For the Record

Issued
By the FAA, an order that small, fixed-wing planes not fly through the EastRiver corridor between the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Queens,after Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle was killed when his single-engine planecrashed into a high-rise apartment on Oct. 11. Lidle, 34, and his flightinstructor, Tyler Stanger, 26, were flying over the river and banking towardManhattan when the aircraft struck the 30th floor of the building. (Stanger wasalso killed.) As of Monday investigators weren't sure what caused the crash orwhether Lidle or Stanger was flying the plane. Lidle, who was remembered duringthe ALCS (left), took up flying less than a year ago but spoke often about howit was an escape from the stress of being a major leaguer.

Reported
By doctors at the Baltimore VA Medical Center, that emergency-room visits frommen decline by 30% during broadcasts of sporting events. (The researcherslooked at 796 pro and college football, basketball and baseball games between2000 and '03.) In the four hours after the events the number of men in the ERwent up 40%. David Jerrard, the doctor who led the study, says an acquaintanceof his died recently when he put off calling 911 during a Georgia Tech footballgame. "By the time he capitulated to having 911 called, he was in cardiacarrest," says Jerrard, who hopes that men will "reconsider not watchingthat two-minute drive and go to the hospital."

Missed
By Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, a regular-season practice--for the firsttime in his nine-year career. The two-time league MVP missed a workout on Oct.11 while attending a funeral for his 86-year-old grandmother in Mississippi."It's always odd when you don't see the guy who's been here for solong," said center Jeff Saturday.

Played
His final tournament, Arnold Palmer (above), who announced after the ChampionsTour Administaff Small Business Classic that he won't enter any more events.The Classic, in Spring, Texas, was only the second event this year for Palmer,and it did not go well. Palmer, 77, hit two balls into the water on the 4thhole last Friday, then withdrew because of a sore lower back. (He stillfinished his round without keeping score because, he said, he owed it to hisfans.) "The people, they all want to see a good shot, and you know it andyou can't give them that good shot," said Palmer, who played his final PGATour event in 2004. "That's when it's time."

Sentenced
To one to six years in prison, Mark Downs Jr., the Pennsylvania T-ball coachwho was convicted of paying an eight-year-old to hit an autistic teammate witha ball to keep him out of a playoff game (SI, Aug. 8, 2005). Downs was foundguilty of conspiracy to commit simple assault and corruption of minors. JudgeRalph C. Warman called Downs's actions "outrageous" and "extremelyreprehensible." As he was led from the courtroom, Downs maintained hisinnocence, saying, "I didn't do nothing."

Posted
By Tour de France winner Floyd Landis, documents on his website refuting thedoping charges against him. Following his Tour win, Landis (below) testedpositive for synthetic testosterone. The postings (on floydlandis.com) aremeant to point out irregularities in the way his sample was handled and will bepart of Landis's appeal before an arbitration panel early next year. Landis'slawyer, Howard Jacobs, says that because antidoping officials leaked Landis'stest results, it's only fair that the cyclist respond publicly. "To restoreas much of Floyd's image as possible, we have to let the public decide,"Jacobs says. "This is the first step in that."

Fired
By Fox, baseball analyst Steve Lyons, after he made comments that the networkfound offensive during the ALCS. Lyons was working with Thom Brennaman and LouPiniella when Piniella likened the output of Oakland's Marco Scutaro to theluck of finding a wallet. A few minutes later Piniella used the Spanish wordsen fuego and frio. After saying that Piniella was "hablaing [sic]Español," Lyons added, "I still can't find my wallet.... I don'tunderstand him, and I don't want to sit too close to him now." Earlier inthe playoffs Lyons and Brennaman made fun of a nearly blind Mets fan who waswearing special glasses, and in 2004 Lyons was suspended for making insensitiveremarks about then Dodgers outfielder Shawn Green sitting out a game for YomKippur. Speaking of his comments to Piniella, Lyons said, "If I offendedanybody, I'm truly sorry. But my comment about Lou taking my wallet was a jokeand in no way racially motivated."

Charged
With one felony count of recklessness and misdemeanor counts of battery anddisorderly conduct, Pacers guard Stephen Jackson. The charges stem from a fightoutside an Indianapolis strip club on Oct. 6. Jackson allegedly fired fiveshots into the air and kicked a man on the ground. Jackson, who claims he washit by a car during the incident, said he was defending himself and histeammates. "I'm in a situation now where people thought I acted recklessly,when I know I didn't," Jackson said. "Over due time the courts willknow that." A judge entered a not guilty plea for Jackson.

Go Figure

87
Years since opposing players had natural hat tricks in the same game before theSharks' Jonathan Cheechoo and the Oilers' Ryan Smyth did last Thursday.

3
NFL coaches who have defeated all 32 teams: Tony Dungy, Mike Shanahan and BillParcells, who joined the club when the Cowboys beat the Texans on Sunday.

3
Field goals of 50-plus yards by Wake Forest's Sam Swank in a win over NorthCarolina State; only five NCAA kickers have converted three in a game.

10
Touchdowns scored by running back Kendric Smith of Hughes (Ark.) High in a73--72 loss to East Poinsett County High last Saturday.

15
Overtime goals by Maple Leafs center Mats Sundin, the most in NHL history.

Died
At age 67, former Phillies outfielder Johnny Callison. A three-time All-Starwho hit 226 home runs in a 16-year career (he also played for the White Sox,Cubs and Yankees), Callison was a well-rounded player with a cannon arm and apowerful lefthanded stroke. He was clutch, too: He won the 1964 All-Star Gamefor the NL with a three-run home run off Boston's Dick Radatz in the bottom ofthe ninth. He also finished second in the NL MVP voting that year. SaidKentucky senator and former pitcher Jim Bunning, who roomed with Callison onthe road in '64, "He had all the tools that a great player needs

Walk-on Wonder

In his first football game ever, a BC kicker finds there is a substitute forexperience

A YEAR AGO Steve Aponavicius was a fairly typicalBoston College freshman, though he did have an unusual hobby. A former baseballand soccer player at Easton (Pa.) High who had never played football,Aponavicius liked to boot field goals in his spare time; when he got to BC he'dventure into Alumni Stadium and take aim at the uprights. Then BC assistant JayCivetti saw him nailing 45-yarders last year. "I thought he was kicking meoff the field," says Aponavicius. "And he tells me the team could useanother kicker."

A week later Aponavicius, 20, was on the roster as abackup, and he got a break last week when starter Ryan Ohliger was suspendedfor his involvement in an altercation at a local bar. In a nationally televised22--3 win over Virginia Tech last Thursday, Aponavicius went 2 for 2 on fieldgoal attempts (36 and 20 yards) and converted both of his PAT attempts."When I took my steps back, I saw my picture on the Jumbotron and wentnumb," Aponavicius says of his first extra point. "It was a heck of afeeling."

Like all walk-ons, Aponavicius wears a triple-digitnumber in practice and sometimes plays on the scout team. ("I was areceiver," he says,"but I got creamed a couple of times.") WithOhliger banned indefinitely Aponavicius isn't sure how long he'll start, but heis enjoying the ride: "I couldn't have written it any better."

 

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JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES

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BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS

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DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP

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KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/AP

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AP

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JIM ROGASH/WIREIMAGE.COM

JUST FOR KICKS

Fans appreciated Aponavicius's affinity for the game.