Baseball curses, howler monkeys and evening the score with Mayan gods

By Jacob Wheeler Sun International Correspondent UTILA (Islas de la Bahia), Honduras – How he found me down here I have no idea. But I have no doubt it was he who renewed the hex. The two Chicagoans and I were as far from Wrigleyville as possible (a sleazy sports bar in the Guatemalan highlands, […]

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On the Road: Tackling language numero cuatro

By Jacob Wheeler Sun international correspondent XELA, Guatemala — Doris, my new host mother, calls me down to breakfast in her tiny, open-air courtyard that is surrounded by bland, concrete walls but beckons just enough mountain-high sunshine to make me smile. The meal is yet another plate of plain eggs and soupy beans to go […]

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On the Road: Mesas and natural aquifers give way to spring training in suburbia

By Jacob R. Wheeler Sun editor Part two in a series of four travelogues (Read part one, “Leaving the Midwest’s gloomy grey for Southwestern red dirt” in June 19 issue of the Glen Arbor Sun) “Though much is taken, much abides; and though / We are not now that strength which in old days / […]

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On the Road: Leaving the Midwest’s gloomy grey for Southwestern red dirt

By Jacob R. Wheeler Sun editor The American boy’s passport is his driver’s license, and a fortuneteller’s reading of his future spells itself out on a Rand McNally road atlas of the United States. Tiny county roads flow into highways like tributaries driven by fate towards the roaring river, and, in turn, the highways are […]

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The kings in the palace

By Tim Sutherland Sun feature writer Imagine Billy Joel and Elton John together in concert, with over 100 million records sold between them – number 1 hits too numerous to mention and two of the greatest piano players of our time. Legends, icons, megastars, and there they were on stage together at The Palace of […]

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Travels with Women Friends

By M. Leth-Soerensen Sun staff writer In the midst of our busy lives — buzzing traffic, too many visitors and our children’s, partners’ or employers’ needs — we seek the company of other women and escape to a quiet place for the purpose of respite. We wish to have fun, talk well, and long for […]

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FATHER AND SON BASEBALL PILGRAMMAGE HITS THIRTEEN

by Norm Wheeler Sun editor It starts innocently enough during a game of catch or a ride in the car listening to Ernie Harwell or Bob Ueker broadcasting the game. Your son is around 10 and hasn’t been to a major league park yet. “Let’s go see some ball games,” you say, “maybe we can […]

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AFRICAN DISPATCH FROM A NATIVE SON

By Jacob Wheeler Sun International Correspondent ACCRA, Ghana: March 17, 2002 — A cool breeze blowing off the Southern Atlantic is a relief this morning, as are the usual cast of characters hunkering on the porch at the Hotel de California in Adabraka..Same terminally drunk German man, Herr Schmidt, sleeping on the sofa in the […]

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A Ghanaian fighter rises from the dust

By Jacob Wheeler Sun contributor ACCRA, Ghana – Amid wet sheets hanging from clotheslines and scrawny chickens running about, the budding star of the Akotoku boxing club is not difficult to spot. Kpakpo Allotey, nicknamed “Lightning” by the local children who adore him, takes one jab after another at the hot and humid sub-Saharan African […]

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My blind date: The future looks good

By Jacob Wheeler Sun editor This column appeared in The Michigan Daily in April

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