Mitch Albom, sports writer/columnist for the Detroit Free Press and author of Tuesdays WIth Morrie and the Five People You Meet in Heaven, recently wrote a column for Sports Illustrated about Detroit.
It covers a lot of things like why Detroit has amazing sport’s fans, the auto industry, and why we stay.
Albom articulates a lot of how I feel about this stuff (although I am not the biggest hockey fan). One part of this column that was reprinted in Sunday’s Free Press, talks about a column that he wrote back in the early 90’s. He took the stars of Detroit’s 4 major sports teams out to dinner and then wrote a column about it. The 4 stars were Cecil Fielder, Joe Dumars, Steve Yzerman, and Barry Sanders. Here is a quote from the column:
“Stardom is a funny thing here. You don’t achieve it by talking loud or dating a supermodel. You achieve it by shyly lowering your head when they introduce you or by tossing the ball to the refs after scoring a touchdown. Humility, in Detroit, is on a par with heroism. Even Dennis Rodman didn’t get really crazy until he left.”
Mitch Albom is a very talented writer. I think you should give this column a read. It is thought-provoking and well-written.
That quote pretty much sums up this column. I really enjoy listening to and reading what Mitch has to say. I use to listen to him every day on WJR, but finally got tired of all the commercial air-time on his afternoon radio program.
I haven’t read Mitch’s sports columns but I am reading his newest book “For One More Day”. It’s not badly written but it is very predictable and a bit boring. I hope his passion for sports comes across better in his sports columns.
I am reading his newest book “For One More Day”. It’s not badly written but it is very predictable and a bit boring. I hope his passion for sports comes across better in his sports columns.
His books are what they are. They are not written to be exciting or to keep you on the edge of your seat. They are what they are, inspirational books.
His sports writing is clever and witty. He is a columnist who has been around the Detroit area for about 25 years. On Sundays, he writes a freestyle column that usually has absolutely nothing to do with sports. He is also a community acitivist and monthly organizes and participates in various community volunteering jobs.
I admit that Mitch Albom disappointed me in the early 90’s when he singlehandedly exalted the “Fab 5” of University of Michigan far beyond their worth.
**That quote pretty much sums up this column. I really enjoy listening to and reading what Mitch has to say. I use to listen to him every day on WJR, but finally got tired of all the commercial air-time on his afternoon radio program. **
I, for one, hope he is right. Detroit has had its share of black eyes this year.
I listen to Mitch on WJR when I can. He does a great interview. Today he interviewed one of The Four Tops in honor of Motown’s 50th Anniversary. It was really good. I am not much of a Motown fan, but I confess that it was an intriguing interview. One thing that stood out to me was that they got talking about the recording industry. The volume of songs that they put out was incredible especially compared to today’s artists. I mention that because only to illustrate how his interviews illicit thought-provoking topics that can generate interest in surprising ways.
Thank you so much for sharing the column. I grew up in the Detroit area and moved away after college because I couldn’t find a job there - that was 29 years ago. When people ask me where I am from I say Minnesota because I have lived here that long however when asked where is your hometown it will forever be Detroit. My prized possession is the poster that came in the newspaper the day after the Tigers won the World Series in 1968, it is framed and still hangs on my wall. I no longer have family there so I don’t get back as often as I’d like but that article made me want to jump on the next plane home. Thank you.
**I no longer have family there so I don’t get back as often as I’d like but that article made me want to jump on the next plane home. Thank you. **
I am glad that I could oblige. Some people don’t get it, and I admit that it is sometimes hard to articulate. I thought that MItch Albom did an exceptional job of descriving what many of us Detroit-area people think and feel.