9-11 Tribute

9-11 Tribute with José Feliciano’s rendition of the Star Spangled Banner before game 3 of the 1968 World Series at Tiger Stadium

We remember those who lost their lives, the NYPD and FDNY and all who went in to save the lives of others and the brave men and women of the United States Military Forces.  We will NEVER forget.

Remembering 9-11

It’s difficult to understand how life seems so normal ten years after the day when normal seemed as if it were gone forever.  This Sunday there will be several memorials commemorating those who died that faithful Tuesday morning.  Prayers will be offered, candles lit and speeches shared.  Still, it will not be enough.  There is no way to express all of the emotions of Tuesday, September 11, 2011.  As we go forward from the ten year marking of this tragedy we should reflect upon the words of Abraham Lincoln.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

In that spirit, I will share my memories of that horrible late summer day:

In 2001, I had decided to return to college to get the degree that I moved to Minnesota to attain.  I was attending Normandale Community College in Bloomington, MN.  On Tuesday and Thursday mornings I had Environmental Biology at 8:05 am.  When I went into class, everything was so normal.  I went to my normal seat in the lecture hall and caught up with my friends.  When class was over, I walked out to a sea of people throughout the main entrance of the community college.  I thought, “What stupid promotion is going on that has caused all these people to gather here in my way.”  As I said, it was a normal morning.  I soon saw that everyone was fixed on the televisions broadcasting CNN.

The first image I saw was of the Pentagon.  My first fear was that China had bombed us and we were now at war.  I was half right.  I’m not sure why I thought it was China, but I was transfixed and asked my fellow students what was going on.  “I don’t know.  Planes have flown into buildings in Washington and New York” the young man next to me said.   The next image I saw was of the World Trade Center.  By the time I reached a television, the first tower had already collapsed.  I said out load, “I can’t believe a whole building is gone.”  The young man next to me said, “It’s there.  It’s behind the smoke.”  I looked at him and said, “There is suppose to be another building that looks exactly like it right next that tower.”  He stood there silent.

I saw my professor standing by a table and I walked over to him to share our grief.  We stood in silence as people in the tower jumped to their deaths.  I couldn’t imagine the fear they must have felt and the hopelessness to make such a decision.  Tears began to fall down my face.  Then it happened.  The second tower rumbled and collapsed in upon itself.  My professor exclaimed, “Dear God!”  I felt instantly sick to my stomach and felt my knees buckle beneath me.  I grabbed the table to keep myself up.  I knew at that moment that some of my classmates and friends would soon be sent to war.  It was a feeling of helplessness and emptiness.  I began to experience every emotion I had ever known.  I called my mom to check on her and ask if she had heard what had happened.

Classes went on and everyone was talking about what had happened.  We shared news updates as we got them.  One of my classmates, who had just left the Army, knew that Usama Bin Laden was behind these terrorist attacks.  I had never heard the name before that day.  We found out that a fourth plane had gone down in Pennsylvania.  There was speculation that it may have been shot down.  What I remember most about that time was that I spoke to complete strangers as if I knew them my entire life.  All barriers seemed to have disappeared and what was left were Americans.  There were no politics, no economic separations, just people leaning on each other to deal with tragedy.

As I drove home, I-494 through Bloomington was almost completely empty.  A sky normally filled with air traffic to the Twin Cities Airport was eerily empty.  Then I began to see road signs that said that the Mall of America and the airport were closed.  The news on the radio said that all of the skyscrapers in Minneapolis and St. Paul were evacuated.  After driving by the Mall of America, I drove past the airport.  All I could see was row upon row of air planes parked anywhere there was space available at the airport.  Then it hit me.  I drove past the Fort Snelling National Cemetery.  As far as the eye can see, were rows of white headstones.  I pulled the car over and began to cry.

I was fortunate that day.  I did not lose a loved one on 9-11.  At that moment, I was reminded of the sacrifice and cost that it took to protect us and keep us safe.  Men and women have given their full measure so I could live in peace.  I understood that many would be called to sacrifice in the days to come.  I was filled with sadness, pride, horror and doubt.  All I wanted to know was that my family and friends were alright.  I began to think of ways that I could help.  I gathered myself and finished my drive home.  As I walked to my back door, I heard the thunder of an F-15 as it roared across the southern sky.  I was afraid that this would be the new reality in America.  I wondered if this fight would be in the streets of our country.  I mourned those who died, knowing there would be more to mourn.  Nothing would ever be the same.  It may be normal now, but it’s a new normal. 

