LEADING OFF

Feathers Day

As Cubs leftfielder Alfonso Soriano ran down a line drive by the Dodgers' Matt Kemp in the eighth inning of their game last Saturday, seagulls swooped into Chicago's Wrigley Field. The birds didn't inconvenience the Cubs, who beat L.A. 7--0.

Circus Circuit

Tyson Gay turned on the jets at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York City last Saturday and won the 200 meters in 19.58 seconds, the third-fastest time in history (page 20). The tents of Cirque du Soleil provided a backdrop for the race at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island.

Pep Rally

Barcelona coach Josep (Pep) Guardiola was thrown into the air by his players after they defeated Manchester United 2--0 to win the Champions League final in Rome on May 27. In his first season at the helm of Barça, the 38-year-old Guardiola also guided the club to the Spanish league and the Copa del Rey championships.

It's Their Party

Mark Miller, an All-America pitcher for the College of Wooster (Ohio), walked away from University of St. Thomas players after the Tommies, of St. Paul, Minn., scored a run in the bottom of the 12th to win the NCAA Division III national championship game 3--2 on May 26 in Grand Chute, Wis. Miller pitched all 11 1/3 innings for the Fighting Scots.

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Photograph by Chris Bernacchi/Sportpics

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Photograph by Heinz Kluetmeier

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Photograph by Manu Fernandez/AP

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Photograph by Matt Dilyard