For The Record

Died
At age 28, major league pitcher Joe Kennedy (below). The cause of death has not been determined, but Kennedy 's agent, Damon Lapa, said that the player's family had been told by doctors that he might have had an enlarged heart. Kennedy was at his in-laws' house in Tampa when he collapsed early last Friday. In a seven-year career Kennedy , a 6'4" lefthander, was 43--61 with a 4.79 ERA. He played for three teams—the A's, Diamondbacks and Blue Jays—in 2007, going 4--9.

Retired
After losing a majority decision to Ricardo Mayorga last Friday, Fernando Vargas. "Absolutely, this is the end. This was my last fight," the two-time world champ said. The lead-up to the fight, for the WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title, featured plenty of fireworks, including a brawl at their first news conference in July. And Friday's fight—one of the best of the year—lived up to the hype. Mayorga twice dropped Vargas as the two pounded each other for long stretches. "I am not going to take anything away from Mayorga. He was the better man tonight," Vargas said.

Annulled
By the IAAF, all of Marion Jones 's results dating to Sept. 1, 2000, because of her doping confession. Last month Jones , 32, admitted that she had used performance-enhancing drugs from Sept. 2000 to July 2001, a period during which she won five gold medals at the Sydney Olympics. The IAAF last week upheld her two-year ban, erased her from the track record books and said she should pay back $700,000 in prize money she won since Sept. 2000. The IAAF also recommended that Jones 's relay teammates be disqualified and lose their medals from the 2000 Games.

Expressed
By Real Madrid , an interest in New York Red Bulls striker Jozy Altidore (below). The 18-year-old from Livingston, N.J. , scored nine goals in 22 MLS games last year and made his debut with the U.S. national team on Nov. 17. Carlos Bucero, sporting director assistant for Real, which employs some of the biggest names in the game, was reportedly in New York last week. "Jozy's happy with where he's at in this stage of his career with the Red Bulls, but we'll see what happens," said Altidore's agent, Richard Motzkin .

Fired
By Nebraska , embattled football coach Bill Callahan , whose four-year record was 27--22. Under Callahan the Cornhuskers ' once-proud defense became one of the most generous in the country. This year it surrendered at least 40 points six times. Callahan also came under fire recently for making derogatory remarks about former coach and current interim athletic director Tom Osborne (SI, Oct. 29), who made the decision to fire Callahan .

Resigned
As Texas A&M coach, Dennis Franchione . In five years his teams were 32--28. Calls for Franchione's job intensified earlier this year when it was revealed that he had been selling an e-mail newsletter with inside information to big boosters for $1,200 a year. On Monday the school hired Houston Texans offensive coordinator and former Packers head coach Mike Sherman .

Upset
By 36-year-old retiree Pete Sampras in a year-end exhibition in Macau , Roger Federer, who won three of four grand slam events in 2007. The two played three matches in the Far East ; Sampras , who won 14 Grand Slams before retiring in 2003, said he hoped to be competitive and maybe take a set from Federer. He did better last Saturday, winning 7--6, 6--4. Federer—who won the first two exhibitions, both in straight sets—was gracious in defeat. "I can go into vacation and really reflect on the year but also the exhibitions and look forward to next year," said Federer. "It's going to be fantastic, so, no, I'm not too embarrassed [to lose]."

Ended
His improbable comeback from head and neck injuries that kept him out of the NFL for nearly two years, Chiefs running back Priest Holmes (left). In June, Holmes , 34, told the Chiefs that he wanted to play again after sitting out for 22 months; last month he returned to the active lineup, making two starts in place of the injured Larry Johnson and rushing for 137 yards on 46 carries in four games. But against the Colts on Nov. 18 he felt discomfort—he didn't specify what kind—and decided to retire rather than risk permanent injury or paralysis. He retires as Kansas City 's alltime leading rusher, with 6,070 yards.