For The Record

Won By Bode Miller, the World Cup season's final Super G, last Thursday at Are, in Sweden. After a dismal Olympics (he failed to win a medal in any of his five events), Miller spent two weeks on vacation in Florida and Paris and looked refreshed on his return to the slopes. The day before the Super G, Miller finished second in the downhill (above) at Are. "It's always nice to end the season like that," said Miller, who finished third in the World Cup overall standings. "It's fun to come here and see what possibly could have happened [in Turin]."

Set By Janica Kostelic of Croatia, a new record for the most points in a women's World Cup season. Kostelic, 24, clinched the overall title last Thursday by finishing fourth in the Super G at Are. Two days later she won the final race of the year, a giant slalom, to bring her point total to 1,970--10 more than Pernilla Wiberg of Sweden had in 1997. "That's cool, right?" said Kostelic, who won a gold and a silver medal at last month's Olympics. "Maybe next year someone will say, 'Ten more points and we'll beat Janica's record.'"

Won By Oklahoma State, its 34th NCAA wrestling championship. Led by Johny Hendricks, who won the 165-pound title, and Jake Rosholt, who won the 197-pound crown, the Cowboys easily earned the school's fourth consecutive title. Rosholt, a senior, won his third individual title, and Hendricks, a junior, won his second in dramatic fashion, scoring a takedown with four seconds left to beat top-seeded Ryan Churella of Michigan 9--8. Said coach John Smith, "I can't remember too many moments that exciting."

Announced By NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, 65, that he will retire in July. During Tagliabue's 16-year reign the league enjoyed a period of labor peace unprecedented among major sports in this day. His last two major accomplishments were the orchestration of a new labor agreement earlier this month and last year's multibillion-dollar television deals that return games to NBC and move Monday Night Football to ESPN. "History will judge him to be one of the finest commissioners any sport has ever had," Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill said. "In 1989 we all knew that whoever succeeded Pete Rozelle would have big shoes to fill. Obviously the same is true of the successor to Paul Tagliabue."

Finished Thirty-eighth in Monday's Golden Corral 500, Bill Lester (above), the first black driver to compete at NASCAR's highest level since 1986. Lester, who is a regular on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, qualified 19th for the race, the first Nextel Cup event he has entered. Eighteen years ago Lester, who is now 45, left a job as an electrical engineer at Hewlett-Packard to give full-time driving a shot. "It was a very significant learning experience for me," Lester said. "It was fun to be out there."

Died At age 34, of injuries sustained in the ring, boxer Kevin Payne. Last Saturday, Payne (14-5-1), a welterweight, won an eight-round decision over Ryan Maraldo (20-19-1) in Evansville, Ind. He had to be helped from the ring and was taken to a hospital, where he died the following day of a brain injury. By virtue of his win over Maraldo, Payne was to have fought Julio C�sar Ch�vez Jr. next month on HBO.

Announced By New Jersey attorney general Zulima Farber, that Janet Jones, the wife of Phoenix Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky, will be subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury investigating an illegal gambling ring. The ring (Scorecard, Feb. 20), which officials say was connected to the mob, was allegedly run by Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet. Jones is accused of placing large bets through Tocchet. A grand jury has not yet been impaneled, but when it is, Farber said that Jones would be called. "We're talking weeks or months, not years," she said.

Arrested For violating his probation by using cocaine, Dwight Gooden. The former pitcher told his probation officer last week that he had used the drug; a subsequent test confirmed he had cocaine in his system. Gooden, 41, was then arrested and is being held without bond. He faces up to five years in jail. Gooden was on probation for driving away from a police officer who pulled him over for suspicion of drunken driving last August. He spent two months in rehab after that incident.

Retired After a 19-year career, pitcher Al Leiter. The 40-year-old lefthander was a nonroster invitee to the Yankees' camp this spring. Leiter struggled with injuries early in his career; he was drafted by the Yankees in 1984 but didn't win more than 10 games in a season until 1995. Over the next 10 years, though, he was a two-time All-Star; he started Game 7 of the 1997 World Series for the Marlins, who beat the Indians 3-2. "It feels right," said Leiter, who had a career record of 162-132. "I'm constantly being asked when I'm coming home."

Retired After a 16-year professional career, outfielder Tuffy Rhodes (left). After six mediocre major league seasons, Rhodes, 37, went to Japan in 1996 and promptly became a star. He hit 360 homers in his 10 seasons there--including 55 in 2001 for Osaka Kintetsu to tie Sadaharu Oh's record, set in 1964--and was embraced by Japanese fans, who mobbed him on the streets and even occasionally followed him into the restroom. Rhodes was released by the Yomiuri Giants after last season and tried to catch on with the Reds, who released him on Sunday.