Like the Dartmouth social scene, this past week in the sports world had some of everything -- the good, the bad and the ugly. Lance Armstrong's sixth consecutive Tour de France victory was the sentimental play of the week. The Utah Jazz's signing of Mehmet Okur to a six year, $50 million deal highlighted an NBA off-season of bad front-office decisions that include the Golden State Warriors' re-signing of backup center Adonal Foyle -- who has career averages of 3.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game to a five-year, $41.6 million contract.
Here is a look at notable sports highlights from this past week, beginning with Miami Dolphins training camp developments -- a situation that could turn ugly:
Ricky Williams shocks NFL by retiring
Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, 27, calledDave Wannstedt this past Friday informing his head coach of his retirement decision, sending the team into disarray as NFL training camps kick off in the coming week.
According to the Miami Herald, Williams, who rushed for 3,225 yards in two seasons with the Dolphins, retired because he wants to travel the world and was tired of the restraints of a professional football career.
On Monday, Ricky Williams' mother Sandy told the Dallas Morning News that she was sad to hear about her son's sudden retirement but supported his decision.
"Football was something he was good at," she said. "And when he was on the field, he gave everything he had. But he wasn't passionate about football. He's too curious about other things to be passionate about any one thing for long."
For the moment, the Dolphins' runningback job belongs to back-up Travis Minor. However, the team plans on trying out Terry Kirby and Stacey Mack in the coming week.
Maddux notches victory No. 299
Hall of Fame-bound pitcher Greg Maddux reached 299 career victories in a six-inning, one- earned-run gem against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. Last season, Maddux became the first pitcher to win 15 starts in 16 consecutive seasons, breaking a tie with Cy Young.
McGriff to slam No. 500 for the Yanks?
Three days after being released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, former all-star firstbaseman Fred McGriff worked out with the New York Yankees on Wednesday at the team's minor league complex. McGriff, who has 493 career home runs, was taken by the Yankees in the 1981 amateur draft, but was traded to the Blue Jays the following season.
Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi is currently out of action battling an odd case of fatigue. Because of his condition, Giambi was tested for a dangerous and potentially deadly parasite called entamoeba histolytica earlier in the week.
Abdur-Rahim demands trade
Frustrated with the Portland Trail Blazers' decision to reject a trade that would have sent him to New Jersey, Blazers forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim has decided to demand a trade, The Oregonian reported Tuesday.
Abdur-Rahim is one of the most talented NBA stars still left on the off-season market, with career averages of 20.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Abdur-Rahim has been frustrated in Portland ever since he landed with the team as part of a mid-season blockbuster trade last season. In 31 games with Portland, Abdur-Rahim only started three games and averaged 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest.
Jennings shatters "Jeopardy!" recordsYou might be saying to yourself right now, "Hey, Jeopardy! isn't a sport," but neither are curling and the National Spelling Bee, and both get airtime on ESPN.
On Friday, Ken Jennings, a 30-year-old computer software programmer from Utah, won his 38th consecutive "Jeopardy!" appearance and broke the game show's single-day earnings record by bringing home $75,000 on the final Jeopardy! of the season. Jennings is slated to defend his streak when a new season of Jeopardy! begins Sept. 6.