We all have a story to tell from that day.  I invite you to share yours in the comment section below.  As we continue to move forward, let’s take a moment to remember how you felt and where you were when the world stood still.  9-11 should now be a day that we think of ways that we can serve others and honor the brave firefighters, police and soldiers who gave everything they had to serve us.  Let’s be better every day that we have, knowing that it comes to us as a gift to share with those we love and those who we can serve.  God bless the United States of America.

A Moment of Glory

Sports writers tend to be cynical men and women who ridicule athletes and coaches for speaking in rah rah platitudes and clichés.  They call it “coach speak,” where you ignore the truth of the situation and throw out inspirations and positive hope against the reality of the situation.  This is of little value to the hardened sports writer who needs a lead story with guts to it for a pending and ever closer deadline.  I often wonder if these bitter writers ever had a moment of glory of their own, or if they only wrote about the glory of others.

I was a young boy of eight years when the U.S. hockey team captured Olympic gold in Lake Placid while Al Michaels asked, “Do you believe in miracles?”  Really, that’s the reason we watch and play sports.  We are after that one miracle, that moment of glory.  This is a story of a moment of glory.  It’s not really my story, even though I was a part of it and your narrator.  It’s really about team, effort and well rah rah platitudes and clichés. 

It was my junior year of high school football and it was homecoming.  We were going to face Saginaw High who was ranked #1 in Michigan.  As I walked across the courtyard from my first hour class, Mark LeVasseur a senior trumpet player in the marching band stopped me to talk to me.  He asked me to get a victory.  He told me that we had never won a homecoming game while he was in high school and this was the last chance.  I looked at him, smiled and said, “We’ll do our best and get a win for you Mark.”  In other words, I lied!  I turned to an athlete’s last hope, rah rah platitudes and clichés.

No matter what you may think, athletes are not mindless idiots who live on hopes and dreams.  They are realistic of the challenges they face and put forward anything positive that they can cling to in order to succeed.  In my heart that morning, I thought we would lose that evening.  I wasn’t going to tell Mark that though.  I wasn’t going to tell him, because then I would have been telling myself that.  Sometimes you have to lie to yourself to overcome your fears.  When you overcome your fears, often you will be amazed by the outcome.

I was a starter, but I really don’t remember doing anything special that evening.  I showed up, got taped up, went through the pregame warm-up and prayer, then worked hard and did my job.  Everybody on the team did.  When the first half of the game was over, we were not only in it; we took a lead into the locker room at the half against the #1 team in the state.  Homecoming halftimes are long, so the coaches did their best to keep us calm and then build us up to go out for the second half.

When we came out of the locker room, it was a sight that I couldn’t have imagined.  The student section had come out of the stands to form a human tunnel for us to enter the field through.  There was an electricity that could be felt, as if something great was about to happen that night.  I was so amped up; I would have run through a brick wall to win that game.  We continued to hold on to our lead, and then we mounted that final drive.  It was a slow, grinding, long drive that could seal the victory.  With each first down, the impossible seemed more possible.  There was unity in the huddle and quarterback Eric Hayhurst was our leader taking us to victory.  It was a moment of destiny.

We did it!  We beat Saginaw High.  We won our homecoming game.  Mark would get to celebrate one homecoming victory while he was in high school.  The student section poured onto the field, it was complete mayhem.  The chaos was hypnotic and for a moment we were on top of the world.  It was a time of celebration, joy and victory!  As luck would have it, that was the only homecoming victory of my high school career.  The next year we lost a heartbreaker to Saginaw Arthur Hill by one point in overtime. 

The lights have faded away.  So too have most of those memories except the few I shared with you today.  There are one or two memories that I kept for myself.  Some things you should hold on to and keep as your own.  The world did not change that day.  There was no life altering experiences, no Hollywood ending.  We won a high school football game, nothing more and nothing less.  Albeit, we won a game that we were suppose to lose against the #1 team in the state.  It was one small moment of glory.

