I’m back in Florida from Kona, and beat, after several airplane flights, some in miserable seating, since we went standby to get earlier flights. More tomorrow.

Meanwhile, marvel at the precognition of the ESPN prognosticators last week, all of whom picked New York over Detroit. Many of them did predict that New York wouldn’t make it to the Series, but none of them imagined that it would be the Tigers who would knock them out.

[Update a few minutes later]

I should add that there was something poignant and weird about standing in a Honolulu airport last night watching (but not able to listen to) CNN announcing a possible nuclear weapon test by North Korea. Almost a Pearl Harborish feeling to it. Brought on partly by the fact that I’d visited the Arizona Memorial last week while talking to government folks there.

And they get blown off in three straight in the playoffs by a team that lost 119 games three years ago. The Bronx Bombers got bombed.

So much for Jane Bernstein’s subway series prediction.

And I suspect that, given the rampant Yankee hatred in most places outside Gotham, there was great rejoicing throughout the land last night.

[Update about 9 AM Hawaii time]

I’ll be pulling for the Cards now, in addition to the Tigers. I think that it would be really cool if we could have a repeat of the 1968 series.

The Tigers are in the playoffs with today’s win against Kansas City–they’re guaranteed to at least get in as the AL wild card. But it could be a neck and neck race with the Twins down to the last game for the division title. Detroit is playing the Rangers, and then gets to beat up on the Royals again, but Minnesota gets to play the Royals for a while, then finish up with the White Sox. Detroit has an arguably easier final schedule, and they’ve finally started hitting again, so they’ve still got a good shot at the title. The good news, though, is that if they can keep hitting the way they have been (and hopefully it’s not all lousy Royals pitching) they might actually be able to acquit themselves well post season.

This is a big morale boost for the Motor City, which badly needs one.

At least there’s one good football team in Michigan. Maybe the Wolverines should have played Chicago today. The Lions are already down 17-zip in the first half.

[Update with three minutes to go in the game]

Down 34-7. Hey, they can still come back. They only need one touchdown every forty-give seconds.

And the Tigers are losing to the Orioles in the bottom of the eighth, with Minnesota winning. so their lead in the Central Division will be down to one game. Looks like they’re going to blow it, and they may not even make it as a wild card.

Glad we at least have the Wolverines today.

[Update a little after 4 PM EDT]

Hey, they Tigers have tied it up at eight each in the bottom of the eighth. Maybe they can pull it out.

[Update at 4:30]

They’re in extra innings. Unfortunately, in the top of the tenth, the Twins have a man on second with nobody out. A single would bring in the go-ahead run.

[Couple minutes later]

Crap. The Tigers’ bull pen is letting them down. Two runs in, bases loaded, with only one out. They’re going to have to have a heck of an inning at the bottom of the tenth to recover.

[Update]

Sigh. You know, maybe it’s just as well. The way they’ve been playing for the last few weeks, they’d never make it through the playoffs anyway.

Still a lot of game to go (it’s early in the second quarter) but Notre Dame is looking pretty overrated. They haven’t gotten a first down.

Note, I’m not saying Michigan is that great, but at least it looks like they may get through September without a loss, if they continue like this, and that’s an accomplishment in itself.

[Update a few minutes later]

27-7 with a lot of time remaining in the first half (two of the Michigan touchdowns were off turnovers). And the only reason that Notre Dame got the touchdown was a (rare) interception off Henne–they still haven’t gotten a first down, I don’t think. The Irish have to be in shock.

[Near the end of the half]

The Irish finally managed to put together a drive. 34-13 at the half. I have to think that the Michigan defense is letting up, because they’re becoming complacent. Don’t do that. You’re playing God’s team. Or at least they think they are.

I’d love to be a fly on the wall in both locker rooms at half time.

[Update at the end of the third quarter]

40-13, Wolverines.

Still thinking that the Irish were overranked, because they were the Irish. But I’m sure that Michigan will be overranked as a result.

Still, it’s starting to look a lot like 1997…

Jerry Lee Lewis is the last man standing.

OK, here’s where the Wolverines show whether they’re real, or not. They’ll be playing the number two team (sorry, no permalink, but it’s Notre Dame) in the nation next Saturday. They’re perennially overrated during past opening seasons, but in this one, so far, they haven’t been.

We’ll see if that motivates them. More importantly, we’ll see if it motivates Lloyd Carr, whose job may be in trouble in the same way that John Cooper‘s was…

Cathy Seipp says that Futurama is coming back. Hooray!

Ron Radosh reviews Bruce Springsteen’s return to musical roots. In a technological century, I am gratified to see more and more musicians unplug.

Well, actually, there is no more. Arthur Schiff has died.