Updated:
July 12, 2000
TOP
OF THE WEEK VENUS AND PETE
Wimbledon 2000 was terrific, with some great play, rising stars and two wonderful endings. In the women's final, Venus Williams beat Lindsay Davenport to join sister Serena in winning a major title. The two kids straight out of Compton look like they might dominate women's tennis for years. Dad Richard cracked us up with his homemade signs, including one at the final that said: ``It's Venus' Party and You're Not Invited.''
On the men's side, the normally reserved Pete Sampras showed some emotion in beating Patrick Rafter to win his seventh at Wimbledon and a record 13th major. Sampras' parents made their first trip ever to Wimbledon and cried along with their son when he came into the stands after his win. Truly a classy moment.
BOTTOM OF THE WEEK
CAROLINA PRO ATHLETES
What is it in the water that makes pro athletes in Carolina so famous ... or infamous? Last week, former Panther Fred Lane joined the list when he was shot dead by his wife in a case that's still murky. Before his untimely death Lane was best known for being suspended a game after flipping off fans at Giants Stadium.
Other Carolina notables in recent years:
--Anthony Mason, Charlotte Hornets power forward, charged with starting a riot in June in New Orleans' French Quarter.
--Bobby Phills, Hornets guard, killed while drag racing in 1999.
--Rae Carruth, Panthers receiver, charged with killing his ex-girlfriend.
--Kerry Collins, ex-Panthers QB, who blames his alcoholism for his making racial remarks that eventually got him traded.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
BASEBALL
The thrill is gone with the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. With the advent of interleague play, it's no longer a novelty to see a star American League pitcher face a stud National League hitter. And this year was even more anti-climatic.
Because of assorted ailments the biggest names in baseball are sitting on the bench Tuesday: Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire, Cal Ripken, Mike Piazza, among others.
As for the game itself, it was pretty much a snoozer with the AL winning, 6-3, and Derek Jeter being named MVP.'
LENNOX LEWIS: I'M
NOT GAY
Maybe it's because he's single, lives with his mom and has a pet poodle, but heavyweight boxing champ Lennox Lewis felt compelled to declare his heterosexuality to the London Daily Telegraph.
"I am definitely, definitely not gay and never have been," Lewis said. "I love women."
Although not, perhaps, nearly so much as he loves himself, Salon Magazine said.
Sometimes, in the privacy of his own home, he tells the paper, he likes to stand naked in front of the mirror and admire his own impressive physique. "And I thank the Lord," he says. "I thank God for what he has given me."
CYCLING
Lance Armstrong made an amazing run in the climbing portion of the Tour de France to take the lead and become the favorite to win his second straight. Simply an amazing effort for a guy who faced death from testicular cancer only a few years ago.
NFL
With seven weeks and counting until kickoff, it was great to see the Cleveland Browns, the first NFL team to open training camp this season, back at work. NFL teams will be opening their training camps over the next week.
Pro Bowl wide receiver and winner of three Super Bowl rings with the Dallas Cowboys, Michael Irvin, retired on Tuesday. After being temporarily paralyzed by a tackle against the Philadelphia Eagles last October, Irvin was encouraged by his doctors to leave the game of football. However, it was his wife's pleas that brought him to his tearful goodbye to the Cowboys.
But, he is not saying goodbye to fans: you'll be able to catch him this autumn on NFL This Morning with Chris Myers.
XFL
And then there's the other side of football. The XFL, launched by NBC and the WWF, has started its marketing machine with a blitz during the MLB All-Star game. The league, which was announced last spring, will begin play next February.
WNBA
After being the defending world champion Houston Comets' No. 1 pick in the 2000 WNBA draft, backup
center Elen Chakirova was just too homesick living away form her native Russia and will return home.
"We will miss her," Comets coach Van Chancellor said. "She is a special person and a great ball player who contributed a lot to this team. I understand how
difficult it is to bring a young child over to a foreign country and I wish her
the best.''