1.   And last night, a football team like any other began its season with fresh hope.

2.   Anderson began the season in the bullpen, then rejoined the rotation after Stottlemyre went down.

3.   Before the apocalypse, before the NBA begins a season without Michael Jordan, the advice columnist must put in an appearance.

4.   Before they begin another season Friday, some Lakers would like to clear a left-over misunderstanding.

5.   A peculiar thing happened Monday night as the University of Rhode Island basketball team prepared to begin its season under the national spotlight.

6.   Alou began the season on the disabled list because of a pulled calf muscle, then played just three games before suffering a back injury.

7.   Brown, the former Net who began this season as a minor leaguer, was credited by teammates as being the median strip that tripped up Barkley.

8.   But it was a different rookie coach from the one who began the season.

9.   By the time the club left camp, Holt was nowhere close to being ready to begin the season.

10.   Butch Beard warned that the three-game tour of Texas to begin the season might be a trying one for the New Jersey Nets.