- Publish date:
For the Record
Died
Of complications from a brain tumor, at age 59, Indiana football coach Terry Hoeppner. Last Saturday several thousand mourners gathered at Assembly Hall in Bloomington to remember the coach who came to the Hoosiers in 2004 from Miami (Ohio). "I just don't know what to do without him," receiver James Hardy said. "He's been a father figure for me. It's the responsibility of the players on this team to make sure his legacy continues forever."
Died
At age 38, former closer Rod Beck. He was found in his home outside of Phoenix last Saturday; foul play was not suspected, but cause of death had not been determined. With his bushy mustache, mullet and gut (he once pointed out that he'd "never heard of anyone going on the disabled list because of pulled fat"), Beck was one of the game's most recognizable relievers—and one of its best. In 13 seasons with four teams Beck saved 286 games, including five seasons of at least 30. During his last season, 2004, Beck (above) left the Padres for two months to go into rehab. "This is a bad day in baseball to lose a guy who did so much for the game," said Bruce Bochy, who managed Beck in San Diego.
Arrested
On charges that he sexually assaulted two girls, former major leaguer Mel Hall, 46. The alleged incidents occurred in 1998 and '99 when Hall was coaching a girls' basketball team in Texas. Because of the age of one of the alleged victims—one was under 14—Hall, who hit 134 home runs in a 13-season career, faces life in prison if convicted.
Surrendered
To authorities in Las Vegas, on felony charges stemming from a melee in a strip club, Pacman Jones. The Titans' defensive back, who has been suspended for the 2007 season, was released on $20,000 bail. He is accused of threatening to kill employees of the Minxx club and biting a bouncer, charges that carry up to 12 years in prison. Jones faces a July 23 hearing and has said he will plead not guilty.
Cut
By the Chicago Bears, Tank Johnson. The embattled defensive tackle—who last month was suspended for the first half of the 2007 season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy—was pulled over for speeding at 3:30 a.m. last Friday by police in suburban Phoenix. The officer who stopped him believed Johnson was impaired, so Johnson was taken to the police station and blood was drawn. A decision on whether to charge Johnson is not expected until results come back in two weeks. On Monday the team released Johnson, 25. "We are upset and embarrassed by Tank's actions last week," G.M. Jerry Angelo said in a statement. "We made it clear to him that he had no room for error."
Arrested
After a scuffle with police led to his being tasered, Dolphins defensive tackle Fred Evans. The 6'4", 305-pound second-year player got into an argument with a taxi driver early last Saturday. Miami Beach police attempted to subdue Evans, who allegedly bit one officer. Another suffered scrapes on her knee. Evans was charged with battery on a law-enforcement officer and several other crimes.
Wrecked
The Ramblin' Wreck, the iconic 1930 Ford Model A that has led the Georgia Tech football team onto the field at home games since 1961. The car (left) was being hauled on a trailer when the driver hit a ditch near Forsyth, Ga., sending the car on its side. Spare parts for a 77-year-old car are hard to come by, but officials are confident they will get the car fixed. "It's gonna lead the team out on the field for that Sept. 8 football game [against Samford], that's for sure," associate athletic director Wayne Hogan said.
Cox Countdown: 1
LIVID
HAPPY
Braves manager Bobby Cox, 66, has been tossed 131 times in his 26 years as a major league manager. He needs just one more ejection to break the record set by Hall of Famer John McGraw. How close is the volcanic veteran to his next eruption? SI's Coxometer tells all.
It was inevitable. After getting tossed from back-to-back games at the end of May, Cox chilled out in a big way, even though the Braves have lost 13 of 18. He finally boiled over last Saturday, in the ninth inning of a loss to the Tigers. Catcher Brian McCann argued a called third strike, and Cox went out to protect him. Cox insisted he was doing it more for the good of the team: "He was the only f—— catcher I had left," said Cox. In the end McCann and Cox were tossed, and Braves fans, lacking much else to cheer about, gave Cox a standing O.
They Said It
CASEY BLAKE
Indians third baseman, after his hitting streak was snapped at 26 games:
"It's better if I leave DiMaggio's record alone. That's a record that should be broken by somebody people have heard of."
Go Figure
9 Wins the Rockies have in 15 games against AL East teams this season.
8 Wins the Yankees, who were swept in Colorado last week, have in 23 games against the AL East.
8 Hits by Devil Rays pitchers in 22 at bats in NL parks this season, the most by an AL team since interleague play began in 1997.
0 Bruins coaches who have held the job for more than three full seasons since Gerry Cheevers was fired in 1985; last week Boston hired Claude Julien, the team's 13th coach since Cheevers.
$84,000 Value of an auctioned McLaren go-kart that Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton wrecked when he crashed into a wall at a charity event in London.
34,905 Average attendance for interleague games this year, 15% higher than the intraleague average; a record 8.8 million fans attended interleague games.
SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE
The Tigers ruled that their minor leaguers must listen to music through headphones after a fight over music volume in the clubhouse left a Toledo Mud Hens pitcher with numerous facial fractures.
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BRAD MANGIN (BECK)
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RICH KANE/US PRESSWIRE (COX ANGRY)
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LEON HALIP/WIREIMAGE.COM (COX HAPPY)
CHART
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GRETCHEN DOW MASHKURI/WIREIMAGE.COM (PICTURE THIS)
PICTURE THIS JUNE 23 Tiger, Elin and Sam Alexis Woods (born on June 18).
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GRETCHEN DOW MASHKURI/WIREIMAGE.COM (PICTURE THIS)
[See caption above]
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STANLEY LEARY/GEORGIA TECH/AP (RAMBLIN' WRECK)
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MARK DUNCAN/AP (BLAKE)