There is a point to this story, a reason that I would take the time to share it with you.  As we get older, it is increasingly easy to become cynical.  We live in a nation that is divided and sometimes the world can seem hopeless.  That’s why we hold on to our successes, those small moments of glory.  There is a lesson to be learned in every one.  You see, there are a million reasons to quit and stop trying.  There will be doubters who will fill your ears along the way and tell you it can’t be done.  But there is only one reason to keep going.  That reason is because sometimes, even against all odds and expectations, you actually succeed.  And that is the only reason we ever really need.  “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”

Lions Report: Nick Fairley meet Ndomukong Suh

Something is very different in Detroit this upcoming football season.  People are talking about the Lions in a positive light and not just diehard Lions fans.  I have even heard the words Lions and playoffs in the same sentence.  Much of the talk revolves around third year quarterback Matthew Stafford.  He has shown strong leadership when he has been on the field, but his first two seasons have been cut short by injuries.  Many people think that if Stafford remains healthy the Lions have a good chance of making the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

Certainly Stafford’s health, leadership and play will be extremely important to this year’s Lions season.  However, Detroit’s success is more likely to be determined on the opposite side of the ball.  According to John Clayton of ESPN, Nick Fairley should be matched up with last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, Ndomukong Suh sometime in September.  Fairley has the potential to win the award this year if he is able to get and stay healthy for the regular season.  This pair can be a dominant force and are already bringing fear to opposing quarterbacks.

With a ferocious defensive center, the Lions can shut down the running game and make teams one dimensional.  Fairley and Suh have the athleticism to create pass pressure right up the middle, directly into the quarterback's face.  Dominant defensive line play can make the secondary better, force more turnovers and give the Lions’ offense a shorter field to work with.  A shorter field will help keep Stafford upright and healthy and the Lions playing with a lead.  Remember offense fills the stands, but defense wins championships.  Along with Stafford and Calvin Johnson on offense, Fairley and Suh are the foundation for the Detroit Lions.

Fairley and Suh bring a nastiness that can take over a game.  Of course this is the Lions and with the kinder, gentler NFL rules, what was once considered great defense may now result in 15 yard penalties and fines for the defensive duo.  Unwarranted penalties for great hits could limit their effectiveness.  Fairley and Suh will anchor a defensive line that could show the greatness of the Monsters of the Midway, the Steel Curtain, the Fearsome Foursome and the Purple People Eaters.  That would mean great times for Lions fans this year and in the future.  However if Fairley and Suh are penalized for hits that would make Dick Butkus, Mean Joe Green, Deacon Jones and Carl Eller proud, the Lions could see defeat snatched from the hands of victory. 

It’s my opinion that Nick Fairley and Ndomukong Suh will be able to keep the nastiness factor high within the Brady / Manning era of softhearted NFL rules.  Fairley’s presence will make Suh even more dominant than his rookie season.  So it’s time for preseason predictions.  I have high hopes for this Lions team, but they still have some more building to do.  Regardless, I have the Lions going 10 – 6 and winning their first playoff game in twenty years.  However that is as far as they will go this season.  After twenty years though, Detroit fans may give them a parade for a playoff victory.  OK, that may be going a little too far!  Still, Lions fans have a ton to be excited about this 2011 season.

At The Corner has a new page: Hall of Champions

Hall of Champions is an new page on At The Corner dedicated to every professional sports championship won in Detroit.  I hope you enjoy these images and memories.  Thanks for stopping by!

Baseball is a Place for Dreams, Not Politics

Men cry when Ray Kinsella has a game of catch with his dad in the movie Field of Dreams.  On September 27, 1999, there was not a dry eye in the place as each light standard went forever dark at Tiger Stadium with every pause of Ernie Harwell's poetic voice. Every fall we watch fully grown men show the exuberance of little boys when they celebrate a World Series Championship.  The reason is simple.  Baseball is a child's game wrapped in childhood memories and child like dreams.

The primary purpose of At The Corner is to celebrate the purity of baseball and the love of Detroit, its teams and their fans.  It speaks out against the selfish politics of the game that have kept Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell out of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  However, there should be nothing more pure in baseball than the Little League World Series.

For many true baseball fans, Williamsport is more sacred than Cooperstown.  Attendance is still free to attend the Little League World Series and a hot dog and a pop won't cost you $9. Everyone who works at the Little League World Series is a volunteer and pays for their own travel expenses; including the umpires.  The Little League World Series is baseball in its purest form.

Unfortunately this year the world of politics has stained the purest form of the game that we love.  The United States Department of State refused visas for the Ugandan Little League team that earned their way to this year's Little League World Series.  This will keep the first Little League team from Africa to qualify for the Little League World Series from participating with their peers in Williamsport.

