS WAITING

You have been waiting for him. I have been waiting for him. It has become the thing to do here in Detroit, waiting for him."When, Chuck, when?" we ask."Soon, folks, soon," we are told. His teammates have been waiting for him. His coaches have been waiting for him. All season long, they have watched him with anticpation."When, Chuck, when?' they ask."Soon, men, soon," they are told.
TIGERS, YANKS (AND JAYS) IN A LEAGUE BY THEMSELVES

TIGERS, YANKS (AND JAYS) IN A LEAGUE BY THEMSELVES

Listen, I have this idea. Let's call Minnesota and Cleveland and Kansas City and the rest of those teams and say, guys, hey, sorry, can't make it, maybe next year. And then the Tigers and Yankees can play each other the rest of the season.Every night. Tigers-Yankees. Don't you agree? Don't you? Wasn't Thursday night the way baseball is supposed to be? Huge crowd, lines at the bathrooms, bleacher fans engaged in "TASTE GREAT!" vs. "LESS FILLING!" debates.
WHAT THE HECK – GIVE THEM ALL A RAISE

WHAT THE HECK – GIVE THEM ALL A RAISE

Let me get this straight. Jerry Ball is complaining about his salary. Again. After he renegotiated a few months ago.And let me get this straight. Bennie Blades, who does more fist-waving than intercepting, and Lomas Brown, who is a member of Detroit's internationally famous offensive line, figure, hey, if Jerry can do it, we can, too. So they're complaining about their salaries and talking about renegotiating.
NOTHING ELEMENTARY ABOUT HOLMES’ ERRORS

NOTHING ELEMENTARY ABOUT HOLMES’ ERRORS

I was ready to take Jerry Holmes apart. And I wouldn't be the first. All day long, he had been flat-out humiliated by the Chicago Bears, whacked, smacked and stacked. They threw long on him so often, he needed his own ZIP code. Watching him chase the receivers was like watching an elephant chase the Concorde.Up it goes, down it comes, touchdown. Up it goes, down it comes, touchdown. It was a simply awful display of defensive football that snuffed out, believe it or not, an exciting Detroit offense, and brought the Lions to their knees for the third straight time this season.
A LETTER TO JOSHUA: DAD’S A GREAT GUY

A LETTER TO JOSHUA: DAD’S A GREAT GUY

This column caught me by surprise, much the way -- well, much the way a baby catches you by surprise. I was having dinner with some friends for the first time since these crazy NBA playoffs began. I excused myself to call the office. It's a habit I should learn to break."Did you hear about Isiah?" the voice asked."No. What?""His baby was born. A boy."
ATHLETICS IN A CLASS BY THEMSELVES

ATHLETICS IN A CLASS BY THEMSELVES

SAN FRANCISCO -- This was all you needed to see. Second inning. The pitcher at the plate. For cripes sake, not the pitcher, too! Two strikes, two outs, and the guy, Mike Moore, an American League hurler, has only batted once before in his career. He holds the bat like Mary Poppins held her umbrella. A sure out, right?And here comes the pitch.And there goes the ball, to centerfield.And here come the runners.
BRITISH HORSE LIKES BEER, BUT DOESN’T SAY ‘BUSCH!’

BRITISH HORSE LIKES BEER, BUT DOESN’T SAY ‘BUSCH!’

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- What could be more American than drinking beer and not showering after a workout? Hey, half my college roommates fit that description. So it's very comforting to find a guy with similar habits right here at the Kentucky Derby. Only the guy isn't American. Nor, when you get right down to it, is he a guy. He is a horse.A British horse.

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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