Only A Game’s Bill Littlefield profiles Marta, the one-named, number one scorer in Women’s Pro Soccer.

Only A Game’s Michelle Seaton visited the North American Cycle Courier Championships in Boston, and brought back these photos.

Only A Game’s Senior Producer Gary Waleik runs through this week’s songs and offers some notes and observations.

Nothing says America quite like apple pie, Chevrolet, and … college football? In his book “College Football and American Culture in the Cold War Era,” Kurt Edward Kemper argues the sport was used to help galvanize anti-Communist feelings in the United States. Bill reviews the Dakota State University professor’s efforts to show the links between the gridiron and the politics of the 1960s.

Bill Littlefield is still thinking about the game from which Boston Red Sox hitter Kevin Youkilis was ejected for, among other trespasses, throwing his helmet at the Detroit Tigers pitcher who’d plunked him in the back.

This week on Only A Game, a conversation with the author of a new biography of late Yankees catcher Thurman Munson. Also, taking in all the weirdness at a Washington Nationals home game and all the trash at a rodeo featuring front-loaders, side loaders and all manner of garbage trucks.

An exhibit of elderly people who keep in great shape can serve as a fantastic source of inspiration for those in rehabilitation. Photos are by Bill Littlefield and John Rich

Over 30 years have passed since Marty Appel co-authored Thurman Munson’s authorized biography. Appel’s second crack at capturing the essence of the Yankee great is told in the book, “Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain,” which paints a more detailed and nuanced portrait of the former catcher.

As the nation struggles with economic turmoil, a new problem seems to emerge each day. If sports are not part of the solution, are they part of the problem? Bill finds himself caught up in the news of sports corruption and greed as much as the pleasant breaks from reality sports should provide. And he finds himself wondering if the day will come when fans turn their back on their teams.

This week on Only A Game, Lou Holtz comes out of retirement to coach on a Japanese gridiron. Also, remembering Jeff Blatnick’s unlikely 1984 Olympic wrestling gold medal, and a conversation with the author of a new book about golfer Michelle Wie.