Sports are suppose to reach beyond borders, race, religion and poverty.  Humanity should always take precedence over politics. Sports should always be a game and never a negotiation.  At the Corner believes that the Ugandan Little League team's absence from this year's Little League World Series is a true tragedy. These boys have overcome extreme poverty, worked hard and done everything to earn their tickets to Williamsport.  They won their right to play and they earned it on the field!  Baseball is a place for dreams, not politics.


To learn more about this story, please go to the links provided below:


Baseball in Uganda


Ugandan Baseball Team Strikes Out on US Visas


Ugandan Team Denied U.S. Visas


Saudi Arabia Headed to Little League WS

Things Remembered

"Michigan seems like a dream to me now!  It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw..." ~ Simon & Garfunkel:  America

There are some things that bring happy memories to every Michigander.  Summers were magical and adventure was only a few minutes away, no matter where you lived in Michigan.  Picnics were a main stay of summer with coolers filled with Faygo and Vernors while Koegel's hot dogs were on the grill.  "Everybody Ready?" 

This 1970's commercial was recorded on one of the Boblo Island Boats.  I've been to Boblo Island and I've been to Coney Island and one thing is for certain.  Boblo Island is the one that should still be open today.

Boblo Island was an amusement park, as the name suggests on an island south of Detroit at the mouth of the Detroit River, from 1898 until it closed in 1993.  Unlike Coney Island, where you get off the F train and walk across the street, the Boblo Island adventure began once you boarded one of the Boise Blanc Steamers.

Gracefully chugging down the Detroit River, you floated with anticipation to the amusement park with beautiful vistas of the Detroit skyline.  No matter the condition of Detroit and its economy, Detroit always looks amazing from the Detroit River.

Once you reached the dock at Boblo Island, you were transported in time and space to the magic that only an amusement park can provide. There was the Ferris Wheel, the Dance Hall, Falling Star, Wild Mouse, the Midway and of course roller coasters.  There was Nightmare, Screamer and Sky Streak if you dared. Your adventure could last until the night time.  Just make sure that you caught the last boat back to Detroit.

The best part of the Boblo Island experience was the boat ride there and back.  Filled with excitement, you would meet new friends and plan your riding adventure once you arrived at the park.  On the way back you would reminisce with those same friends about one of the best days of your young lives.  No matter when you went, it was a joy for all. 

The laughter, the lights and the thrills are gone now.  If you had the chance to be there at Boblo Island, you know how lucky you are.  Detroit needs to reinvent itself in the 21st Century.  With the same spirit that made Detroit the manufacturing capitol of the world, Detroit can rebuild itself.  Hopefully when Detroit is a thriving metropolitan once again, the laughter, the lights and the thrills will return to Boblo Island.

Why Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker Should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame: Strictly by the Numbers

One could argue that simply by compiling a combined 2819 double plays with only 424 combined errors over 19 years together with the Tigers more than qualifies Detroit’s dynamic duo for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

However, the Baseball Writers Association of America’s members consistently tell us that certain players do not have the numbers to justify enshrining them into Cooperstown.  Let’s take a look at the greatest double play combination in baseball history strictly by the numbers:

There are 21 shortstops in Cooperstown and 18 second basemen.  These are two extremely exclusive fraternities. 

Batting Average: Alan Trammell has a career batting average of .285, better than 11 Hall of Fame shortstops and tied with a 12^th, Robin Yount.    Lou Whitaker has a career batting average of .276, better than 4 Hall of Fame second basemen.

Hits: Alan Trammell has 2365 career hits, better than 12 Hall of Fame shortstops.  Lou Whitaker has 2369 career hits, better than 8 Hall of Fame second basemen.

Home Runs: Alan Trammell has 185 career home runs, better than 17 Hall of Fame shortstops.  Lou Whitaker has 244 career home runs, better than 15 Hall of Fame second basemen.

Runs Batted In: Alan Trammell has1003 career RBIs, better than 12 Hall of Fame shortstops.  Lou Whitaker has 1084 career RBIs, better than 9 Hall of Fame second basemen.

Are you beginning to notice a pattern here?

Runs: Alan Trammell scored 1231 career runs, better than 9 Hall of Fame shortstops.  Lou Whitaker scored 1386 career runs, better than 9 Hall of Fame second basemen.

Stolen Bases: Alan Trammell stole 236 career bases, better than 11 Hall of Fame shortstops.  Lou Whitaker stole 143 career bases, better than 6 Hall of Fame second basemen.

