Detroit tigers

Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera did something that no one has done in 45 years of baseball Thursday evening when he won the triple crown (meaning he led the league in home runs, runs batted in and batting average for the season).

People in the Motor City certainly love their cars, but they love their sports stars, too. Unless they retire, move to another state, run for senate, and vote down a bailout package for the Big 3 automakers.

Lo Grasso’s Barber Shop in South Boston—“Southie,” as the locals like to call it—is one of those hidden gems, the kind of must-see place that isn’t listed in any tour guide. Every afternoon, men in ties and men in ball caps (and some men with no hair at all) flip through magazines and yak about the Celtics until Sal or Rocky waves them over to the chair. Nobody takes a number here. The men holding the scissors know who’s next, no matter how many customers walk through the door.

La première étoile: Marcus Thames. The Detroit Tigers slugger hit a monster, ninth-inning homerun against the San Francisco Giants last night-his fifth consecutive game with a dinger. Not impressed? Try this: his last eight hits have all landed on the other side of the fence. Thames is so hot these days that a bunt attempt would probably clear the wall. And in case you haven’t noticed, folks, his once-foundering team is riding his hot bat up the A.L. Central standings. The underachieving Tigers have won seven of eight, and now sit just 6.5 back with plenty more to play.

La première étoile: Alexander Ovechkin. The Washington Capitals scoring machine was the toast of the NHL awards ceremony last night, scooping up four shiny trophies, including the Hart (MVP) and the Lester B. Pearson (players’ choice for most outstanding). Only 22 years old, Ovechkin netted 65 goals this season—the first time anyone has reached the 60-goal plateau since Mario Lemieux pocketed that many pucks in 1996. It’s only a matter of time before the Russian phenom shares another trophy with Lemieux: the Stanley Cup.

It’s not often I’ll nominate the manager of a sub-.500 ballclub for accolades, but you have got to listen to Jim Leyland’s f-bomb-laced response to Jason Grilli and others in the Tigers’ clubhouse whining about poor team chemistry.