For the Record
Fired
After two seasons as the Redskins' head coach, Jim Zorn (above), who went 12--20. A former Seahawks All-Pro quarterback, Zorn climbed the coaching ranks in the CFL, college and the NFL, where he became known for grooming passers like Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck. That track record prompted his hiring as Washington's offensive coordinator—a tenure that lasted 15 days, at which point owner Daniel Snyder made him head coach. Zorn's run at the top was no more traditional than his ascension. Management stripped Zorn of offensive play-calling duties in October and handed that job to 67-year-old Sherm Lewis, whose previous job had him calling Bingo numbers at a retirement home. Using Lewis's approach, the Skins scored nearly a touchdown more per game than when Zorn sent in the plays.
Died
Of multiple heart attacks, a 28-year-old woman who suffered injuries to the head, stomach and pelvis when she was hit by a truck during the first leg of the 2010 Dakar Rally in northern Argentina. The 4 √ó 4 vehicle, driven by Mirco Schultis of Germany and Ulrich Leardi of Switzerland, veered off course while taking a curve on a private stretch of the route—not in one of the public viewing areas—and struck a group of spectators, including Sonia Natalia Gallardo. The incident marked the fourth fatality since the off-road race moved to South America amidst terrorism concerns last year and at least the 50th death since the event's inception in 1979.
Died
Of complications from a stroke, 93-year-old golf pioneer Bill Powell, the first and only African-American to build, own and operate a course in the United States. The grandson of Alabama slaves, Powell picked up the sport as a nine-year-old caddie and honed his game in Great Britain, where he served in the Army Air Forces during World War II. When Powell returned to the U.S., he found himself barred from all-white public courses, so in 1946 he bought 78 acres of land in East Canton, Ohio, and spent two years crafting his own nine-hole course. Clearview Golf Club, where Powell was fond of saying "the only color that matters is the color of the greens," expanded to 18 holes in 1978 and earned a national-historic-site designation in 2001.
Banned
From 2010 post-season play, the USC men's basketball team, as part of self-imposed sanctions stemming from the school's recruitment of former Trojan O.J. Mayo in 2007. An internal investigation by the university cited a relationship between Mayo—who spent one year at USC and now plays for the Memphis Grizzlies—and booster Rodney Guillory that violated NCAA rules. The Trojans, who are 10--4 and tied for first place in the Pac-10, also voluntarily forfeited one scholarship along with their 21 wins from Mayo's 2007--08 season, in which USC lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Charged
With an array of gun- and drug-related misdemeanors, four members of the Tennessee men's basketball team. Last Friday, Knoxville police pulled over (allegedly for speeding) a rented vehicle driven by sophomore guard Cameron Tatum; his passengers included preseason All-SEC senior forward Tyler Smith (above) and two juniors, center Brian Williams and guard Melvin Goins. According to the police report the investigating officer smelled marijuana and discovered a bag of the drug, an open alcoholic beverage and two handguns, one with an altered serial number. (None of the players have commented.) Coach Bruce Pearl apologized for the incident and suspended all four indefinitely. However, one day after the incident Pearl told SI's Seth Davis that some of the offenders might return as soon as Jan. 6 against Charlotte.
Investigated
By Washington, D.C., police and the NBA, Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, who has admitted to previously keeping three unloaded firearms in his Verizon Center locker. A two-week long inquiry into the matter has further been clouded by a New York Post report claiming that Arenas and Wizards guard Javaris Crittenton drew weapons on each other on Dec. 21 following a dispute over gambling debts. Arenas says the encounter has been blown out of proportion, telling reporters, "I don't gamble. I don't do anything like that.... I've never did anything [involving] violence. Anything I do is funny. Well, it's funny to me." Wizards ownership saw less humor in the matter, issuing a statement that cited Arenas's "extremely poor judgment."
Sued
For defamation of character by WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, his prospective opponent, Floyd Mayweather Jr. The two boxers have been in negotiations for a March 13 HBO pay-per-view welterweight title bout, widely forecast to be the richest fight in boxing history, but got hung up on details about random blood testing before the fight. (Mayweather wanted more testing, Pacquiao less.) Pacquiao's suit alleges that Mayweather and members of his camp have publicly accused Pacquiao of waffling because of performance-enhancing drug use, which he denies.
Go Figure
51.1
Yards per punt by Oakland's Shane Lechler this season, second only to Sammy Baugh's 51.4-yard average with the Redskins in 1940.
6
NFL running backs who have rushed for 2,000 yards in a season after Tennessee's Chris Johnson broke the barrier in Sunday's win over Seattle.
2,509
Johnson's total yards from scrimmage (2,006 rushing and 503 receiving), an NFL record.
2
Dunks in a 99--18 win over Texas State by Baylor's Brittney Griner, the second woman (after Candace Parker) to dunk twice in a game.
5
Points Texas State had at halftime, two more than Savannah State's NCAA record (set against Florida State in 2003) for the fewest points in a half.
649,563
All-Star votes for Houston's Tracy McGrady through Dec. 31, the second-highest total among Western Conference guards.
45
Minutes McGrady has played this season.
THEY SAID IT
Jana Rawlinson
Australian hurdler, on her decision to have her breast implants removed to improve her chances of winning a medal at the 2012 Olympics: "I absolutely loved having bigger boobs, but I don't want to shortchange Australia either."
PHOTO
JEFF GROSS/GETTY IMAGES (ZORN)
PHOTO
EZRA SHAW/GETTY IMAGES (RAWLINSON)
PHOTO
WADE PAYNE/AP (SMITH)