MITCH ALBOM

Hall-bound Bill Davidson on all the banners and all the bummers

Bill Davidson is ready to go. He sits behind his desk, holding his arms, and before I can fully sit down, he grins and says, "OK, let's start."

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DREW SHARP | THE GREAT BOODINI

Relax, Wolverines are not that bad

How long did it take? Ten minutes? About the same length of time it took Michigan's offense to develop a play in Rich Rodriguez's spread option.

Stretch of I-96 in Detroit expected to reopen today

The state could reopen as early as today a stretch of I-96 in Detroit that has been closed as part of the Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project.

I-96 stretch in Gateway project may reopen Saturday

The state said today it may reopen as early as Saturday a stretch of I-96 in Detroit that’s been closed as part of the Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project, and that overall the giant project to remake freeways approaching the international border crossing is proceeding ahead of schedule.

DREW SHARP

A game-by-game prediction of the Lions' season

The Lions can't start the season without some form of implausible occurrence, whether it's an assistant coach ordering fast food in the buff or a rejected running back allegedly becoming an illegal bellhop -- or "Bell hop," as the case may be.

MICHAEL ROSENBERG

Jim Leyland wants another chance

Jim Leyland admits he has been part of the problem. He intends to be part of the solution, too. "I hope I sign an extension shortly," said Leyland, who has one year left on his contract. "I don't know if that's going to happen or not.

TOM WALSH

Let's get back in business, Detroit, by starting with clean government

Seize this moment, Detroit. Detroiters of all stripes -- city, suburban, black, white, investors and expatriates -- should treat Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's guilty pleas and resignation as an opportunity.

MATT HELMS

Beware orange barrels on I-75, I-696, Hines and in Dearborn

We've got another big weekend of freeway slowdowns ahead on I-75. Both directions of the freeway will be down to two lanes between the Davison Freeway and I-94 in Detroit from 9 tonight to 9 p.m. Sunday. The lane closures are for bridge work.

ROCHELLE RILEY

Saga of mayor's women almost over

Eight months after Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy chastised Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick for childish lies, she watched him plead guilty to obstruction of justice and agree to go to jail. And thus ends -- for now -- the saga of the mayor and his women.

TOM WALSH

Resignation a gift to Detroit

Seize this moment, Detroit. Detroiters of all stripes – city, suburban, black, white, old, young, investors and expatriates – should treat Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s resignation as a gift.

MARK PHELAN

Cayenne is worthy of Porsche badge

I've always been ambivalent about the Porsche Cayenne. Sure, it's powerful and luxurious, but I doubted a five-passenger SUV that weighs 5,000 pounds could be nimble and exciting enough to deserve to wear the revered Porsche badge. I began to change my mind last summer.

DREW SHARP

Dick Vitale thankful that Bill Davidson fired him

The unthinkable happened. Dick Vitale was speechless. He knew what was coming when Pistons owner Bill Davidson's office contacted him on the morning of Nov. 8, 1979. Davidson wanted to meet with him at Vitale's home.

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MIKE THOMPSON'S BLOG

Parting shots

NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA’S BLOG

Lions defensive game plan: Stop the run

The Lions’ defensive game plan shouldn’t be surprising in the season opener Sunday at Atlanta.

NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA'S BLOG

Lions' Colletto: Rudi Johnson will get his chances come Sunday

Rookie Kevin Smith will start at running back in the Lions’ season opener Sunday at Atlanta. But Rudi Johnson, who just joined the team this week, will contribute.

RON DZWONKOWSKI

Maybe Palin will overshadow McCain

Clearly, confidence will not be an issue for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as she hits the campaign trail with John McCain to keep the White House in Republican hands.

FREE PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD

If the mayor finally goes

How does a city work its way through the kind of transition Detroit faces, assuming Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick agrees to a plea deal?

RON DZWONKOWSKI

Republicans: Country first?

As Democrats pitch “Change we can believe in” for Barack Obama, Republicans have rolled out “Country irst” as the slogan they hope will carry John McCain into the White House.

MARK SNYDER'S BLOG

U-M, MSU will play only once in basketball

UPDATED AT 4:01 P.M . -- The Big Ten conference men’s basketball schedule is out, and it again starts in December, on the 30th. Michigan and Michigan State again play only once this season, on Feb. 10 in Ann Arbor, televised by ESPN.

MIKE WENDLAND

Google's Chrome browser needs polishing

Google's new Chrome browser may need some polishing, but it's an impressive salvo in its simmering skirmish with Microsoft that signals more ambitious plans to fully compete with not just Microsoft's Internet Browser but its full Office suite of applications, too.

MATT HELMS

By all means, please slow me down

I must have a sticker on my front bumper I can’t see that says, “Go ahead, pull out in front of me slowly.” Why else would people do it so often?

HELENE ST. JAMES' BLOG

Jimmy Howard likely to be in Grand Rapids again, Holland says

In speaking with general manager Ken Holland today, there isn’t much doubt Jimmy Howard will be spending another season in Grand Rapids.

BARB ARRIGO

Thoughts on Sarah Palin

1. John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as his vice presidential candidate reinforces my fear that he leaps before he looks.

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