On Base Percentage: Alan Trammell has a career OBP of .352, better than 11 Hall of Fame shortstops.  Lou Whitaker has a career OBP of .363, better than 7 Hall of Fame second basemen. 

Slugging Percentage: Alan Trammell has a career slugging percentage of .415, which is a higher slugging percentage than all Hall of Fame shortstops.  Lou Whitaker has a career slugging percentage of .436, better than 10 Hall of Fame second basemen.

Strictly by the numbers Detroit’s all-time leading keystone combination have better offensive numbers than current Hall of Fame players at their perspective positions in all eight major offensive categories.  Maybe it’s the intangibles perhaps.  Let’s take a look:

Alan Trammell has a career .977 fielding percentage.  That is only 1 percentage point behind Ozzie Smith, who is considered by many to be the best fielding shortstop of all time. 

Lou Whitaker has a career .984 fielding percentage, which is the same fielding percentage as Hall of Fame second basemen Roberto Alomar and Nellie Fox.  Ryan Sandberg has the highest fielding percentage .989, among Hall of Fame second basemen.

Whitaker and Trammell were the foundation for the 1984 World Series Champion, Detroit Tigers.

Alan Trammell:

·        1984 World Series MVP

·        6 time American League All Star

·        4 Gold Gloves

·        3 time Silver Slugger

·        Received American League MVP votes 7 times

Lou Whitaker

·        1978 American League Rookie of the Year

·        5 time American League All Star

·        4 time Silver Slugger

·        3 Gold Gloves

·        Received American League MVP votes in 1983

Whatever criteria you consider, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker are among the best at their positions in Major League Baseball history.  This begs the question; what criteria is the Baseball Writers Association of America using?  Why are these two Tiger greats not already in the National Baseball Hall of Fame?  Why did Lou Whitaker not receive the 5% of votes necessary to remain eligible for Cooperstown after his first year of eligibility?  Strictly by the numbers and any other possible consideration, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker deserve to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

What would be most fitting is if they entered the Hall of Fame together.  Strictly by the numbers, in Detroit #1 and #3 just go together.  As Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell would say, “Two for the price of one!”

Click Here if you believe that Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker belong in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

A Coming of Age Story of a Detroit Pistons Fan Part III

We went back inside and I reached into my wallet and pulled out my trusty phone card.  I dialed all the numbers it took to use a phone card and my home phone number.  This time when my mom picked up, I spoke to her with confidence.  I said, “Mom, I need you to listen.  They are not going to let us stay at the hotel and we really need some good advice.  Are you ready to help me now?”  Wow, I can tell you that I never spoke to my mom that way before.  She was calmer now too.  She suggested that I call my Aunt Dorothy who lived in Detroit.  That would have been helpful two hours ago, but I didn’t complain.  I took down her number.  My mom had already told her the situation.  I spoke with Aunt Dorothy and she came to pick us up and we arranged to get the car back to her house with us.

To say we were grateful is an understatement.  We were safe!  We had a good night’s sleep and she made us breakfast.  Like I said, we were almost adults.  There’s nothing like when family comes through and feeds you as well.  We managed to get the Horizon to the mechanic and got the car fixed.  Funny thing, they were willing to take my brother’s credit card information over the phone.  Oh well!  We all hugged Aunt Dorothy goodbye and thanked her for saving the day.  We jumped back into the car and got back to I-75 and headed north.  We were all starving.  Again, we were five teenage boys.  However, this time we were not going to make another stop in Detroit.  Maybe we could find some place a little further north.  We went to Little Caesar’s® and ordered two Pizza Pizzas®.  We were so hungry and to this day that was some of the best pizza I had ever eaten.  In another hour, we had reached our goal.  We were home safely in Bay City.

I turned 40 not to long ago and I remember that day like it was yesterday.  I’m sure the story has changed over the years and between the five of us, there were many versions.  I hope that I did the story justice, for it was certainly one of the great adventures of my life.  However, I really told you that story to tell you this story…

Four months later I moved to Minnesota to go to college and I have lived here ever since.  Until Facebook, I hadn’t spoken to any of those guys except for Joe.  Joe moved out to Minnesota for awhile with his family.  Still once again, we lost touch.

