Agbayani get his championship

Hawai'i's Benny Agbayani can claim a World Series title. Agbayani is an outfielder for the Chiba Lotte Marines, who completed a four-game sweep of the Hanshin Tigers with a 3-2 victory Wednesday in Osaka, Japan.

White Sox win World Series

The White Sox defeat the Astros to win their first World Series title since 1917.

Larry Bird fan

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A man got a prison term longer than prosecutors and defense attorneys had agreed to -- all because of Larry Bird.

The lawyers reached a plea agreement Tuesday for a 30-year term for a man accused of shooting with an intent to kill and robbery. But Eric James Torpy wanted his prison term to match Bird's jersey number 33.

``He said if he was going to go down, he was going to go down in Larry Bird's jersey,'' Oklahoma County District Judge Ray Elliott said Wednesday. ``We accommodated his request and he was just as happy as he could be.

``I've never seen anything like this in 26 years in the courthouse. But, I know the DA is happy about it.''

John Wooden

As another birthday has come and gone for the Wizard, it becomes that much more important to celebrate the man, not merely for his coaching abilities or for the number of banners he brought to Pauley Pavilion over the years. Wooden is truly an American icon, and his relevance to UCLA goes well beyond the court.

Michelle Wie to turn pro

[9/21/05] While Michelle Wie attends to 11th grade and her short game, another publication is publishing a story announcing she will turn pro and millionaire simultaneously, as soon as next week.

Wie will be on the cover of this week's Golf World magazine. The story cites anonymous sources that claim the 15-year-old will sign endorsement deals with three companies — two are thought to be Nike and Samsung — worth an estimated $8 million. With appearance fees and other endorsements, the magazine estimates she will make $10 million her first year as a pro.

That would make Wie the third-highest paid female athlete in the world, after tennis players Maria Sharapova, reportedly making nearly $17 million, and Serena Williams, at $11 million-plus. Annika Sorenstam, the No. 1 female golfer in the world, is reported to make just more than $5 million. Tiger Woods' deals are estimated at $80 million.

[9/25/05] Michelle Wie is different

[10/5/05] It's official.

[10/16/05] Wie disqualified in first pro tournament for illegal drop

[10/17/05] Rolfing calls disqualification a travesty

Cody VonAppen is thankful

Eight-and-a-half years ago, vonAppen and his parents saw a fun, happy moment instantly turn to tragedy during a family outing on Kaua'i. And though he barely remembers the details from that day as a 6-year-old, the lesson was ingrained and has given him a perspective many teenagers have yet to appreciate.