8902060395 DETROIT FREE PRESS 890910 Sunday, September 10, 1989 METRO FINAL

SPT

12E MITCH ALBOM NFL Copyright (c) 1989, Detroit Free Press MAIL BRINGS BAD NEWS FOR BEARS, CHARGERS Another year, Another season, Little rhyme, Little reason Time to pick the NFL, Get some wrong then run like . . . Ahem. Once again, may we present, for its fifth blockbuster year (Drum roll. . . . Yo. Hey. Wake up! Drum roll. Thank you.) this week's picks. . . . * PHOENIX 17, LIONS 7: Barry Sanders carries one time, scores a touchdown, then demands to renegotiate his contract. * CINCINNATI 14, CHICAGO 10: A post card arrives from Jim McMahon in San Diego. It is a photo of a bikini-clad beauty. "Thinking of you in December . . . " it reads. The Bears are not amused. * TAMPA BAY 1, GREEN BAY 0: The battle of the Bays! Right off the bat! Wow! * SAN FRANCISCO 20, INDIANAPOLIS 19: My goal this year is to learn at least one other Colts player besides Eric Dickerson. I haven't done it yet. * MINNESOTA 22, HOUSTON 19: Anthony Carter on one side. Lorenzo White on the other. You sure this isn't Michigan-Michigan State? * BUFFALO 33, MIAMI 21: They're going to be calling him Shoeless Don Shula pretty soon. That team is hurtin.' * NY JETS 28, NEW ENGLAND 14: If this game were played in the hospital, the Patriots would win, hands down. That's where most of their team is. * CLEVELAND 20, PITTSBURGH 17: Last year's coach is history. Last year's running back is suspended for cocaine. I'm not sure I recognize the Browns anymore. * LA RAMS 17, ATLANTA 9: The Rams now have my favorite player in the NFL: "Flipper" Anderson. I hear his two best friends are Bud and Sandy. * NEW ORLEANS 31, DALLAS 10: It figures the Cowboys start their season in an indoor stadium. That way, Jimmy Johnson's hair doesn't get messed up. * DENVER 28, KANSAS CITY 27: The Chiefs ought to make a deal with the Raiders. As long as Bo Jackson is still playing baseball in Kansas City, why not let him run over to the stadium and return a few punts? * PHILADELPHIA 34, SEATTLE 17: They're going to elect Randall Cunningham mayor before this season is over. * LA RAIDERS 17, SAN DIEGO 6: A post card for McMahon arrives from Chicago. It is a picture of a team celebrating a championship. "Thinking of you in December . . . " it reads. McMahon is not amused. * WASHINGTON 24, NY GIANTS 17: Washington is better than it showed last year. New York is better than it showed last year or the year before. Who knows? This year they might both stink. FOOTBALL;FORECAST