Who would've thought!

Last night, the Detroit Tigers defeated the New York Yankees. After letting the AL Central division crown slip away last weekend, their penance was to start the playoffs on the road against the Yankees, whom all the experts were touting as the best line-up ever assembled. Although we lost Game One, we came back and took the next three to win the ALDS and to send the $200 million Yankees back to NY with yet another disappointing post-season. I can’t say I knew this was going to happen. I never imagined in a million years that this would happen. I never imagined this whole season would happen but I am loving every minute of it. The disappointment of being at Comerica Park last weekend to unfortunately witness the division title disappear has more than been made up for with this ALDS win. I can’t get out of my mind the performances of rookies Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya and Curtis Granderson, leading the Tigers to a 4-3 win in Game Two. I got tingles when I saw Zumaya blow away the Yankees’ hitters with his 103-mph fastball.

More tingles came Friday night, when Kevin and I were lucky enough to attend Game Three. The atmosphere was unbelievable – an event Motown has been waiting for since 1987! We hung on every pitch – cheered every strike and every out for the Yankees and every hit and every run for the Tigers. Kenny Rogers, the Tigers’ 41-year-old lefty, pitched the game of his life and one of the best games I’ve ever seen pitched. He was masterful and determined and dead-set on winning this game and earning his first-ever playoff win. The Tigers hitters were just as determined in hitting Randy Johnson and countless other relievers and scoring a 6-0 victory. The more I think about this game, the bigger it gets in my mind. It’s arguably the best sporting event I’ve ever attended! Everyone in the stadium was one on this night and the cheers were deafening. The experience was so amazing, it’s so hard to put into words.

Game Four of the series came yesterday, with a start time of 4:30 p.m. The MLB gods evidently wanted to punish Michiganders by scheduling the baseball game at the same time as the annual Michigan-Michigan State football game. Instead of staying home to watch the Tigers’ game, Kevin and I attended the football game but my heart just wasn’t in it. Although I physically was in Michigan Stadium, emotionally I was at Comerica Park. I listened to the first few innings on my portable radio and hoped that Michigan would have a big enough lead to allow us to leave at the half. They obliged and I got home in time for the seventh inning (just missing Jeremy Bonderman lose his perfect game in the fifth inning). Leading 8-1, Bonderman was pulled and received an incredible ovation. A week after giving away the division title, he delivered the division series title! After the last out – a ground out from Polanco to Casey – the party that Motown was expecting last week was started. The Tigers hoisted manager Jim Leyland to their shoulders and carried him around and player after player brought bottles of champagne out to spray the crowd in celebration. It’s a scene I’ll never forget! A scene I watched through tears, not really believing it was happening.

The Detroit Tigers, just three short years ago, were the worst team in baseball – one loss short from being the worst team EVER in baseball. But, now, in 2006, here they were, sending the Yankees packing and making reservations in Oakland to start the ALCS. All these grown men jumping around and acting like children, while at the same time there were children in the stands cheering them, their heroes. Children who never had known a winning Tigers’ team now witnessing moments they’ll never forget.

All that we’ve been waiting for but never expected. And, all that I never can truly, fully express in words. So, pictures will have to do.

Leyland the Gladiator!

A happy group!

Some bubbly!

There's a party going on right here. A celebration to last throughout the year.

We're all behind our baseball team, go get 'em Tigers!