The challenges are different but no less critical. The Lions aren't at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis this week with high draft picks and low expectations. As the newest member of the NFL's middle class, they have to try to maintain consistency in a league fiscally constructed for upheaval.

Every once in a while you have a small story that's so perfect it puts a big story in the proper context. Udonis Haslem had such a story Wednesday after practice about Jeremy Lin.

I always swore I would not be one of those aging sportswriters who, about the third week in February, starts waxing poetic about spring training.

The problem with guessing where Peyton Manning will play next season - assuming irreconcilable differences with the Indianapolis Colts - is the uncertainty of whether he'll be able to play.

Three times they stood face to face, for the classic staredown, the type of thing that made you call the National Guard whenever Mike Tyson or James Toney was involved.

The following editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday, Feb. 21:

With Apple expected to unveil the next version of the iPad early next month, I worry that I'll feel like a kid on Christmas who weeks before found the unwrapped presents hidden in the closet.

The following editorial appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Tuesday, Feb. 21:

The following editorial appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Tuesday, Feb. 21:

When it comes to the realities of life in journalism, no one prepared me more while I was an undergrad at Virginia Commonwealth University than Bill Turpin.

The following editorial appeared in the Kansas City Star on Tuesday, Feb. 21:

The following editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, Feb. 19:

Whitney Houston often has been a magnet for envy.

The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Monday, Feb. 20: