A Detroit Sports Fan's Memory of the Lindell A.C.

Uniforms of Detroit pro athletes
in the Lindell A.C.
#71 (top left) belonged to the great Alex Karras.

Every once in a while, The New York Times publishes a piece that's genuine and fun to read, instead of postured and calculated. Today's exhibit on the genuine and fun side discusses a long-gone Detroit bar and burger joint called the Lindell A.C. I've never been there and didn't know about it until I read Times contributor Bill Morris' piece in today's online edition of the paper.

The story is wonderfully told, with plenty of color, feeling, and just enough nostalgia without getting schmaltzy. Morris notes how athletes unselfconsciously mingled with fans at the Lindell, and how today's sports stars work hard at keeping their distance from those who pay admission to see them play between the lines. Morris' piece is also something of a valentine to a Motor City that was, and to the Detroit that remains proud -- even defiant -- in the face of profound adversity. (The mood in Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino approximates this sentiment.)

Go read Morris' story, which is linked here.