For The Record

CLEM LABINE 1926--2007

CLEM LABINE HAD, in the words of his former Brooklyn Dodgers teammate Ralph Branca, "the right equipment to be a reliever." His sinker induced many a double play, and he possessed a sharp overhand curve that he could throw to righties and lefties. But that's not what made Labine, who died last week at age 80, one of the game's first great closers. "He also had courage," says Branca of Labine, who enlisted in the Army in 1944 at 18 and served as a paratrooper. "He really welcomed the challenge of being a reliever. He was a tough bird who loved to be in a crucial spot."

Occasionally that meant starting. In the Dodgers ' 1951 three-game playoff with the Giants, Labine, a rookie who had only 13 games that season, threw a shutout in Game 2. Five years later he made his only postseason start in another must-win game, answering Don Larsen 's World Series perfect game with a seven-hit shutout of his own the next day to force a seventh game. But it was out of the bullpen that Labine excelled. During Brooklyn 's world championship season of 1955, he led the NL in appearances. He led the NL in saves each of the next two seasons and was an All-Star in both. Says Branca, "In today's game, with his slider and his curveball, he'd be a superstar." Though Labine was recognized as one by his peers—in 1957 Cubs manager Bob Scheffing said he'd take Labine if given the option of having any one pitcher in the league—the subtlety of his contributions was sometimes lost on observers. In '56, his best season, Labine finished in a tie for 30th in the MVP voting. That prompted one Dodgers fan to compose a song:
Oh, my darlin', oh, my darlin',
Oh, my darlin' Clem Labine .
We have won, but you're forgotten.
Dreadful sorry, Clem Labine .

Donated
By former Cowboys cornerback Everson Walls to ex-teammate Ron Springs , a kidney. Springs, 50, has suffered from diabetes for 16 years and has been on a transplant waiting list for three. The former running back, who is wheelchair-bound, has had his right foot and two toes on his left foot amputated, and he has little use of his hands. Late last year, Walls, 47, heard about Springs's plight and underwent tests to see if he was a match as a donor (SI, Dec. 25, 2006). The operation took place on Feb. 28, and so far there have been no signs that Springs's body is rejecting the kidney. Both Springs and Walls were in good condition after the operations, and Springs is expected to regain the use of his hands. "It's like getting a new battery in a car," Springs said before the operation.

Won
By Rafael Marquez with a seventh round TKO over Israel Vazquez , the WBC super bantamweight title. The brutal bout set the bar high for fight of the year contenders. The 31-year old Marquez broke Vazquez 's nose in the first round before being knocked down in the third. Marquez picked himself up off the canvas and landed jab after jab until Vazquez , who was having trouble breathing, had to throw in the towel. After the fight Marquez was quick to offer Vazquez a rematch. "He dropped me and was the only fighter to ever hurt me," says Marquez .

Won
By Bill Demong, a world championship silver medal in the Nordic combined. The 26-year-old from Vermontville, N.Y., is only the second American ever to win a medal in the event. Demong (right), who suffered a fractured skull five years ago when he dived face first into the shallow end of a hotel swimming pool, was in eighth place after the ski jump portion of the competition, which meant he had to start the 15-kilometer cross-country race 1:40 behind the leader. But he was fast enough on skis to beat Anssi Koivuranta of Finland in a photo finish for second, 8.5 seconds behind winner Ronny Ackermann of Germany . "It's amazing to have worked so hard at something and [be] focused on results for so long and have everything just click," Demong said.

Bet
By Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona , $20,000 that he can kick his longtime chewing tobacco habit. Francona made the wager with team president Larry Lucchino, a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and prostate cancer survivor. (The money will go to charity.) It's not the first time Francona, 47, has tried to quit during camp. Said Francona (above), "I've got to keep it going into the season."

Sidelined
For a month after straining a ligament in his right knee, David Beckham . The Real Madrid midfielder ran into an advertising board after delivering a cross in Sunday's draw with Getafe. He left the field under his own power but was in obvious pain. A scan on Monday revealed ligament damage. Beckham , 31, is expected to miss at least four weeks, which means he should be fine by the time his five-year, $27.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS goes into effect this summer.

Fined
By the Lakers , forward Vladimir Radmanovic , who separated his shoulder snowboarding on Feb. 17 and then lied to the team about it. Los Angeles docked Radmanovic, 26, who is in the middle of a five-year, $30.2 million contract, $500,000, or almost 10% of his 2006--07 salary. He is expected to miss two months. After Radmanovic suffered the injury—snowboarding is banned in the standard NBA player contract—he told the team he slipped on a patch of ice. "Being young and sometimes immature, I initially panicked and made up a false story about how I hurt myself," Radmanovic said in a statement. "However, I am not a dishonest person and could no longer live with this deception. I hope for everyone's understanding and forgiveness."

Charged
With a misdemeanor count of obstruction of justice for allegedly throwing a punch at a police officer last year, troubled Titans cornerback Pacman Jones . According to a report released by the Fayetteville , Ga., police last Thursday, on Feb. 6, 2006, Jones tried to hit an officer who attempted to search his car. Jones 's lawyer, Manny Arora, said in response that Jones has "just made some poor decisions with the people he's associated with. They're trying to drag him down." Jones , who has drawn the interest of police at least 10 times since the Titans drafted him in '05, is scheduled to appear in court later this month.

Arrested
On a charge of domestic abuse, Kings forward Ron Artest . Police responded to a call at Artest's home outside Sacramento on Monday morning and, after interviewing a woman at the house, placed Artest (left) under arrest. He was released on $50,000 bail and faces a March 22 arraignment.