Announced
That he will retire after the final Formula One
race of the year, driver
Michael Schumacher
(above). The 37-year-old German, who has won more F/1
championships (seven) than any other driver, announced his departure on Sunday
after winning his record 90th race, the Italian Grand Prix. Schumacher
made his
F/1 debut in 1991 and before long was one of the most successful--and well-
compensated--athletes in the world. (In 2004 he made roughly $80 million,
including endorsements, second only to Tiger Woods
.) Schumacher
is only two
points behind leader Fernando Alonso
in the 2006 F/1 title race. "It's not
as if I'm lacking anything," he said. "I might as well leave while I'm
still at the top level."
Died
Of an apparent stroke at age 80, Erk Russell
, who left his job as defensive
coordinator at Georgia
to build Georgia Southern
into a Division I-AA
powerhouse. Russell
, who dubbed his Georgia
defenses Junkyard Dawgs, would fire
his players up before games by butting them in the chest with his bald
head--occasionally drawing blood (his own). After Georgia
won the 1980 NCAA
title, Russell
left for Georgia Southern
, which had dropped football in '41.
Within four years Russell
had led the school to a national championship. By the
time he retired, in '89, the Eagles
had won two more. "If I was picking a
list of top 10 coaches that I have ever met and wanted to play for, Erk Russell
would be on that list," Florida State
coach Bobby Bowden
once said. "He
is unsurpassed as a motivator."
Arrested
On charges of dealing cocaine, allegedly in the presence of his six children,
retired NBA
player Henry James
, 41. The former journeyman is accused by Fort
Wayne, Ind.
, police of twice selling at least five grams of crack; on the
second occasion he allegedly brought his kids, who range in age from three
months to six. James
, who played for six teams in a seven-year career, is best
known for tying an NBA
record with seven three-pointers in a quarter in
1997.
Admitted
Making a disrespectful remark about Zinedine Zidane
's sister, Italian soccer
player Marco Materazzi
. Late in the World Cup final between Italy
and France
,
Zidane was sent off for head-butting Materazzi in the chest. Last week
Materazzi explained what set the Frenchman off: Zidane, who was tired of
Materazzi's tugging his shirt, told him, "If you want my shirt so much I'll
give it to you afterward." To which Materazzi replied, "I would prefer
your sister." Zidane, who has since retired, was banned by FIFA
for three
games; Materazzi received a two-game suspension.
Dethroned
By the Detroit Shock
, the defending WNBA
champion Sacramento Monarchs
. Playing
the kind of aggressive ball its coach, Bill Laimbeer
, was known for, the Shock
rallied from a 2--1 deficit to win the title in five games. In the deciding
game at Joe Louis Arena
--a Mariah Carey
concert forced the teams from The
Palace--the Shock opened the second half with an 18--3 run to erase
Sacramento
's eight-point halftime lead. "It felt unreal because we worked
so hard and then the moment finally came and we won it all," said Detroit
's
Deanna Nolan
(above), who was named the Finals' MVP.
Skipping
The coming skating season in order to attend college, Michelle Kwan
, 26. The
nine-time U.S.
champion, who withdrew from the 2006 U.S. Olympic
team with an
injured groin, will attend the University of Denver
. "I have decided to put
college first," she said. "Next year at this time I will again evaluate
all my options, including returning to competitive skating." Kwan
will
major in political science and minor in international studies.
Fined
One game check apiece by the NFL
for their role in the "Love Boat"
scandal, Vikings
offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie
and cornerback Fred Smoot
.
The players pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct in May
following a lurid team party on two boats. McKinnie
will forfeit approximately
$41,000, while Smoot
will be out about $82,000. "I think that should be the
last time I have to hear about that situation," McKinnie
said. "It's
over. Wrong place at the wrong time, basically."
Given By Fox
Sports to Carolina Panthers
superfan Greg (Catman) Good, a new pickup truck as
compensation for a misguided practical joke. During Carolina
's Aug. 24
preseason win over the Dolphins
, commentator Daryl Johnston
joked that fans who
stayed after the starting units came out deserved a new car. Sideline reporter
Tony Siragusa
then presented a toy Porsche
to Good, 49, a season-ticket holder
who was dressed in his Catman getup (left). Good believed a real vehicle would
follow and complained when told it was a prank. Last week Fox Sports CEO David
Hill apologized for the confusion and handed Good the keys to a Ford F-150
.
"I'm so surprised," Good told The Charlotte Observer
. "I thought
all I was going to get was an apology."
Suspended
By the Lions
for one game after he drove naked through a Wendy's
drive-through,
defensive line coach Joe Cullen
. The incident occurred on Aug. 24; Cullen
, 38,
was arrested in Dearborn, Mich.
, and charged with indecent and obscene conduct.
(An employee, who took down Cullen
's tag number, told police, "The suspect
did nothing obscene, other than being naked at the drive-through.") A week
later Cullen
was again arrested, for DUI. The Lions
suspended him for their
season opener.