Me?  My life turned out nothing like I planned and has been so much more than I could ever have imagined.  But Todd and I were right, we were ready for whatever the future provided.  I have loved, laughed and had more friends and wonderful memories than really one man deserves.  Of course, their have been tough times with more tears than I thought I could cry.  I am happy to say that even when life knocked me down, I always got back off the mat and got back into the game.  When you come from an auto town like Detroit, Flint, Saginaw or Bay City, that’s how you learn to live your life.  I have scars on my face, my hands, on numerous other places on my body and in my heart.  The town that I grew up in and the city I love have their share of scars too.  I think that’s why Detroit fans are so passionate.  We all have our scars and we all get right back into the game.

You see when you are raised in a blue collar town, life is sometimes harder than you think you can bare,  Trust me when I tell you I know men and women who are so much more tough than I could ever be.  The thing is we don’t quit.  We never quit!  Even when they are at their worst, the Lions, Pistons, Red Wings and Tigers never quit.  How could they?  They’re from Detroit!  When I think back, some of my best memories I’ve had are with friends cheering on our hometown favorites.  Sports give us the opportunity to escape from the difficulties that life throws at us, even though it’s only for a little while.  Detroit fans are forever thankful for the athletes who give us that escape.  We expect nothing less than their best effort and we show our appreciation every time they give it to us, win or lose.

I’ve been in Minnesota for 22 years now and I still love Detroit sports.  I love my friends and family who helped shape me into the person I am today.  This story has allowed me to get back in touch with Todd.  From the looks of it, his life is nothing like he planned and more than he could have ever imagined.  I can’t wait to find out more!  Clarence, he owns his own business in Bay City.  Chris lives just outside of Bay City and is a technical genius.  Joe is not with us anymore. 

Joe recently passed away tragically while he and his wife were getting their children to safety from a severe storm.  Now we often talk about athletes as heroes.  They rise up to the challenge of the moment and deliver victory.  That’s why we love them.  That’s why we cheer.  Joe gave his life while making sure that his family was safe.  He rose to the challenge and he delivered.  That is heroic!  That makes me proud to say he was my friend.  I’m proud to have all four of those guys as friends and cherish the misadventure we took on that April night in 1989.  No matter how close we are to our friends as adults, we are never quite as close as we were with the friends we had as kids.  Back then, we lived in the moment.  That’s all we knew how to do.  For that one night, Todd, Clarence, Chris, Joe and I were as close as we could be!  That was our moment!!

In the end, family and friends will always take priority over the Detroit teams we love.  We’re raised that way.  We do what we have to do to get the job done.  It’s our legacy and as Detroit fans it’s who we are.  So why do we love our teams so much?  That’s simple!  It’s because for those few hours they allow us to live in the moment, just like we did when we were kids.  They allow us to relive the memories of friends like Todd Berner, Clarence Pearson, Chris Sharon and Joe Spegel as we cheered our team to victory and created our own moments when nothing was more important than right there, right then.  We know that we will have future moments with friends we have yet to meet.  Our teams from Detroit bring us together because of a common bond, but it’s the friendships we develop that enrich our lives.  That’s what it means to be a fan in Detroit, even if you now live in Minnesota or wherever else the adventure of life has taken you.  Live in the moment and live it with friends and family close by.  You are a fan of Detroit; give it your best every time.

Vote Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell into the Hall of Fame

With 2819 career double plays, THE MOST ALL-TIME, #1 Lou Whitaker and #3 Alan Trammell deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.

A Coming of Age Story of a Detroit Pistons Fan Part II

Somehow I got the car off the highway, off the exit ramp and onto 8 Mile.  The Horizon gently rolled to a stop.  I turned the key… nothing.  I turned it again… nothing.  I’m not ashamed to admit that I was frightened and had no idea what we were going to do.  Clarence, Chris and Joe were in the back seat acting, well, like idiots.  That’s the chance you take when you bring underclassmen along on a road trip.  I looked at Todd and he back at me and I was assured he had my back, whatever it was that I was going to do.  So as calmly as I could I said, “OK, be cool.  Let’s watch each other’s backs and figure out how we are going to get out of this.  And for God’s sake, don’t do or say anything stupid!”  Underclassmen!  We got out, pushed the car off the road and into a parking lot.  I wish the Police would have driven by, but no such luck.

Looking around, we saw a Wendy’s® and a pay phone.  I took out my phone card.  Yes, there was a time when we all used pay phones and phone cards.  Then we walked to the phone and I called home.  “Hello, mom…”  She replied, “Where are you?”  I responded, “You see, ah, the car broke down and we’re stranded on 8 Mile in Detroit…”  She yelled, “I knew it, I knew that you would go into Detroit and then someth…” CLICK!

