CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Bombs away. How else do you beat the armed forces? Stop, pop -- drop, drop, drop. The line that really separated Michigan from Navy Thursday night was not the Vegas spread, but the white curve on the court where two points become three. In military terms, U-M held the high ground.Bombs away.
LAS VEGAS -- "The way things are now," sighed Emanual Steward, who has spent his whole life in boxing, "they could take Muhammad Ali out of retirement, set him up to face Mike Tyson, and you know what? By fight time, people would believe Ali could do it."
The breath came out of the dream in such a gush, it surely rippled the waters of the Great Lakes. "They lost?" the crowd seemed to moan, a dying moan, after the Wings fell to Edmonton, 4-3, in the biggest, best and most heartbreaking game of hockey to be played in Detroit in 22 years. "How can it be? They really lost?"They lost. That is the reality. It has to be, because only reality could be that cruel. So close. The Red Wings had been so close in this hot, draining
I would like to welcome each and every out-of-town journalist who has come for this weekend's big Tigers-Blue Jays series. Unfortunately, that would really run up my phone bill. So instead, I offer a gift: a personalized MAP-TO-THE-STARS of the Tigers clubhouse. After all, we don't want you walking into the showers.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Which is why I was on the phone all day Friday, frantically calling Los Angeles. I was searching for the one man who could turn the tide in these American League playoffs, the one man who could give the edge back to the Detroit Tigers.I was searching for . . . George Peppard.But wait. Let me explain. It all began with today's starting pitcher, Walt Terrell, a man I admire for his strength, guts, and the way he balances a chicken wing and a beer while reading the newspaper.
The Live Albom * Because the weather is hot, and the theaters are air- conditioned, I have developed a big interest lately in the movies. And I am surprised at the number of sports films this summer. . . .
That's it. The other teams can turn in their uniforms. The Tigers are a mortal lock now.I am not talking about talent. I am not talking about stats. I am not talking about base running, power hitting, relief pitching, ball scuffing, or any such part of the national pastime. I am talking about rainbows."Did you see that thing?" someone asked."How could you miss it?" someone answered.
OK. Time's up. Sparky Anderson said you can't tell anything about a baseball team until 40 games have been played. Fine. Sunday was No. 40.What can we tell about the Tigers?Well. That depends. You want the optimistic version or the realistic one?
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.
