- Publish date:
For the Record
Died
Of complications from pneumonia, former All-Star pitcher Steve Barber, 68. In1963 Barber (above) became the first 20-game winner in Orioles history when hewent 20--13 with a 2.75 ERA. Midway through the '67 season, the lefty took partin one of the wildest no-hitters baseball has ever seen. Pitching in Baltimore,he walked 10 Tigers in 8 2/3 hitless innings before he was finally pulled withtwo men on and the score tied 1--1. Detroit then scored the winning run on anerror. (Barber also hit two batters, had one wild pitch and made a throwingerror that day.) In his 15-year career with seven teams, Barber was 121--106and made two All-Star teams.
Determined
By the Los Angeles County coroner's office, that USC kicker Mario Danelo waslegally intoxicated when he fell to his death last month (Scorecard, Jan. 15).Danelo, 21, was found at the base of a 100-foot cliff on Jan. 6. The coroner'sreport found that Danelo's blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legallimit—but the report did not ascertain the manner in which he died. Several ofDanelo's USC teammates said after his death that they do not believe the kickertook his own life.
Rejected
By the Major League Baseball commissioner's office, the one-year, $15.8-millioncontract that leftfielder Barry Bonds signed last month with the Giants. Thecontract, which included a clause allowing the team to terminate the dealshould Bonds be indicted, was dismissed because it contained language requiringBonds to make personal appearances on behalf of the team. Suchpersonal-appearance provisions are banned by baseball. The Giants reworded thecontract and sent it back to Bonds but the slugger's agent said, "At thistime, Barry is not signing the new documents."
Offered
By two North American sports franchise owners, $880 million to purchaseLiverpool of the English Premier League. Tom Hicks, who owns the Texas Rangersand the Dallas Stars, and George Gillett Jr., who is the owner of the MontrealCanadiens, teamed up to bid for England's most successful club. If the salegoes through, Liverpool would be the third Premiership club purchased byAmericans in two years. Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner bought Aston Villalast summer, and in 2005 Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer took overManchester United for $1.55 billion.
Questioned
By Miami police as part of an investigation into a shooting death, Bengals widereceiver Chad Johnson (above). The victim—27-year-old Curtis Tavares Dopson,who was shot on Jan. 26 outside the duplex where he lived—was a childhoodfriend of Johnson's. No arrests have been made, and the Bengals issued astatement saying that "police have characterized this as a routineprocedure and have stressed that Chad is not a suspect or even a person ofinterest in this case."
Passed
The deadline for the Hornets to pick up their option to play next season inOklahoma City. The decision means that the team will return to play a full41-game schedule in New Orleans for the first time since 2004--05. The Hornets,who ranked last in the NBA in attendance during their final season in NewOrleans, sold out 18 of 36 games in Oklahoma City last season and have sold outseven there so far this year. "We're extremely grateful to the people inOklahoma City," says Hornets owner George Shinn. "[But] the right thingto do is for us to go back."
Suspended
Indefinitely by the Italian soccer federation, professional games after apoliceman was killed in a riot started by fans. (Additionally, a friendlybetween the Italian national team and Romania scheduled for Wednesday wascalled off.) Last Friday, supporters of Serie A sides Catania and Palermoclashed outside a stadium in Sicily. Filippo Raciti, a 38-year-old policeofficer, was killed in the melee. More than 100 people were injured in theviolence and nine were arrested. "People have got to understand it's timefor a change," said Italian prime minister Romano Prodi.
Requested
By Senator John Kerry, that the FCC investigate a pending deal that would giveDirecTV the exclusive right to broadcast out-of-market baseball games. Inrecent years cable subscribers could purchase MLB's Extra Innings package,which includes dozens of games each week. But MLB's agreement with DirecTVwould mean that fans would have to purchase a satellite dish to get the games.Approximately 15 million people in the U.S. have DirecTV; 75 million havecable. (SI is a unit of Time Warner, which also has a cable televisiondivision.) In a letter to FCC chairman Kevin Martin, Kerry, an avid Boston fan,wrote, "Red Sox Nation stretches all across our country from coast tocoast. I am concerned that this deal, and others that may follow, will separatefans from their favorite teams and reduce competition in the sportsmarket."
Suspended
For two games without pay by the NBA last week for drunk driving, EricMusselman. The first-year Kings coach pleaded no contest to a charge of drivingunder the influence and received a $580 fine. Musselman (left) was pulled overon Oct. 21 following a 112--96 win over the Jazz in an exhibition game. "Imade a mistake and take full responsibility," Musselman said."Hopefully, this will provide closure on the matter."
Died
At age 90, Bing Devine, who as G.M. of the St. Louis Cardinals pulled off oneof the most lopsided trades in baseball history. In 1964 he swapped sore-armedpitcher Ernie Broglio for Cubs outfielder Lou Brock, who went on to a Hall ofFame career in St. Louis. Devine served two stints as the Redbirds' G.M., from1958 to '64 and from '68 to '78. His teams won two NL pennants and one WorldSeries.
Died
At age 89, former pro boxer Schoolboy Friedkin. Born Bernie Friedkin, he gothis nickname because of his youthful appearance. (One reason he looked soyoung: He used his brother's birth certificate to sneak into Brooklyn gyms whenhe was 14.) The 5'6" featherweight and lightweight didn't win many bigfights—he was never a world champ—but he didn't lose many either. In the late1930s and early '40s Friedkin, whose record was 48-11-16, fought three formerworld champs to draws.
Go Figure
.762 Field goal percentage (32 for 42) of Vanderbiltin a 91--51 win over Alabama on Sunday, an NCAA women's record.
8--2 The Cavaliers' record in games LeBron James hasmissed in the past four years.
736 Number of households—out of nearly 7.4 million—inthe metropolitan New York City area that tuned in to the Jan. 27 NHL gamebetween the Devils and the Panthers.
0 Points for Alex Ovechkin in the Capitals' twoweekend games (a 2--1 win over the Islanders on Sunday and a 2--0 loss toPittsburgh), the first time this season that he has been held without a pointin consecutive games
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DIAMOND IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES (BARBER)
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COURTESY FRIEDKIN FAMILY (FRIEDKIN)
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STEVE YEATER/AP (MUSSELMAN)
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KIRBY LEE/WIREIMAGE.COM (JOHNSON)
