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For the Record
Died
At age 93, Hall of Fame basketball coach Pete Newell (above). From 1946 to '60 Newell coached at the University of San Francisco, Michigan State and California; he won the 1949 NIT with San Francisco and the 1959 NCAA title with Cal. The following year Newell coached Team USA to an Olympic gold medal. He retired from coaching in 1960, but in '76 he began hosting an annual summer camp to help centers and forwards work on their technique. Bill Walton, Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O'Neal are among the many inside players Newell tutored.
Died
At age 92, former pitcher Preacher Roe. A high school math teacher in Arkansas before becoming a major leaguer in 1938, Roe made five All-Star teams in 12 seasons with the Cardinals, Pirates and Brooklyn Dodgers. The lefthander was a pivotal figure in The Boys of Summer, Roger Kahn's 1972 memoir of his years as a Dodgers beat reporter in the 1950s, and after retiring made headlines by admitting that he owed much of his success on the mound to an illegal spitball. "He enjoyed playing the role of a country bumpkin, but he wasn't one," former Dodgers teammate Ralph Branca said. "He was real smart."
Retired
After 15 NFL seasons, All-Pro safety John Lynch (right). The nine-time Pro Bowler, known as one of the league's hardest-hitting defensive backs, spent most of his career with the Buccaneers, helping them win their only Super Bowl, in 2003. He played for the Broncos from 2004 to '07 and spent time with the Patriots this preseason before being cut. In recent years Lynch, 37, suffered from neck injuries, but he made the Pro Bowl each of his four years with Denver and is a likely Hall of Famer.
Retired
At age 34, Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr. The son of an Olympic swimming medalist, Hall competed at the 1996, 2000 and '04 Games. He became known for his colorful personality and prerace antics—he often shadow-boxed on the deck while his opponents stretched—but was one of the most decorated U.S. swimmers. He won 10 Olympic medals, including five golds. In 1999 Hall was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and through his foundation he has raised money to aid others with the disease.
Charged
With insider trading by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. In a complaint filed on Monday the SEC alleged that in 2004, Cuban sold 600,000 shares of the search engine Mamma.com, after being told by the company's ownership that an upcoming stock offering would dilute the value of his holdings. The SEC says Cuban, who was allegedly told to keep the information confidential, sold his shares less than four hours later—avoiding losses of over $750,000. Cuban, who could be forced to repay that amount and pay a fine, called the charges "false."
Promoted
To interim coach, Lightning assistant Rick Tocchet, after Barry Melrose was fired last Friday. Melrose, 52, a longtime ESPN analyst who had last coached in the NHL with the Kings in 1995, was hired this summer as part of a franchise overhaul. He was axed with the team's record at 5-7-4. Tocchet, who played for 18 years, was a Coyotes assistant under Wayne Gretzky before joining Melrose. In 2007 he was suspended for three months because of his involvement in a sports betting ring; he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and promoting sports gambling and was sentenced to two years of probation.
Announced
That Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year and North America's top thoroughbred money winner, will not race beyond this year. Curlin won the Preakness in '07 and has earned $10,501,800 in 16 starts. Jess Jackson, Curlin's majority owner, said the horse will remain in training as Jackson listens to offers from stud farms. "If an appropriate venue and purse are offered," Jackson said, "we would consider one more race."
They Said It
JOHN JUNKER
Fiesta Bowl president, on NASCAR driver Tony Stewart (below) being named grand marshal for the Jan. 3 Fiesta Bowl Parade: "We do have one rule: There is no passing in the parade."
SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE
A mob of Argentine soccer fans hijacked two city buses at knifepoint to get to a match in Buenos Aires on time.
PHOTO
NCAA PHOTOS/AP (NEWELL)
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KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT/US PRESSWIRE (LYNCH)
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TIM STEWART/AP (STEWART)
