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Notebook Hall encourages young cancer patient with visit
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) -- Nine-year-old Australian Daniel Hicks was diagnosed with lymphoma, a form of cancer, on July 4. One of his biggest boosts since the diagnosis was a visit Thursday from American swimming star Gary Hall Jr. The boy told Hall he liked swimming, participating a surf lifesaving club as a junior member. Hall told Hicks he too was fighting a disease -- diabetes, diagnosed two years ago -- and wrote on a card: "Never give up and follow your dream." Hicks' mother, Dianne, who is staying with him during his six months of chemotherapy treatment at Royal Children's Hospital, said she and her son appreciated the visit. "He likes his sport and this gave him a great boost," she said.
Shirvington's breakthroughAustralian Matt Shirvington feels he finally has broken through the top rung of the world's top sprinters after finishing third in the 100 meters at the Goodwill Games. "I've not always been able to fulfill my expectations," Shirvington said, "but now I have. It's about time that I got back a bit of the form that I'm renowned for." Shirvington, the first Australian to win a medal over 100 meters in a major international championship since 1956, celebrated by jogging a lap of honor around ANZ Stadium to the delight of 37,502 fans. "The crowd got to me and it was just something that happened," Shirvington said after taking a lap usually reserved for winners. Shirvington might not have had the opportunity to celebrate if world champion Maurice Greene and world bronze medalist Bernard Williams had competed. Both missed the meet with injuries.
Coe speaksBritish Olympic gold medalist Sebastian Coe has called on sports federations to do more to prepare athletes for retirement. The call came as 200-meter and 400-meter world record-holder Michael Johnson neared his retirement from competitive sports. Johnson runs his final race Friday night at the Goodwill Games, anchoring the U.S. team's 1,600 relay. Coe, who broke 10 world records at middle distances during his career in the 1980s and won 1,500-meter gold at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics, warned Johnson the transition into retirement would be difficult. Coe said he began preparing for his post-sports career in 1984, six years before retiring from international competition. In retirement, he became a politician, sitting in the House of Commons from 1992-97. After losing his seat, Coe served as British Opposition Leader William Hague's private secretary. He also dabbled in sports journalism and administration and currently is president of Britain's Amateur Athletic Association. Coe, 44, said he'd seen many athletes struggle with their sports "afterlife." "For some athletes it comes as a shock," he said. "I genuinely think that governing bodies could do a great deal more for career advice and placement." Coe suggested sports sponsors should be asked to help retired athletes out. "They've got massive employment opportunities available," he said.
The bodies beautifulAmerican volleyballer Eric Fonoimoana, nicknamed "The Body," wants to be introduced to model Elle McPherson, who has the same nickname. "I've seen her on magazines and stuff like that and would love to meet her," he said. Fonoimoana was given his nickname by a sports commentator at one of his first professional matches in 1992. "This announcer started to joke, 'As you go to work, he goes to the gym. So, ladies and gentlemen,'I give you The Body.'"
Proving a pointKenya's Noah Ngeny, the Olympic 1,500-meter champion, thinks he proved a point in winning the mile at the Goodwill Games. Ngeny was determined to show that he belonged on the Kenyan team for last month's World Championships at Edmonton. Instead, he was dropped from the team after running in a European meet instead of reporting to the team's training camp. "If my people are listening, they should now understand that was a very bad decision," Ngeny said.
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