MITCH ALBOM

Marinelli decision obvious, but Ford fumbles bigger call

There is a time when firing the coach is enough. This is not that time. There is a case where promoting from within works. This is not that case. There is a team where modest changes can bring a winning season. This is not that team.

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BILL MCGRAW

Ritzy yacht club offers coupons

"Complimentary dockage" seems like an unusual come-on in a mass-mailed flyer. But then you see who is making the offer: the venerable Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club?

MICHAEL ROSENBERG

Tighten that belt! Erk! Not that tight!

Leading economists believe that, with a well-designed stimulus package, things should get better by the spring of 2027.

DREW SHARP

Millen hides behind camera

Millen will turn his Detroit experiences into a joke. He’ll smile through his misery knowing that he already has collected $38 million for those 31 wins and is still owed $12 million from William Clay Ford Sr. for the final 2 1/2 years on that five-year contract extension. Laugh, clown, laugh.

FREE PRESS CARTOONIST MIKE THOMPSON

Is change possible?

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict

STEPHEN HENDERSON

Next Detroit mayor should try doing more in a lot less space

We need someone who's willing to do some shattering of his or her own, particularly when it comes to the size, structure and reach of city government.

DREW SHARP

Big Ten's play not worthy of BCS

Is it possible to place the Big Ten on double-secret BCS probation?

MARK PHELAN

Plenty of uncertainty ahead for automakers

You can't solve an equation with this many unknowns, but you can figure out where the unknowns are. With that in mind, here are some of the big questions the new year will bring.

BRIAN DICKERSON

Mom took down the economy

It's taken some doing, but I've finally tracked down the individual most responsible for our current financial mess. Sorry, Mom -- but you're taking the fall. Consider just a few of the damning facts I've been able to establish.

RON DZWONKOWSKI

Editorializing poses special challenges

When I took over 10 1/2 years ago as editor of the Free Press editorial page, I really had no idea what I was getting into. How tough could it be? I'd covered news in Michigan since Helen Milliken was the state's first lady.

LAURA VARON BROWN

The first day without power was cool, actually, but then things got ugly

Three days without power brought out the good, the bad and the ugly. The good was mainly thanks to Mother Nature. Reasonable temperatures meant that most homes without power were spared frozen pipes and more catastrophic results. Temperatures in the 30s are better than in the teens.

STEPHEN HENDERSON

Obama, Lincoln and Taney

Much has already been made of Barack Obama's decision to be sworn in as president Jan. 20 over the same Bible used during Abraham Lincoln's inauguration. It's a pretty cool nod to history, and to the president Obama has said he most admires.

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MIKE THOMPSON'S BLOG

Is change possible?

FREE PRESS EDITORIAL BOARD

Michigan's next best hope?

Perhaps Michigan's talk about becoming the epicenter of renewable energy is more than wishful thinking.

MARK SNYDER'S BLOG

John Beilein won't stress one game over another

Michigan coach John Beilein has spent his career living in the moment, focusing on the game at hand. And, despite the importance of Sunday’s win over Illinois and not starting 0-2 in the Big Ten, it was a philosophy he tries to preach to his team.

NICHOLE CHRISTIAN

Doesn't the U.S. Senate have bigger battles?

The writers of Saturday Night Live would have a hard time topping the comedy set to take place in the U.S. Senate this week between Majority Leader Harry Reid and Roland Burris.

JEFF GERRITT

Paying by the mile -- another way to go?

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has ruled out a gas tax increase for 2009, even though a state transportation task force has recommended double the spending on Michigan’s transportation system to $7 billion.

MIKE WENDLAND

Scams hit Facebook, Twitter

There are new scams multiplying fast on the popular Twitter and Facebook social networking sites. The scams have slightly different messages but are aimed at stealing your login information.

NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA'S BLOG

Report: Scot Loeffler to become Florida QB coach

Scot Loeffler is expected to be named Florida’s new quarterbacks coach, the Gainesville Sun reports today.

FREE PRESS CARTOONIST MIKE THOMPSON

Is change possible?

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict

HELENE ST. JAMES' BLGO

Holmstrom says Zetterberg OK to play

Update from Saturday's morning skate at the Xcel Energy Center: Henrik Zetterberg skated, and afterwards reporters were told by Tomas Holmstrom that Zetterberg would play tonight against the Wild.

VINCE ELLIS' BLOG

Rip, Rasheed out vs. L.A. Clippers

Pistons shooting guard Rip Hamilton and power forward Rasheed Wallace are out for Sunday's game at the Los Angeles Clippers.

RON DZWONKOWSKI

The value of voting

The other candidates running in next month's Detroit mayoral primary are sure to try to make political hay out of the fact that Dave Bing, one of the front-runners, has not been exactly a regular voter in local elections. If you saw today's story on freep.

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