Nelson Mandela's recent visit may have reminded Americans of the things we take for granted, but it also suggested something we sorely miss: great speakers.Mandela came to Detroit Thursday and, with his thick South African accent, ignited a group of autoworkers by declaring "I am your flesh and blood. I am your comrade." Later, before a packed house at Tiger Stadium, he recited the words to, of all things, a Marvin Gaye song -- and again set the crowd on fire. "Brother . . . brother . . . there's far too many of you dying. . . ."
Riiiiing!"Hello?""Hello, Chuck Daly? Terry O'Neill from NBC.""Hi, Terry.""Just calling to see where we stand. You know we want you as our TV analyst. You and Pat Riley? Together? Awesome, babe. Big money. And we can make sure you guys never wear the same suit, don't worry about that.""Thanks, Terry, I haven't decided yet.""I'll call back. Think peacock, Chuck."Click. Riiiiing!"Hello?""Hello. Chuck? Harold from Philadelphia. Let's get down to brass tacks. We want you. You want us. The GM job is open. What's it gonna take?"
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Vinnie Johnson had the microphone. Isiah Thomas was next to him on stage, with his own microphone. Now and then he would sing a couple of words and Vinnie would sing, too. The band, watching, hooted its approval. Now Vinnie wanted Joe. "WHERE'S BROADWAY?" he bellowed to the raucous crowd. "WHERE'S BROADWAY JOE?"Joe Dumars sat at a back table and dipped his head. Shy by nature, he didn't relish stepping onto the stage in front of all these people. His wife, Debbie, nudged him. He shook her off. But Vinnie would not give up.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- They danced off the court and into the castle on the clouds, carrying the scars and lumps and exhausted smiles that told you the journey was tough, the journey was costly, but the journey, finally, was over."We're back!" the Pistons seemed to roar as they headed for their champagne locker room and their rightful place on the throne, after beating Portland, 92-90, with a last-minute flourish to capture their second straight NBA championship. "We win! We won! We're back! "
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.
