Between its blighted houses, shrinking population, downsized auto industry, high crime rate and scandalous “hip-hop mayor,” Detroit has come to symbolize despair. The coolest thing about the Motor City lately had been those Chrysler commercials with the Eminem beats. But the city is enjoying a revival of sorts under former NBA star and businessman Dave…

Wide receiver Terrell Owens has done a great job of marketing himself during his 15-year NFL career. En route to becoming an all-time great – No. 2 behind Jerry Rice in career receiving yardage and receiving touchdowns – Owens became a familiar name among casual fans, well-known for his touchdown celebrations, his sideline tantrums and…

He missed the cut in the PGA Championship a couple of months ago. He hasn’t won on the PGA Tour in more than two years. And he’s dropped out of the world’s top 50 golfers for the first time in 15 years. But he’s still Tiger Woods, and his name still resounds. Forbes magazine ranks…

The NBA players’ union and league officials met Tuesday in a last-gasp attempt to save the upcoming season as Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant tried to finalize his contingency plan of playing in Italy if the lockout continues. Sadly, his maneuvering won’t help solve the labor situation, but it definitely could exacerbate the problem.…

From King David to Martin Luther King Jr. and — more recently in sports — from Michael Jordan to Tiger Woods, plenty of high-achievers have been known to commit adultery. Others in all fields have strayed, perhaps, without being busted. But all it takes in many cases is one dogged reporter interviewing 678 people over…

Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds was a target last week when a fan tossed a banana peel at him during an exhibition game in London, Ontario. One of roughly two dozen black NHL players, Simmonds showed great composure as the peel hit the ice in the midst of a penalty shot — he scored. “When…

If you were hit as hard and as often as Michael Vick has been hit through three games, frustration might get the best of you, too. That’s obviously what happened to the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback after Sunday’s loss against the New York Giants, when he said officials weren’t protecting him the way  they protect other…

Major professional sports leagues such as the NFL and NBA often have mandatory orientation sessions for incoming rookies, who learn the hazards of their impending fame and fortune. They’re counseled to guard themselves against gold-digging women, down-on-their-luck friends, too-good-to-be-true investments and late-night outings in questionable surroundings. Identity theft is another topic that surely arises, with…

It’s only two games … it’s only two games … it’s only two games. That’s the mantra for Cam Newton and his fans, now that the Carolina Panthers quarterback has started his career in historic fashion. But it’s understandable if Newton finds himself occasionally humming an old rap hit: “How Ya Like Me Now.” Unlike…

No fighter has ever turned sympathy into disdain the way Floyd Mayweather Jr. did Saturday night in Las Vegas, accomplishing the feat not once but twice in his knockout victory against Victor Ortiz. One of the greatest boxers of all time, Mayweather provided new reasons that demonstrate why he’s also one of the most despised.…