British soccer great George Best dies
LONDON, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- British soccer legend George Best died Friday after weeks of declining health. He was 59.
The ex-Manchester United and Northern Ireland star suffered multiple organ failure following a lung infection and internal bleeding, officials at London's Cromwell Hospital said.
Republic of Ireland Prime Minister Bertie Ahern described Best as one of his "one of the best players the world has ever seen."
Best had been in the hospital since entering with flu-like symptoms on Oct. 1, later suffering a kidney infection. A recovering alcoholic, he was particularly susceptible to infection because of medicines he needed after a 2002 liver transplant.
Best's heyday came during the 1960s, and he brought a pop star image to the game for the first time, the BBC said. He helped Manchester United win the First Division title in 1965 and 1967 and the European Cup in 1968.
But, the accompanying champagne and playboy lifestyle degenerated into alcoholism, bankruptcy and a liver transplant.
Lions coach on hot seat after another loss
DETROIT, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Detroit Lions Coach Steve Mariucci's days in Motor City might be numbered, observers say, following a 27-7 Thanksgiving loss to Atlanta.
It was a game players called "ugly" and "embarrassing."
Team president Matt Millen declined to comment on whether Mariucci's firing was imminent or whether there would be a meeting soon to discuss his future, the Detroit Free Press said.
But, Mariucci accepted responsibility for the state of the team -- all but officially out of the playoff race at 4-7 -- and players openly wondered what was next.
"I don't know what's going to happen or anything like that, but nobody's stupid in here," offensive lineman Damien Woody said.
"There's a lot to do, and it starts with me, and I accept that responsibility," Mariucci told reporters at a post-game news conference.
Asked if he thought he could turn things around, he said: "Yeah. I do."
Panel seeks ways to make boxing safer
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Post-fight treatment of boxers is being examined in Las Vegas as a special five-person panel looks for ways to make boxing safer.
Some medical experts say that trauma centers, as a rule, are better prepared and equipped than emergency rooms to handle brain injuries, the Las Vegas Sun said.
When Leavander Johnson and Martin Sanchez suffered head injuries during boxing matches in Las Vegas this year, both were transported to area hospitals and subsequently died.
While the outcomes were the same in both cases, some medical experts say the Nevada State Athletic Commission would be better served by considering a policy to transport all brain-injured boxers to a trauma center.
Several studies have found a patient's chances of survival from such injuries are 8 to 10 percent higher if taken to a trauma center rather than an emergency room
