NEW YORK -- The series was complete, the bus was waiting outside, and the Tigers players, still wet from the showers, dressed quickly, pulling on their socks and shoes. The clubhouse was quiet; it is always quiet after a loss. But no one was sulking. You don't sulk in the middle of the fight.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- You want to get Leroy Hoard's attention? Put a whistle around your neck, make your voice sound like Bo Schembechler's, then sneak up behind him and yell, "DAMN IT, LEROY! NOT AGAIN!"Chances are he will spin around and plead, "It wasn't me, Coach! I didn't do it!" Or maybe he will race down the street and block somebody.
NEW YORK -- He had just beaten Kid Magnificent, knocked him out cold, and now the foreigner was standing with his towel in his hands and his face stretched in glee, and what the hell should he do, here in America? How do they celebrate?Throw the towel?
LOS ANGELES -- The new blue and white uniform was hanging on the podium, where everyone could see it. The new cap nestled close to the microphones. Kirk Gibson, the guest of honor at this luncheon, had a Dodgers schedule in his pocket, and an appointment with the real estate people, and he leaned back in his chair as the waiter brought the Caesar salad. Glasses clinked. Conversation buzzed."This is a happy day . . . " began Dodgers general manager Fred Claire.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The truth is, the Chicago Bears were never really eliminated -- they died and came back as the New York Giants.Lock your doors. It's the Blue Meanies this year. The Giants. They've won 10 in a row, and they're one massacre away from the Super Bowl. I don't like to use words such as awesome and destructive, but when the Giants' defense comes off the field, you expect it to burp.
PHILADELPHIA -- There is no joy in watching great athletes grow old, but some people seem to look forward to it anyhow. Their words hover like vultures. "This team's not what it used to be. . . . This one's over the hill. . . . That one ought to retire. . . . "Sooner or later, time makes prophets out of all of them.
Pretty soon, I expect to find the AL East title selling at a garage sale for $1.39.Does anybody want this thing? Detroit loses. Toronto loses. Detroit wins. Toronto loses. Detroit loses. Toronto loses. Are we sure this is the homestretch? Geez. When the going gets tough, the tough wait for the weekend.
TO: SPORTS EDITORFROM: THE CORRESPONDENT IN ROME RE: WHY THE CORRESPONDENT IS IN ROME Boss:OK. So what am I doing here? It's a fair question. And I promise to answer it. In a second. First, I have to tell you this story:
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.
