9711170062
DETROIT FREE PRESS
971117
Monday, November 17, 1997
METRO FINAL
1
MITCH ALBOM
nfl wrap: week 12
Copyright (c) 1997, Detroit Free Press
THIS IS THE FIRST VICTORY OF THE REST OF THE SEASON
I am sitting here with my hands over my eyes. My hands over my ears. My hands
over my mouth.
See no past. Hear no past. Speak no past.
That is my philosophy this morning. The Lions' 38-15 thumping of the
once-mighty Minnesota Vikings? A work of art. It stands alone. It hangs on the
wall in a gold leaf frame. I don't want to know about the losses that preceded
it. I don't want to know the pattern of this Detroit franchise, winning when
it absolutely has to, collapsing once the heat is off.
As they said in the '80s, don't ruin my buzz.
Did you see that performance Sunday? Did you see the Lions' offense? They
scored early. They scored late. They scored at every coffee, hot dog and
Cracker Jack break. In the third quarter, when they scored a field goal, they
actually took the points off the board and scored a touchdown instead.
Field goals? We don't need no stinkin' field goals.
"Overwhelming confidence," said Herman Moore, when asked to describe
Sunday's huddle. "Overwhelming confidence."
Do I question a game like that? No I do not. That would be like putting a
mustache on the Mona Lisa. Like spray-painting the Sistine Chapel. Like making
Maria Callas sing with the Spice Girls.
Sorry. When Tommy Vardell scores three touchdowns, all bets are off.
"If we play like we did today," Vardell said, "we should never lose a
game."
Look! I'm quoting Tommy Vardell!
You want me to second-guess a game like that?
As they said in the '70s, don't bum me out.
The patient's vital signs are just fine
Sure I could wonder about Scott Mitchell. I could ask how his hamstring
was too hurt to play last week, yet he managed to move just fine on Sunday.
But what do I look like, "ER"?
"It couldn't have been hurt that bad," said a winking Johnnie Morton, "you
have to actually be able to run fast to hurt your hamstring."
Fine by me, Dr. Morton. I accept your diagnosis. I prefer to savor
Mitchell's wonderful slant pattern toss to you for a score. Or his pinpoint
pass to Herman Moore in the back of end zone. I'll focus on his 21 completions
in 29 attempts, his 271 yards.
What's that, you say? The passes Mitchell escaped on? Like the one that
was intercepted in the end zone but came back on a Minnesota penalty? What
are you, with the media?
As they said in the '60s, don't bring me down. "This might have been
Scott's best game of the season," coach Bobby Ross said. "We probably need to
strain his other hamstring."
Good idea. Somebody hit him!
Whatever it takes to duplicate this effort. This wasn't just a passing
game, this was a running game of varied proportions. Did you see Barry
Sanders, leaving a trail of Vikings with pinched nerves from twisting their
necks as he ran past?
By the end, Barry had 108 yards, Vardell had three touchdowns, and Ron
Rivers had 51 yards and a 12.8 per-carry average. I don't want to say Rivers
doesn't see much action, but when he checked into the game, the refs said,
"Which team do you play for?"
It was that kind of Sunday. The defense was powerful. And the offensive
line was tremendous. They kept Mitchell protected. They opened holes for
halfback and fullbacks. They deflated the celebrated Minnesota defensive
front.
"You could see when we scored before halftime (to go up 24-7)," said
lineman Jeff Hartings, "they were like, OK, it's a loss, let's just get outta
here."
Am I going to ruin that? Am I going to spoil it with reminders that the
Lions are only 5-6, that they still trail the division leaders by three games?
As they said in the '50s, beat it, Daddyo.
It's a win; just leave it at that, OK?
As for the rest of the Vikings? Sure. We could ask questions. We could ask how
a team that beat Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Carolina and New England, a team that won
its last six games, a team that everyone was calling the hottest surprise in
football -- can collapse like a Donald Trump casino bid.
But why would we want to?
Leave it alone. Hasn't this Lions franchise taught us that when something
good happens, you appreciate it but never hold it up to the light? Do not
examine. Do not assume a pattern. This is a team that has beaten Green Bay,
Tampa Bay and Minnesota, but has lost to New Orleans.
What did they do differently on Sunday?
"We went to reckless abandon with our offense," said Morton. "We opened
it up," said Moore.
"We spread the ball around," said Vardell.
So why wasn't it tried before?
"We just do what the coaches tell us," said Moore.
You see? All that comes from analysis is the need for psychoanalysis.
Better to let Sunday sit there on the shelf, a wonderful memory, a day
when Honolulu blue jerseys were everywhere they wanted to be. Ignorance is
bliss. Perspective is a downer . . .
What's that? Next week? A game against a lousy Colts team that has one win
all year? A perfect game for the Lions to lose?
As they say in the '90s, shut up, Beavis.
Mitch Albom will sign copies of "Tuesdays With Morrie," Tuesday, 7:30-8:30
p.m., Barnes and Noble, Ann Arbor; Wednesday, 12:30-2 p.m., Fountain Street
Church, Grand Rapids; and Thursday, 7-8, B.Dalton, Livonia Mall. To leave a
message for Albom, call 1-313-223-4581.
THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRINTED ARTICLE.
COLUMN; DETROIT LIONS