Heisman death
BULVERDE, Texas (AP) — Felix "Doc" Blanchard, the 1945 Heisman Trophy winner and Army's Mr. Inside in one of college football's most famous backfields, has died. He was 84.
Blanchard's daughter, Mary Blanchard, told The Associated Press late Sunday night in a phone interview that her father died of pneumonia at his home in Bulverde, a small town in central Texas, earlier in the day.
Mary Blanchard said her father had been living with her and her husband for about the past 20 years and had been in good health until recently coming down with pneumonia.
The bruising fullback, listed at 6 feet, 208 pounds, and Glenn Davis, aka Mr. Outside, helped Army win consecutive national titles in 1944-45.
The year after Blanchard became the first junior to win the Heisman Trophy, Davis won it and Army went undefeated again.
With Blanchard and Davis, Army went 27-0-1 from 1944-46.
Beckett supended
BOSTON (AP) — Josh Beckett's suspension was reduced from six games to five on Sunday, allowing the Boston Red Sox ace to take his next turn in the rotation.
Beckett threw a pitch near the head of the Los Angeles Angels' Bobby Abreu last Sunday, leading to both dugouts and bullpens emptying. The right-hander was suspended on Tuesday and immediately appealed the ruling.
With the Red Sox off Thursday, the new penalty allows Beckett to switch spots with Jon Lester and start Saturday. Lester is now scheduled to start the series opener against the New York Yankees on Friday.
The incident began when Abreu was granted a timeout after a long pause on the mound by Beckett, who was holding Chone Figgins on second base. Beckett finished his throwing motion in any pitcher's normal attempt to avoid injury from a sudden stop, but his throw went in the direction of Abreu's head.
Five straight
MONACO (AP) — Rafael Nadal became the first player to win five straight Monte Carlo Masters titles by beating Novak Djokovic 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 on Sunday.
The top-ranked Spaniard, however, lost a set at the clay court tournament for the first time since the 2006 final against Roger Federer.
Nadal extended his winning streak at Monte Carlo to 27 matches and got his 21st straight victory on clay since losing to fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round of the Rome Masters in May 2008.
Nobody has matched Nadal's performance at the Monte Carlo tournament since tennis turned professional in 1968.
Reggie Doherty won the event six times overall between 1897-99 and 1902-04, while five-time winner Anthony Wilding of New Zealand won four times in a row from 1911-14 and got his other title in 1908.
BOWLING
RENO, Nev. (AP) — A 100-year-old woman from New Jersey has become the oldest competitor in the history of the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
Emma Hendrickson of Morris Plains, N.J., was presented Saturday night with a plaque and a medallion to commemorate her 50th consecutive appearance in the tournament. She also received a pendant with her birthstone in recognition of her status as the tournament's oldest participant.
The great-great-grandmother rolled a 115, 97 and 106 for a 318 series during team competition at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno.
Hendrickson, who celebrated her birthday less than a month ago, previously shared the record with Ethel Brunnick of Santa Monica, Calif., who competed in 1987 at 99.
Hendrickson's bowling activity is supported by her 27 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Her husband and two children have passed away.