- Publish date:
For the Record
Won
By lightly regarded Carlos Baldomir, the WBC welterweight title, by decision over Zab Judah in New York City. Baldomir, 34, nearly toppled the champ in the seventh round and, despite suffering a cut over his right eye after an accidental head butt from Judah, was the clear winner. (Judah blamed promoter Don King for the loss: "All week I was doing his job ... by making appearances all over the place.") Baldomir (above, left) thought he had won the undisputed title--Judah (above, right) also came in with the IBF and WBA belts--but on Sunday it was announced that the Argentine hadn't paid his IBF and WBA sanctioning fees. "My purse was only $100,000," he said. "If I paid each of them the required three percent, I would have come away with nothing."
Signed
By Herman Edwards, a four-year, $12 million deal with the Chiefs, after the Jets essentially traded the coach to Kansas City for a fourth-round draft pick. Edwards, 51, who went 4-12 this season but took New York to the playoffs three times in five seasons, had two years left on his contract and said after the season finale that he wanted to stay. But he reportedly also expressed interest in the Kansas City job, which opened when Dick Vermeil retired. (Edwards and Chiefs president Carl Peterson have been friends for 30 years.) "I'm very surprised," Jets cornerback David Barrett said, "but I know this is a business."
Hired
By the Vikings to replace fired coach Mike Tice, former Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress. After a disastrous year in which the team missed the playoffs and was tarnished by a party-cruise scandal and Tice's scalping of Super Bowl tickets, Minnesota hired a low-key coach who, in the words of owner Zygi Wilf, "embodies class, character and discipline." Childress, a former Wisconsin assistant who had been with the Eagles since 1999, takes over a team that went 9-7 and has made the playoffs only once in the last five seasons. He pledged to clean up the Vikings' image, saying, "I understand Midwest values."
Died
At age 88, Elizabeth Petty, matriarch of NASCAR's first family. Elizabeth's late husband, Lee Petty, was one of NASCAR's pioneers, and they began a dynasty that dominated the circuit for half a century: Sons Richard and Maurice and grandson Kyle all became successful drivers. Elizabeth once came to the aid of her husband and teenage sons when they got into a fight with rival Tiny Lund during driver introductions at a race in the 1950s. Recalled Richard, "It broke up pretty quick when Mama started swinging that pocketbook."
Rescinded
By shortstop Miguel Tejada (above), his demand that the Orioles trade him. Last month Tejada, who has four years left on the $72 million contract he signed in 2003, said he wanted a "change of scenery" because Baltimore's front office wasn't doing enough to improve the team. (The Orioles finished 74-88 last season, in fourth place in the American League East.) The All-Star, who batted .304 with 26 home runs and 98 RBIs, repeated his trade request on Dec. 29 and in recent weeks had reportedly ignored phone calls from Baltimore vice presidents Mike Flanagan and Jim Duquette. But last Saturday, after trade talks between Baltimore and several other clubs failed, Tejada called the Orioles and said he wanted to stay. "Miguel said all he wanted was for the team to improve," Duquette said.
Withdrew
His name from consideration for the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, Spurs center Tim Duncan. New USA Basketball boss Jerry Colangelo is asking players for a three-year commitment to the team, beginning with a training camp this summer and participation in the world championships in Japan in August. Colangelo has approached more than a dozen players about playing for coach Mike Krzyzewski; Allen Iverson has said he's in, while Shaquille O'Neal is considering the offer. Duncan, who was on the team that won the bronze medal in Athens in 2004, is the first to decline. "I have no interest in that," he told reporters last Saturday.
Demanded
The resignation of Penn State coach Joe Paterno, by Joanne Tosti-Vasey, president of the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Organization for Women, after comments the coach made about an alleged sexual assault. Five days before the Orange Bowl, Florida State linebacker A.J. Nicholson was accused of assaulting a woman at the team hotel and suspended. (No charges have been filed.) "[T]here's so many people gravitating to these kids," Paterno said when asked by reporters about the case. "[S]omebody may knock on the door; a cute girl knocks on the door. What do you do?" He added, "You hate to see that.... You like to see a kid end up his football career. He's a heck of a football player, by the way." Tosti-Vasey said the remarks were insensitive and sent "a message that this behavior is not serious." A Penn State spokesman said they were taken out of context.
Instructed
By the International Ski Federation to "take action" against Bode Miller for comments he made about his drinking habits, the U.S. Skiing and Snowboard Association. In an interview with 60 Minutes, Miller (left) said he has skied drunk: "If you ever tried to ski when you're wasted, it's not easy.... It's like driving drunk, only there are no rules about it." Miller, 28, added that he couldn't say he won't drink and ski again. On Sunday, FIS secretary general Sarah Lewis said USSA should discipline Miller because "you've got to balance between what is cool and what's stupid. This does not come across as too cool." USSA president Bill Marolt was expected to fly to this week's World Cup race in Switzerland to speak to Miller.
Accused
Of child exploitation, Biranchi Das, coach of Budhia Singh, a three-year-old Indian distance runner. Das, a judo coach, says he took custody of the boy after Singh was sold by his poverty-stricken mother to another man for $18. Under his tutelage Singh has gained fame in India--he's appeared in TV commercials--for running up to 33 miles at a stretch. Last week the government's Child Welfare Committee ordered Das to appear in court and threatened to take Singh from him if evidence of exploitation or abuse was found. Das says he's innocent and is being harassed because he filed a defamation suit against the head of the committee after she criticized the way Singh was being raised.
Go Figure
33
Times Danica Patrick was interviewed during Indy Racing League telecasts in 2005--nine more than Dan Wheldon, the Indianapolis 500 and IRL champion.
0
Points scored by the Bucks' bench in a 91-84 loss to Cleveland on Jan. 4, the first time since 1970 that Milwaukee's reserves failed to score in a game.
7
Seconds into overtime that Philadelphia's Simon Gagne scored against the Rangers on Jan. 5, the second-quickest OT goal in NHL history, behind Mats Sundin of the Maple Leafs, who scored in six seconds in 1995.
0-52
Washington State's alltime record on the road against top 10 teams before last Saturday's 78-71 win at No. 10 Washington.
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JULIE JACOBSON/AP (JUDAH)
PHOTO
SANDEEP SAHU (SINGH)
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DON EMMERT/AFP/GETTY IMAGES (MILLER)
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MATTHEW S. GUNBY/AP (TEJADA)
