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USA TV Talk Sports with Justin Mazzarese
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A Cornered Wolverine
Justin Mazzarese
Sports Editor
The world of sports can be a funny place. Things happen all the time that you thought would impossible. When you here the baseball call, �I don�t believe what I just saw,� what comes to mind? A limping Kirk Gibson rounding the bases pumping his fists in victory, right? Or how about this one �Do you believe in miracles, YES!� This is obviously Al Michaels in one of the most improbable victories in sports when the United States defeated Russia at the 1980 Olympics.
These instances, Gibson and the Olympic hockey team, both had one thing in common: each had absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain. Teams and players with this attitude are like a cornered Wolverine because this is the point where it is most dangerous. George Mason of this past NCAA tournament, Billy Jean King, the Marlins of 2003- shall I go on?
Jim Leyland understands this concept and enthralled it in the Detroit Tigers locker room. It all started back in April when the Tigers had a slow start which caused Leyland to go on a rant in another one of those moments that should come to mind that set the bar for the year. The players reacted as Leyland got the Tigers, who were the laughing stock of the majors two years ago when they were trying not to break the all- time loses record, to 40 games over .500 by the all- star break.
The Tigers limped their way in the playoffs by losing the final game of the season to the lowly Royals which meant they were the Wild Card team instead of the American League Central Champion. With the loss the Tigers pulled the Yankee card which turned them into the cornered Wolverine. This is nothing new to the world of Leyland as he brought a young Marlins organization to the World Series as they defeated the heavily favored Cleveland Indians whose line- up could match up the current Yankee line- up.
Although Leyland is a big part of the Tigers evolution, people need to realize that Leyland is not the only reason that the Tigers are where they are today. Does the name �Pudge� Rodriguez sound familiar? Four years ago people questioned why �Pudge� went to the Florida Marlins because they were still recovering from the fire sale of Leyland�s 1997 Marlins. One World Series championship later and who looks stupid now.
People then questioned another move- �He�s going to the Tigers? Why?� was a common question once Pudge choose the Tigers as his next home. Once again, Pudge gets the last laugh as he is the leader of that young pitching rotation.
However, the main reason of the Tigers evolution into a cornered Wolverine is Kenny Rogers. Never as a player been so backed into a corner than Rogers which showed has his pitching performance Rogers displayed against the Yankees was a venomous masterpiece. Such rage as never been witnessed as he yelled several vulgarities at the ball in mid- flight.
These factors, along with many others, spawned the best celebration of in recent baseball history. Leyland kissing a drunken fan on the hat after kissing his granddaughters, Sean Casey spraying the fans with champagne and Kenny Rogers pouring beer on a cops head. This was the Wolverine feasting once it fought its way out.
Copyright 2006 Justin Mazzarese. All Rights Reserved.
Reprint without permission is prohibited.
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