The oxen of the autumnal equinox are back on the fields! This week on Only A Game, an NFL season preview. Also, recalling Staten Island high school football when Staten Island was still an island, a US Open update, and a bicycle race for donut lovers.

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

Most cyclists ride their bikes as a good source of exercise.  Some avid bikers, however, ride for the donuts.  Reporter Eugene Sonn strapped on his helmet for Allentown, Pennsylvania’s annual Labor Day Donut Derby and found the tastier side of cycling.

swfobject.embedSWF(“http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649″, “zkbfkpsqyc”, “550″, “504″, “9.0.0″, “http://cdn.wbur.org/flash/expressInstall.swf”, {set_id:”72157622339801074″, offsite:”true”, lang:”en”, page_show_url:”%2Fphotos%2Fwbur%2Fsets%2F72157622339801074%2Fshow%2F”, page_show_back_url:”%2Fphotos%2Fwbur%2Fsets%2F72157622339801074″}, {movie:”http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649″, allowFullScreen:”true”, expressinstall:”http://cdn.wbur.org/flash/expressInstall.swf”}, {id:”zkbfkpsqyc”, [...]

Author Jay Price explores the transformation of both football and American community life in his book Thanksgiving 1959: When One Corner of New York City Was Still Part of Small-Town America, and High School Football Was the Last Thing Guys Did for Love.

After becoming the biggest story of this year’s U.S. Open tennis tournament by upsetting several seeded players, Melanie Oudin has captured the sports world’s attention. Just what sparked the American teenager’s impressive run? According to Bill Littlefield, it’s the shoes.

Shiver me timbers, matey, there’s nothing left in Pittsburgh’s treasure chest! This week on Only A Game, weary Pirates fans walk the plank…again. Also, a college football preview, and knit one, purl two, strike three…a trip to the ball park with some very nice knitters. Join us.

Only A Game Senior Producer Gary Waleik reveals the music from this week’s program and shares his comments, observations, and random thoughts.

Only A Game’s Charlie Schroeder watches a LA Dodgers game with some friendly knitters. Yes, knitters…

Michael Oriard’s “The End of Autumn” is 30 years old, but Bill Littlefield says, it still has much to teach to athletes who have trouble putting their playing days behind them.

Bill Littlefield hasn’t been to the track for years. But, recent events have left him wondering whether it’s time to return.