Detroit Free Press

NO SUPER GAME PLAN IN OVERTOWN;INSTEAD THERE ARE BULLETS, ANGER, FIRE

NO SUPER GAME PLAN IN OVERTOWN;INSTEAD THERE ARE BULLETS, ANGER, FIRE

MIAMI -- He was wearing one of those toy beepers, and when he reached down and pulled the bullet from his flesh, the beeper went off and made a funny noise -- beedledeedleeep! -- a noise that said, "Hey, I'm just a kid, what's going on here?"He was a black youth shot by a white man, a moment of madness, a moment of horror, and heaven help this city now, for the fire this time will surely continue. "I'm going to get him," the youth screamed, upon seeing his wound. "Y'all come back tonight at 6 o'clock if you want to help me get him!" he yelled at the crowd around him.
BLESSED, CURSED PROBERT STILL FIGHTS THE BATTLE OF HIS LIFE

BLESSED, CURSED PROBERT STILL FIGHTS THE BATTLE OF HIS LIFE

He answers the door, invites you in, offers a cup of coffee. The small apartment is decorated in earth tones, almost cozy in the early morning light. A bookcase holds the jet-black stereo equipment, lights flickering silently behind smoked glass. Neat. Clean. Maybe you figured the place would be a mess, dirty clothes stuffed under a mattress, the remains of last night's party all over the floor. Wouldn't that be a hockey player's lifestyle?
ONE OUT STOOD BETWEEN TERRELL AND A BIG BINGO

ONE OUT STOOD BETWEEN TERRELL AND A BIG BINGO

Walt Terrell walked into the clubhouse Thursday and there was no applause, no gathering mob, no ribbons around his locker. He was Mr. Almost. Almost pitched a no-hitter the night before. Almost made history. Almost did what no Tiger had done at Tiger Stadium in 34 years. Almost."Did you at least get to celebrate with your wife and kids?" someone asked him."No, they're down in Kentucky," he said. "They left yesterday morning. "
IF BILLY MANAGES AGAIN, WILL HE JOIN THE 3H CLUB?

IF BILLY MANAGES AGAIN, WILL HE JOIN THE 3H CLUB?

THE LIVE ALBOM . . . * The Cleveland Indians are in first place. The San Francisco Giants are in first place. Billy Martin wants to manage again. My head hurts. * Only a very sick person would sneak up behind Jack Morris these days and scream: "IT'S A LONG FLY BALL, DEEP TO LEFT. . . " * Come on. Admit it. You miss Kirk Gibson.
BLESSED, CURSED PROBERT STILL FIGHTS THE BATTLE OF HIS LIFE

BLESSED, CURSED PROBERT STILL FIGHTS THE BATTLE OF HIS LIFE

He answers the door, invites you in, offers a cup of coffee. The small apartment is decorated in earth tones, almost cozy in the early morning light. A bookcase holds the jet-black stereo equipment, lights flickering silently behind smoked glass. Neat. Clean. Maybe you figured the place would be a mess, dirty clothes stuffed under a mattress, the remains of last night's party all over the floor. Wouldn't that be a hockey player's lifestyle?
ONE OUT STOOD BETWEEN TERRELL AND A BIG BINGO

ONE OUT STOOD BETWEEN TERRELL AND A BIG BINGO

Walt Terrell walked into the clubhouse Thursday and there was no applause, no gathering mob, no ribbons around his locker. He was Mr. Almost. Almost pitched a no-hitter the night before. Almost made history. Almost did what no Tiger had done at Tiger Stadium in 34 years. Almost."Did you at least get to celebrate with your wife and kids?" someone asked him."No, they're down in Kentucky," he said. "They left yesterday morning. "
PISTONS! YES!MOVE OVER, GREEN MEN: 95-90 DID IT

PISTONS! YES!MOVE OVER, GREEN MEN: 95-90 DID IT

At the buzzer, they hugged each other. Isn't that the right reaction? You're happy, you hug each other. You're grateful, you hug each other. Joe Dumars was hugging John Salley and coach Chuck Daly was hugging assistant coach Dick Versace and Isiah Thomas was hugging Adrian Dantley at midcourt, as the crowd mobbed them both, hugging as if they'd never let each other go.

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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