I’m sure it didn’t make her less angry that I hung up on her.  Sure a seventeen year old could use a loving motherly lecture from time to time, but this was neither the time, nor the place for that.  Trust me, it really wasn’t the place!  Besides, it was my brother’s car that broke down.  If anything, she should have been mad at him.  Still, we had a huge problem and it was evident that mom was not going to be helpful at that moment.  Plan B, let’s walk over to the drive-thru window.

Thankfully the employee opened up the window, the bullet proof glass window, and listened to our predicament.  We asked if there were any hotels around the area.  He looked to his left and then to his right and said, “Sure! There are some hotels, but I – I don’t think you want to stay there, you know?”  We knew!  Remember, this was not a real good neighborhood.  He was really nice and offered to call a taxi to take us to a national chain hotel.  I don’t want to give you the name of the hotel, 1 because it is one of my favorite hotel chains and 2, well you are about to find out.

The cab arrived and the nice man from Wendy’s® wished us luck.  In a few short minutes we arrived at the hotel and paid the driver our fare.  Clarence, Chris and Joe took a seat in the lobby and Todd and I went up to the desk.  Now over the years, at least in my mind, the lady on the other side of the counter looks more and more like the witch from The Wizard of Oz.  No, no, not the good witch.  She glared at us and asked, “How may I help you?”

Though I was stressed and fatigued, in a most polished voice I replied, “Well we’re from up in Bay City and we came down to watch the Pistons at the Palace.  Our car broke down and we need a room for the night.  We have five people, but we’d be glad to make do.  What can you offer us?”  This time she didn’t even bother to look up, “How do you plan to pay for this?”  Todd stepped in, “My dad gave me his credit card just in case of an emergency.  That was a pretty good idea.  If you like, you can call to verify it.”  She said, “That won’t be necessary.”  For a moment we thought we were safe until morning, but she continued, “Why did your parents let you drive down to Detroit?”  Things were beginning to unravel.

“Well ma’am, they did and right now we really need a safe place to stay for the night until we figure out how to get back home,” I said.  “Are either of you eighteen?” her interrogation continued.  I looked at Todd and he shook his head no and I did the same.  Todd said, “We’re not quite eighteen, but we will be soon and we are about to graduate from high school.”  “Mmm-hmm,” she continued, “Which one of you is older?”  I looked at Todd and said, “June 8^th.”  He replied, “July 13^th.”  I looked at her and said, “I guess I’m the oldest, it’s my car, so I’m the one who’s responsible.  Let’s put the room in my name.  What do I need to fill out?”  She answered, “Not yet!  I will have to run the card and verify it first.”

She didn’t really seem like she wanted to give us a room.  When she started running the credit card through the machine upside down, we began to lose the fading hope we had left.  Todd suggested that she turn the card the other direction.  She snapped, “THAT’S NOT IT!”  She went to the manager for help.  At that moment, I went over to the other three to let them know things weren’t looking good as they were falling asleep in the lobby.  I truly wish that they were trying to get the card run, but most likely they were coming up with a story to tell us why they were not going to let us stay there.

I had returned to the desk, about the same time that she and the manager did.  They said, “There seems to be some problem with the credit card you gave us and we are not going to be able to help you.”  I pulled my driver’s license and school ID out from my wallet.  Todd calmly suggested that they run the card in the right direction.  They said in unison, “That’s not the problem.”  In a much more forceful manner, Todd said, “You can’t leave us stranded.  Look!  Here’s my driver’s license!”  BAM!  “Here’s my school ID!”  BAM!  “Here’s his!” I slid my two cards over.  “You have my father’s credit card, here’s his number.  Just give him a call so we can have a place to stay!!”  The manager and she gave him back the credit card and walked away.  I asked if they at least had a pay phone.  They said, “There’s one in the lobby.”  Plan C!

Unfortunately, we hadn’t come up with plan C yet.  Todd and I walked outside to calm down and to figure out what we were going to do.  As we discussed our decreasing options, we both had a strong knowledge that in fifty days we were going to be out of high school and we were going to be responsible for ourselves.  In an abstract way, we knew that.  However with this situation thrust upon us, we understood what that meant in a very real way.  We were so aware of it that we discussed how we are adults now and we have to start fixing our own messes.

