By Staff
Star Tracking …
September 9, 2001
AUBURN, Ala. Eli Manning and Ole Miss couldn't pull off a miracle comeback, but they did put a scare into Auburn. Casinious Moore rushed for the first three touchdowns of his career and Auburn survived a Manning-led rally in his Southeastern Conference starting debut for a 27-21 victory on Saturday. The Tigers (2-0, 1-0 SEC) took a 27-0 lead in the third quarter before Manning led three touchdown drives of 80-plus yards in the final 18 minutes.
NEW YORK When their sibling showdown ended, Venus and Serena Williams somberly met at the net and embraced. "I love you," Venus told her kid sister after winning her second consecutive U.S. Open title by beating the more erratic Serena 6-2, 6-4 Saturday night in the first Grand Slam final between siblings in 117 years and the first women's final televised in prime time. Venus, 15 months older than her sister, won for the fifth time in six sibling matchups, including both previous Grand Slam encounters the 2000 Wimbledon semifinal and the opening round at the 1998 Australian Open.
September 9, 1997
PHILADELPHIA Richie Ashburn, a classic leadoff hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies and a member of the Hall of Fame, died Monday night. He was 70 years old. Team spokesman Gene Dias confirmed Ashburn died at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York, where the Phillies are staying while they play the New York Mets. Details of the death were not immediately available. Ashburn, a center field who played for the Phillies from 1948-59, was a broadcaster for the team for the last 35 years and worked Monday night.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. A year after leading the Gators to their first national championship, Florida awarded Steve Spurrier a contract that makes him the first $2 million coach in college football. The six-year contract, finalized Monday, is worth about $11.8 million, not including a variety of bonuses. It came with a $275,000 signing bonus and the cancellation of $300,000 in loans the university made to Spurrier over the past couple of years.
September 9, 1992
Newton County's Shelia Anderson made history Tuesday night by blasting two consecutive home runs over Southeast Lauderdale's rightfield fence, 200 feet away, to lead her Cougars to a 10-0 girls' softball win over the homestanding Tigers. The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run rule. The left-handed hitting sophomore drove in five of her team's 10 runs and might have had more had Southeast not elected to give her an intentional walk in the fourth inning with runners at second and third.
Ryan Satcher
Sports Face …
Daniel Spinks
Former Meridian High standout quarterback Daniel Spinks made his debut as the leader of the East Mississippi Community offense on Saturday night against defending state champion Jones CC.
It was a tough start as the homestanding Bobcats beat the Lions 17-10 in Laurel at R.H. Watkins Stadium. For the game, Spinks was 7-of-24 for 115 yards and one touchdown.
Spinks originally signed with the University of North Alabama after high school at Meridian. When UNA changed coaches, it also meant a change in offense.
Spinks has been playing football for six years.
Jeff Byrd
His best season was his senior year when he led Meridian to a 9-3 record.
Jeff Byrd