Mike Singletary and The Lost Finger

At 52, Mike Singletary still has muscles on top his muscles. Even so, it's easy to look at the broad-shouldered, barrel-chested and slim-waisted Hall-of-Fame middle linebacker and not see a legendary former player.The reason for this is obvious. Singletary is now a coach -- a not-so-successful coach who has been ridiculed in the press and lampooned on Letterman. Memories of his playing days are buried under the thick rubble of losses and motivational phrases that have become ready-made punchlines. Given that backdrop it was jarring to hear the following exchange during Friday's press conference. Singletary, who rarely, if ever, invokes his playing career without prompting, had just finished discussing the performances of linebackers Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes, who played against the Chargers with broken right hands: Q: Had you ever been in a similar situation (as a player)? MS: Yes, I have. Q: Did you have a broken hand? MS: No, I just los...