We both grew up a lot that day.  Our parents had prepared us well.  We never lost our heads.  I’m not exactly sure if we were in any real danger.  Maybe we were in more than we imagined.  Who knew?  We agreed that what was important was to get Clarence, Chris, Joe and ourselves back to Bay City safely.  What ever it would take, we were prepared to do it.  Actually, for the first time since the car broke down, I knew that we would.  The moment was very surreal.  Todd and I were stuck somewhere in limbo.  We looked like adults, but evidently we weren’t until we turned eighteen.  We were less than two months away from finishing high school and heading out to face the world on our own.  It was almost a calming experience.  We both knew at that time that we were ready for our futures.  That’s a valuable piece of information when you’re seventeen and fifty days away from graduation! 

It was now almost one o’clock in the morning and our next plan had to work.  In truth, we were beginning to run out of options.  Plan C was going to work!

To Be Continued…  I promise the next part is the conclusion! 

A Coming of Age Story of a Detroit Pistons Fan. Part I

The year was 1989 and the Bad Boys of the Detroit Pistons were well on their way to their first NBA Championship.  The day was April 19^th and for only $5, Piston’s fans could go to the Palace of Auburn Hills to watch Zeke and the gang clinch the Central Division and the NBA’s best record against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Palace Vision.  All the proceeds went to a local charity.  We had to go…

Todd Berner, Clarence Pearson, Chris Sharon, Joe Spegel and I loaded ourselves into my brother’s cream colored 1980 Plymouth Horizon.  For me this was the first time I went to Detroit without my mother or one of my older brothers.  For all of us, it was a chance to see history and express our independence.  I was the oldest, if only by a few days, just 50 days away from my 18^th birthday and graduating from Bay City Central High School.  I’m sure you remember when every day was a potential adventure.  We were all ready for ours.

The Palace was amazing and for all of us, it was our first time there.  The temple was in place to crown the Palace Guards and the Bad Boys of the NBA as World Champions.  The night belonged to the Pistons.  In their dominate style of 1989, they beat the Cavs handedly 118 – 102.  The Palace was one big party among close friends who had never met before that night.  Ken Calvert was our gracious host and he kept us all entertained, calling the game as if it were a home game.  His deep voice called out, “Isaaaaaaiaaaaaah Thomas, Joe Duuuuuuuuuuumars, Bill Laaaaaaaaaaaaaimbeer!!”

Being a fan himself, he also got caught up in the action.  At one point during the game after one of the NBA’s fabled bad calls by the refs Ken exclaimed, “TERRIBLE CALL!”  After a brief pause and realizing what he had just done he said, “I can finally say what I want to.”  WE LOVED IT!!  Later he led a chant of “Nuts and bolts, nuts and bolts, WE GOT SCREWED!”  But in the end all was perfect when he announced that “Our Deeeeeeetroit Piiiiiistons were Central Division Champs!”

The night was ours!  There was no doubt that our team; our town was the absolute best there was.  Nothing could take that away, especially not from our heroes who wore the red, white and blue Pistons logo on their uniforms.  Todd, Clarence, Chris, Joe and I were not ready for the night to end.  Of course no trip would be complete without going into Detroit, through the Windsor Tunnel to Canada and coming back over the Ambassador Bridge.  All that we missed was a delicious Detroit Coney Dog.  If you haven’t tried one, you are really missing something.

We had our fun and it was time to get home.  After all it was Wednesday night and we all had school the next day.  Five joyous kids in a 1980 Horizon, going 60 mph north on I-75 to Bay City, then it happened.  The power in the car cut, 55 mph, 50, 40, “can I make it to the exit?” 30 mph…  That exit off of I-75 was 8 Mile Road.  Surely you heard of it.  Eminem made a movie about it.  There we were five teenagers, about 120 miles away from home, stranded in one of the worst neighborhoods in the country.

To Be Continued…

Detroit Fans

At The Corner is a new blog dedicated to the teams, athletes and fans of the Motor City.  In the days to come, this site will take a look at the storied history of Detroit sports, music, culture and the hard working blue collar spirit of Motown.  I hope that the histories, stories and memories shared on this site will bring your own memories and stories to your mind.  Feel free to share your memories and insights through your comments.  I will do my best to post at least one blog a week.  I look forward to this literary and memory based journey with you.  Welcome to my blog.  This site is dedicate to you, the loyal die hard fans of Detroit.