MICHIGAN SPORTS

Detroit Lions, Pistons, Red Wings, Tigers, U-M Wolverines, MSU Spartans & More

Join MLive sports producer Philip Zaroo for a live game blog of the Detroit Lions' season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Sign up for a reminder below, then stop in Sunday to comment and ask questions throughout the game!

AP PhotoFormer Detroit running back Barry Sanders, right, says the Lions have reached out to him about having a role with the franchise.

ATLANTA -- I had the chance to speak with former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders in an exclusive telephone interview last week. The Hall of Famer shared his thoughts on the Lions, rookie running back Kevin Smith and his retirement.

Sanders currently is promoting an Alltel Wireless "My Circle Gridiron Getaway" contest in which one lucky winner will fly via private jet to a college or pro football game of their choice with friends and share the ultimate tailgate experience with him.

To enter or learn more about the contest, fans should text the word "JET" to 57533 or log on to alltelfootball.com.

When I asked for questions to be e-mailed to me on Friday, I got several asking why Paris Lenon couldn't move to strong side linebacker and make all the defensive calls from there (allowing rookie Jordon Dizon to start in the middle). I was pretty sure I knew the answer, but wanted to confirm it with Detroit Lions head coach Rod Marinelli.

Marinelli said it's all about location, location, location.

AP PhotoQuarterback Steven Threet will start for the Wolverines against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday as Michigan looks for its first win of the season.

Stories:

• Rodriguez: Threet to start

• Entering Miami game, Michigan's offense remains a work in progress

• Warren makes his mark on Michigan's secondary

• Scouting report: Miami (Ohio) at Michigan

• Miami athletic director Bates revisits his Michigan roots

• Q&A with with Wolverines offensive lineman David Moosman

Columns:

• Carty: Wolverines just need time ... and patience

Multimedia:

• Live Blog: Michigan vs. Miami (Ohio)

• Friday afternoon chat recap: Michigan O-Line 'a bit of a mystery'

AP PhotoMark Dell and Michigan State look for an easier time from the comforts of home Saturday as they face Eastern Michigan at Spartan Stadium after losing their opener on the road to California.

Stories:

• Spartans want Ringer to run rampant vs. EMU

• Spartans' defense on mission vs. Eastern Michigan

• Spartans' Dell ready to lead after breakout game

Columns:

• Grinczel: Spartans' defense rests it case too often

AP PhotoDetroit Pistons owner William Davidson delivers his acceptance speech at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. on Friday.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing and Pat Riley were enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night, but it was inductee Dick Vitale who, as expected, stole the show.

Others in the class, which also included former Detroit Piston Adrian Dantley, Detroit Pistons and Shock owner Bill Davidson and former Immaculata University coach Cathy Rush, gave speeches. But the ESPN commentator held court, preaching with passion for almost 30 minutes about everything from basketball to broadcasting to family.

AP PhotoOffensive coordinator Jim Colleto's emphasis on the run should help the Lions' offensive line protect quarterback Jon Kitna better.

ALLEN PARK -- There are only two units in the Detroit Lions' starting lineup that weren't affected by offseason personnel changes -- the quarterback and the offensive line.

While Jon Kitna has gone unchallenged as the starting quarterback, several changes were expected in the offensive line, but none of them have developed.

Veteran George Foster has practiced all week in the starting right tackle role, which means first-round draft pick Gosder Cherilus, the 17th overall pick, likely will start the season on the bench.

AP PhotoJustin Verlander is pulled by Jim Leyland in the second inning against the New York Yankees on Monday.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Justin Verlander realizes that numbers don't lie.

He was 35-15 with a 3.64 ERA for the Tigers in 2006 and 2007, and is 10-15 with a 4.74 ERA going into today's start here against the Twins.

"But being able to fight through negatives is a positive," Verlander said Friday, "and I am going to do that."

Verlander had his shortest stint in 93 big league starts the last time out, giving up eight runs (five earned) in 1 2/3 innings against the New York Yankees, and afterward said:

AP PhotoDetroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga hangs his head after giving up a grand slam to Minnesota's Justin Morneau in the fifth inning Friday night.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Detroit Tigers starter Armando Galarraga looks like an American League Rookie of the Year contender against everybody but the Minnesota Twins.

Friday night's 10-2 loss was another chapter in his struggles with them.

Galarraga (12-5) allowed season-highs with six earned runs and six walks, and is now 0-4 with a 5.46 ERA against the Twins. He is 12-1 with a 2.92 ERA against everyone else.

Join The Ann Arbor News for a live game chat as the Michigan Wolverines host the Miami RedHawks!

If there's one statistic the Detroit Lions can improve that will have the biggest impact on their record this season, it's average rushing yards per attempt, says MLive's Lions Insider Tom Kowalski.

So will they improve in that category?

Paul: Didn't you overeact about the Lions 08 draft?? Its rare that a rookie O.T. and/or MLB can start as a rookie. Look at how complex the Tampa 2 is. The MLB is basically the QB on Defense. I agree with 99% of your opinions, but you were a little harsh on the rookies.

Tom Kowalski: If I left the impression that I was writing these guys off, it was the wrong impression. I was just stating that -- at this moment -- it has to be disappointing that some of their top picks aren't starting (and that there isn't a definite plan of when they'll start to see playing time). Look, the Falcons are starting a rookie first-round pick at left tackle and they're starting a rookie second-round pick at middle linebacker. That doesn't mean the Falcons had a better draft than the Lions because in six months or a year (or two), Detroit's picks could be producing at a much higher level. It's just too hard to determine what's going to happen to these guys down the line. But -- right now -- they're not starting. You can dress that up all you want and make all the excuses you want, but they're still not starting.

The Great Missing Bag Caper will not die.

But former Detroit Lions running back Tatum Bell is still hoping to get to the bottom of what happened a few days ago, when the team signed Rudi Johnson and cut Bell.

Johnson's bags disappeared from the Lions' facility, then reappeared sans much of their contents, which included cash, credit cards – even underwear, according to Johnson.