For the Record
Died
At age 90, George McAfee (above), a Hall of Fame two-way player for the Bears. Drafted in 1940 out of Duke, McAfee—who was nicknamed One Play for his explosiveness—made an impact in his first game, returning a kickoff 93 yards and throwing a touchdown pass against the Packers. Following that 41--10 victory Green Bay coach Curly Lambeau called him "the most talented back the Packers ever faced." McAfee also returned an interception for a score in the Bears' 73--0 win over the Redskins in the NFL Championship Game later that year. McAfee played eight seasons in a career that was interrupted by a three-year hitch in the Navy during World War II.
Died
At age 76, Colleen Howe, the wife—and agent—of hockey legend Gordie Howe. One of the first women to represent a pro athlete, Colleen negotiated her husband's deals with the Houston Aeros and the New England Whalers of the WHA. Known as Mrs. Hockey, Colleen was also the agent for her sons Mark and Marty, who played alongside their father for seven seasons. She was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000 for her work in youth hockey.
Agreed
To a deal allowing David Beckham (below) to continue playing in Italy until the summer, the Los Angeles Galaxy and AC Milan. Loaned to Milan in January, Beckham was due to return to the Galaxy this week, in time for the start of the MLS season. But he expressed a desire to stay in Italy, which he feels will help him in his quest to make England's 2010 World Cup team. Under the deal Beckham will return to L.A. in July, after the Serie A season, and will go back to Italy in November, following the MLS season. Beckham reportedly put up $2.7 million of his own money to cover the loan fee and facilitate the move.
Resigned
As CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee, Jim Scherr. The move came as a surprise, as the USOC is in the midst of trying to win the 2016 Games for Chicago. Scherr was apparently forced out, and last Friday the heads of more than 35 national governing bodies, most of whom supported Scherr, called on USOC chairman Larry Probst to explain the move. Chicago bid officials were cautiously optimistic that the move will not harm their chances to get the Games. "[But] I don't think it helps in any way," said Pat Ryan, the chairman of the bid. "I don't think it damages us.... There is no reason why it should."
Revealed
That he is a year older than was believed, Vladimir Guerrero. The Angels outfielder, who is listed in the team media guide as 33, inadvertently fessed up in an interview with Yahoo! Sports. When asked how he felt after knee surgery, he said, through an interpreter, "I feel good. I can't say [like] 25, because, you know, I'm 34. But I feel a lot better." Guerrero later admitted to a team official that he was born in 1975, not '76.
Ordered
By the NCAA to vacate some of its 14 victories from the 2006 and '07 seasons, Florida State's football team. The exact number has yet to be determined, but the ruling could impede coach Bobby Bowden in his battle with Penn State's Joe Paterno to be college football's winningest coach. Paterno has 383 wins; Bowden has 382, but the sanctions could wipe out as many as 14 of those. The penalty was part of a larger NCAA sanction against the Seminoles athletic program, which was rocked by an academic cheating scandal involving 10 teams. Florida State is considering appealing the ruling requiring the wins to be vacated.
Clashed
Outside the Davis Cup tie between Sweden and Israel, Swedish police and anti-Israeli protesters. In an effort to defuse any trouble, officials in the city of Malmo decided to bar fans from the 4,007-seat Baltiska Hallen arena. Outside the venue last Friday, more than 100 masked protesters threw bottles, stones and firecrackers at police; they were part of a larger demonstration by a group called Stop the Match, which was protesting recent Israeli offensives in Gaza. Israel won the tie, which concluded on Sunday.
They Said It
JOSH HAMILTON
Rangers outfielder, on why he quit using smokeless tobacco this winter: "You know it's bad when your three-year-old holds up a water bottle and asks if Daddy spit in this before she drinks."
SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE
A Wisconsin high school has banned the use of negative chants such as AIR-ball and O-ver-RA-ted at basketball games.
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NFL/WIREIMAGE.COM (MCAFEE)
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MITCH STRINGER/CAL SPORT MEDIA (HAMILTON)
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NEW PRESS/GETTY IMAGES (BECKHAM)