Nathan to donate $50K to Detroit fire houses

DETROIT -- Joe Nathan is getting quite a taste of Detroit in the final month of his first season as a Tiger.

First, the 39-year-old closer attended the Monday Night Football contest between the New York Giants and the Detroit Lions. While he wasn't rooting for the hometown team -- he's a Giants fan -- he still appreciated what the day meant to the Motor City.

"That was a tough one to watch," Nathan said, "but a very good day for Detroit. It was special to see a lot of the fans at Ford Field came from our game. It was fun."

Earlier Monday, the Tigers pulled to within a game of first place with a win over the American League Central-leading Royals.

Nathan's tour of the city will continue Wednesday when he visits Detroit Fire House Engine 1. There, as part of a partnership with the Detroit Tigers Foundation, he'll make five separate $10,000 donations to different fire houses.

"It's a small token of gratitude compared to what they do on a daily basis," Nathan said.

The donation and visit to the fire house comes a day before the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.