For the Record
Won
By Bode Miller (above), his second overall World Cup title. Miller, who broke from the U.S. ski team in 2007 after his disastrous performance in the 2006 Olympics, cruised to the title. He also nearly won the downhill title, but the final race was canceled because of poor snow, leaving him just five points behind champion Didier Cuche of Switzerland. After the season ended last weekend in Bormio, Italy, two of Miller's coaches announced they were leaving Miller's team, and the 30-year-old didn't rule out a return to the U.S. fold. "I'm not against considering anything," Miller said. "But it would have to be a compelling proposal they put forward. In the past they've been pretty resistant."
Won
By the U.S. women's soccer team, the Algarve Cup, its second victory in as many tournaments since coach Pia Sundhage took over the team in November. The U.S. outscored its four opponents—including traditional powers China and Norway, by a combined score of 12--1.
Repeated
As Iditarod champion, Lance Mackey (below). Leading four-time champ Jeff King by just three minutes when he pulled into a checkpoint 123 miles from the finish line, Mackey acted as if he were going to settle in for a quick nap. King followed suit, but Mackey promptly sneaked back onto the trail. "He was waiting until I closed my eyes," said King. "I didn't open them until after he got out the door." Mackey, a 37-year-old throat cancer survivor, won the 1,100-mile race by 79 minutes.
Diagnosed
In Rocco Baldelli (below), what the Rays outfielder called "metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities," an ailment that is threatening to end his career at age 26. Doctors are not sure why, but the oft-injured Baldelli is unable to complete simple workouts without feeling fatigued; he is out indefinitely. An emotional Baldelli, who hit .289 and stole 27 bases as a rookie in 2003, called the situation "extremely frustrating and difficult."
Left
Cuba's under-23 soccer team, seven players who were taking part in an Olympic qualifying tournament in Tampa. The players sneaked away after a 1--1 draw against the U.S. and said they are planning to defect. Cuba, which had only 10 players available for its next match, was eliminated. The U.S. will qualify for the Games with a win against Canada on Thursday.
Skipping
The Olympic marathon due to concerns about the air quality in Beijing, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia. The world-record holder in the marathon (2:04:26) said, "I was in the city in August, and I know what the extreme conditions of pollution, heat and humidity are. It's going to be the hardest marathon in history." The International Olympic Committee on Monday said it would monitor the air quality and weather in Beijing during the Games and would postpone events if there were health risks to the competitors.
Struck
By a truck while riding his bike near his home in Dallas, golf analyst David Feherty. The witty CBS commentator suffered three broken ribs and a punctured lung after a truck veered to avoid a collision. "He didn't want to hit the car on the left, so he ran over the cyclist on the right," said Feherty, who is expected to be healed in time for the Masters.
Died
At age 86, Hall of Fame defenseman Ken Reardon. In a seven-year career with the Canadiens that was interrupted by World War II and shortened by injuries, the rugged Reardon was twice a first-team NHL All-Star. (He made the second team three times.) Reardon helped the Canadiens win the 1946 Stanley Cup and spent more than a decade in the Montreal front office after retiring as a player in 1950.
They Said It
OZZIE GUILLEN, White Sox manager, after Scott Linebrink said he couldn't pitch because of a headache:
"I believe him because he's a real religious guy. Someone else tells me they have a migraine, I know they are hung over."
SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE
The Philippine army and insurgents observed a seven-hour truce so they could watch local hero Manny Pacquiao win the WBC super featherweight belt from Juan Manuel Marquez.
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RICH PILLING/MLB PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES (GUILLEN)
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AL GRILLO/AP (MACKEY)
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DON WRIGHT/AP (BALDELLI)
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ALESSANDRO TROVATI/AP (MILLER)