Detroit

DETROIT - From the street, the two decomposing bodies were nearly invisible, concealed in an overgrown lot alongside worn-out car tires and a moldy sofa. The teenagers had been shot, stripped to their underwear, and left on a deserted block. They were just the latest victims of foul play whose remains went undiscovered for days after being hidden deep inside Detroit's vast urban wilderness - a crumbling wasteland rarely visited by outsiders and infrequently patrolled by police. Abandoned and neglected parts of the city are quickly becoming dumping grounds for the dead - at least a dozen bodies over 12 months.

In all my 76 years, never have I seen politicians who are supposed to represent the people of the United States disrespect the highest office of our country, the president's office. One must remember he is still the president of the United States. Our elected politicians should be working together to get us out of this economic condition, but they would rather destroy the country. Some of our politicians (Republicans) are so busy working to get the president out of office that they are not doing what they were elected to do. These politicians are destroying the honor and trust we once had in them.

Here's a sight sure to chill an infielder's blood: Detroit's massive Prince Fielder chugging his way into second trying to stretch a single and sliding in ahead of the tag. The Tigers slugger did just that in the second inning of a 5-1 win over the Angels on Thursday and in the process knocked Los Angeles second baseman Maicer Izturis into a snack bar on the mezzanine of Comerica Park. Fielder later scored Detroit's first run on a Jhonny Peralta double. "I gave myself a little headache," Fielder said of the play after the game.

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley has been arrested in Alabama on charges of driving under the influence and attempting to elude police, his second arrest in his home state in two months. Alabama state troopers say the 24-year-old passed a state trooper early Sunday morning at 100 m.p.h. in his Cadillac Escalade in Tillman's Corner. After initially refusing to stop for the trooper's emergency lights and siren, Fairley pulled over and seemed impaired. He also was cited for reckless driving, no proof of insurance, and an open container.

Let's celebrate the start of the playoffs with a slash to the wrist, a glove to the mug and these nuggets that cropped up in our exhaustive research of the eight first-round series: Did you know? * No team has surrendered fewer goals in the expansion era than the 165 St. Louis allowed. * Alexander Ovechkin's point total has gone down each of the last four seasons, including a career-low 65 this year. His plus/minus, which was plus-45 two years ago, was minus-8 this year.

ALEX AVILA'S drive sailed to deep rightfield, barely clearing both an outfielder and a wall. An exhilarating opening series at Comerica Park was finally over, and the Detroit catcher could look forward to some much-needed rest. "I'm too tired right now," Avila said. "I'm glad we have an off day [Monday]. This weekend has been crazy. " Avila's two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning gave the Tigers a stunning 13-12 victory over Boston on Sunday, leaving the Red Sox winless in three games under new manager Bobby Valentine.

Ryan Callahan ripped in a shot off a goalpost 2 minutes, 42 seconds into overtime to lift the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers over visiting Detroit, 2-1, on Wednesday night, sending the injury-riddled Red Wings to their sixth consecutive loss. In the extra session the Rangers got the puck past Ty Conklin, who was recalled Wednesday from the minor leagues because of Detroit's injury woes. Callahan scored his 27th goal, making the New York captain a winner on his 27th birthday.

With hockey royalty watching, the Flyers withstood a late barrage - and injuries to wingers Jakub Voracek and Jaromir Jagr - and held off the Detroit Red Wings at the percolating Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday night. Center Claude Giroux collected a goal and an assist, and goalie Ilya Bryzgalov continued his revival as the Flyers defeated the injury-riddled Red Wings, 3-2, and put together their first three-game winning streak since December. Mark Howe's No. 2 Flyers jersey was retired in a stirring pregame ceremony attended by several of his relatives, including his legendary father, Gordie, who dabbed at his eyes as his son received a thunderous standing ovation.

DETROIT - A judge refused yesterday to throw out a teenager's guilty plea to four slayings in a Detroit drug den, despite the confession of a hit man in prison for other murders who said that he never used the one-eyed, learning-disabled boy as an accomplice. The decision was a major setback for Davontae Sanford, who at age 14 took responsibility for the killings in his neighborhood and at age 15 pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. His attorney has been trying to withdraw the plea for more than three years, especially after Vincent Smothers, an admitted hit man routinely hired by drug dealers, told police that he was the gunman on Runyon Street.

The government bailout of the U.S. auto industry was a success. Without financial help from Uncle Sam, General Motors and Chrysler likely would not exist today. The American auto industry would be a shadow of its former self. And the U.S. economic recovery would be even more drawn out and frustrating than it has been. Saving the automakers was distasteful, but necessary. Rehashing this bit of history is timely on the eve of the Republican primary in Michigan, where the economy has long been tethered to the auto industry.