For the Record
Lowered
By Jamaica's Asafa Powell, his world record in the 100 meters, with a time of 9.74 seconds at the Rieti Grand Prix in Rieti, Italy, on Sunday. Powell (below) set the previous record of 9.77 seconds in June 2005 and had tied it twice since then. On Sunday, with the help of a strong tailwind, he bounced back from a disappointing performance at last month's world athletics championships, where he finished third. "It's just to remind my fans that Asafa Powell is still here," he said. "I made a couple mistakes, and I corrected them."
Charged
With murder, New Hampshire backup quarterback Henri (Hank) Hendricks, who allegedly was part of a group of men who beat professional surfer Emery Kauanui Jr. to death last spring. According to police, a friend of Hendricks's got into an argument with Kauanui at a San Diego bar on May 24. Hendricks, his friend and three other men then drove to Kauanui's house, where they assaulted the surfer, who died of brain injuries four days later. All five alleged attackers have been charged with murder and face life in prison if convicted. Hendricks, 21, a junior, was suspended by New Hampshire last Friday; he pleaded not guilty on Monday.
Continued
On Monday, a search-and-rescue operation for adventurer Steve Fossett, who had been missing since taking off in a single-engine plane from a ranch in Minden, Nev., on Labor Day. Fossett, 63, has set several daredevil records: In 2002 he was the first person to fly solo around the world in a balloon, and he made the first solo nonstop, nonrefueled circumnavigation of the world in '05. He was believed to be looking for dry lake beds where he could attempt to break the land speed record when he took off by himself from the Flying M Ranch, 80 miles southeast of Reno. Rescuers were searching an area of 17,000 square miles for Fossett. "This is one small airplane in one big area," Nevada governor Jim Gibbons said last Saturday. "It's a big challenge."
Sustained
By Bills tight end Kevin Everett during Buffalo's loss to the Broncos on Sunday, a potentially life-threatening spinal cord injury that will likely leave him paralyzed. Everett, 25, a reserve in his third NFL season, was injured when he ducked his head while tackling Denver's Domenik Hixon on the second-half kickoff. Everett's helmet hit Hixon's left shoulder and helmet; after the collision Everett fell and twitched for a few seconds as he tried to get up before dropping face-first to the ground. Everett (above, last month) underwent a four-hour operation at a Buffalo hospital on Sunday, and the following day doctors said his chances of recovering a full range of body motion are slim. "I believe there will be some permanent neurological paralysis," said Dr. Andrew Cappuccino, who performed the surgery.
Arrested
For marijuana possession after he was suspended for a previous drug charge, Duquesne forward Stuard Baldonado, one of the five Dukes basketball players who were shot on campus in September 2006. On Sept. 4, Baldonado, 22, was suspended from the school after being charged with criminal conspiracy involving the manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance. The next day he was allegedly spotted by police smoking marijuana on a street corner near the Duquesne campus in Pittsburgh; he was cited for misdemeanor possession.
Leaving
The IndyCar Series for NASCAR next year, Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti (below). Franchitti, 34, reportedly will sign with Chip Ganassi Racing, where he will be the teammate of Juan Pablo Montoya, another former open-wheel driver. Franchitti, who did not comment on the NASCAR reports, ended his open-wheel career in style, winning the series title on Sunday.
Dismissed
By a San Francisco judge, a lawsuit by former NFL players charging that the NFL Players Association inadequately represents retired players. The suit argued that the union failed to secure licensing deals with clothing companies and video game companies for retirees; it sought class-action status to represent 3,500 retired players, whom the suit said may be owed "tens of millions of dollars." Federal judge William H. Alsup dismissed the case last Thursday. Said NFLPA attorney Jeffrey Kessler, "The court found that [the] complaint was a combination of smoke and mirrors."
Go Figure
28 Years it had been since Georgia's, Miami's, Michigan's and Notre Dame's football teams lost on the same day before all lost last Saturday.
3 Major leaguers who have had 20 doubles, 20 homers, 20 triples and 20 steals: Frank Schulte in 1911, Willie Mays in '57 and the Tigers' Curtis Granderson this season.
3 1/2 Points by which Temple was favored against Buffalo last Saturday, the first time since 2003 that the Owls were a favorite.
35 Points by which Temple lost to Buffalo; the former Big East member was defeated 42--7 in its MAC debut.
49 Points Western Kentucky scored in the first quarter of an 87--0 win over West Virginia Tech, tying Division I-A's mark for a quarter.
$2.8 million
Amount paid for the famous 1909 Honus Wagner baseball card last week, a record.
$2.35 million
Amount the card sold for in February.
SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE
A Brewers runner was thrown out at third base after manager Ned Yost's scratch of a mosaquito bite was misinterpreted as the steal sign.
They Said It
ICHIRO SUZUKI
Mariners outfielder, on why he ran out of the baseline to escape a potential rundown:
"I hate being touched by other people. I'd rather run away from them."
PHOTO
ALESSANDRA TARANTINO/AP (POWELL)
PHOTO
KJ/ICON SMI (EVERETT)
PHOTO
BOB MARTIN (PICTURE THIS)
PICTURE THIS SEPT. 8 The U.S. plays England at the Rugby World Cup in France.
PHOTO
JOHN FROSCHAUER/AP (ICHIRO)
PHOTO
DARRELL INGHAM/GETTY IMAGES (FRANCHITTI)
