When he was five years old, Jim Ryun contracted the measles, and that cost him half of his hearing. In junior highschool at Wichita, Kansas, he could not make the track and field team. But, that did not deter Ryun, who went on to become one of the greatest runners ever, and the last American to hold the world record in the mile run. Continue Reading

When competition began in Vancouver last Saturday, Bonnie Blair was the most highly decorated American Winter Olympic athlete in history with six medals in speed skating, five of them gold. That’s even though Bonnie retired in 1995. Continue Reading

Why aren’t defensive stars rewarded more frequently in football? It’s a fair question. But, let’s face it, the glamour positions are quarterback and running back, and it’s always going to be that way. Continue Reading

Where  are  they  now?

By  Ross  Porter

January  11,  2010

Laffit  Pincay,  Jr.  is  63  years  old,  but  when  I  saw  him  at  Santa  Anita  the  other  day,  he  looked as  good  as  he  did  when  he  was  one  of  the  world’s  finest  jockeys. Continue Reading

We  were  shocked  to  learn  that  Rory  Markas  had  passed  away  on  January  4  at  the  age  of  54.

Rory  had  broadcast  Angels’  games  for  eight  seasons  on  radio  and  was  about  to  become  their  lead  television  announcer  to  begin  the  2010  season.

In  late  2008,  Rory  underwent  brain  surgery  which  removed  a  blood  clot,  and  he  returned  in  time  for  the  2009  season.  I  visited  him  in  the  broadcast  booth  several  times  this  past  year,  including once  in  Arlington,  Texas.

Rory  Markas  was  well-liked  by  everyone  who  knew  him,  and  a  very  good  play-by-play  sportscaster who  also  aired  USC  basketball  games.

Rory’s  father,  Gary,  was  the  director  of  KNBC  newscasts  in  the  1960’s  and  1970’s  when  I  anchored  the  6  PM  and  11  PM  sportscasts  on  the  station,  and  like  Rory,  one  of  the  nicest  guys  you  would  ever  want  to  meet.  Unfortunately,  we  lost  Gary  to  cancer  when  he  was  47.  At  the  time,  Rory  was  16.

RP

Where  are  they  now?

By  Ross  Porter

January  4,  2010

One  of  professional  football’s  coaching  legends  is  celebrating  his  80th  birthday  today.

Don  Shula  retired  at  the  end  of  the  1995  campaign,  but  he  remains  the  NFL’s  all-time  leader  in  wins  with  347,  games  coached  at  526,  most  successive  seasons  coached  with  33,  posting  only  two  losing  records,  and  six  Super  Bowl  appearances. Continue Reading

When I learned Joshua Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns had set an NFL record Sunday for career touchdowns on kickoff returns with his seventh and eighth (100 and 103 yard runbacks against Kansas City), my first reaction was a question. Continue Reading

A total of 74 men have been presented college football’s most important award—–the Heisman Trophy—-with Archie Griffin of Ohio State the only man to win it twice. Continue Reading

Only four football players have ever won the Heisman Trophy ( given to the outstanding collegian) and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award. Roger Staubach was the first. Continue Reading

On the final night of this year’s World Series, Hideki Matsui of the Yankees drove in six runs in the first five innings to literally usher the Phillies out of contention single-handedly. In so doing, the Japanese star tied the Series record for runs-batted-in during a game. Continue Reading