Detroit Free Press

I hate making football predictions. That's why I do them every week. But the truth is, as yet another NFL season ...

Barry Sanders has something on his mind. He walks over to Jim Arnold, the punter, and sits on a stool nearby. Arnold is talking to a reporter, but his words grow jumpy as he glances at Sanders just sitting there -- What does he want? Why doesn't he interrupt? -- and finally, Arnold stops talking to the reporter altogether. It is damn near impossible to ignore Barry Sanders, even if he is sitting still."What's up?" Arnold asks."I need a favor from you, man," Sanders says."Name it." Sanders grins, sort of embarrassed. "Nah, really, man," he says.

I never got to say good-bye to Scott Hastings. Neither did anyone else around here. He was traded a few weeks ago, to Denver of all places. Jack McCloskey, who moves the pieces on the Pistons' board, made the deal, then telephoned Hastings in Atlanta, where he lives in the off-season. "Hello, Scott?" Jack said, and Hastings acted surprised, like he was hearing from an old college buddy. "Hey! Jack! What's up?" And Jack chuckled and said, "Come on. You know what's up."

THE LIVE ALBOM:* I think it's time to give the Tigers a special award: Most Embarrassing Team To Sports Writers.

The problem with the head is that it's just above the shoulders. Damn inconvenient. I mean, let's say I were to ...

NEWS ITEM: Friday, Aug. 16, was the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death in 1977. Thousands mourned at Graceland, his home. Some, however, believe Presley is alive. . . . "I met Elvis at the supermarket. He was coming down the frozen foods aisle and I was coming up. His black hair was long now and pushed under a baseball cap. He wore oversized sunglasses. But I knew it was him. I have every album, I've seen every movie -- even "Clambake." I knew it was him.

Hear ye! Hear ye! The nation's first Sports Court is now in session. Step forward, and ye shall be heard. Ye shall be judged. Ye shall be sentenced.And I don't wanna hear any complaints.CASE 1: The people vs. U.S. basketball team.CASE SUMMARY: Tired of no air-conditioning, of spicy food, and of all thatSpanish, the U.S. men's basketball team at the Pan Am Games left the athletes' village in Havana and flew to Miami between games, staying at the exclusive Mayfair House hotel, where rooms cost up to $600 a night and feature

In the movie "The Godfather", Michael Corleone reluctantly becomes the head of a Mafia family, only after his ...