Diamondbacks win World Series
PHOENIX, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Most of the magic in the 2001 World Series belonged to the New York Yankees. The last of the magic, however, was the property of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Trailing by a run in the bottom of the ninth and facing the sport's most dominating big-game closer, Arizona staged a rally of its own Sunday night and won the championship of baseball with a 3-2 decision over the Yankees when Luis Gonzalez delivered a bases-loaded, one-out single up the middle off Mariano Rivera.
"You couldn't have a more dramatic ending," Gonzalez said. "You couldn't have a better World Series."
The seventh game of the World Series provided a classic ending to a dramatic and emotional month of playoffs, one contested in the shadow of the events of Sept. 11.
Having rallied from a two-game deficit in the Division Series against Oakland and having come back from a two-game deficit in the World Series against the Diamondbacks, New York again rallied Sunday night and was poised to win its fourth consecutive title.
But the Yankees' stretch of championships came to an end in a very improbable fashion.
Rivera had saved 28 consecutive playoff games since 1998, but he could not save No. 29. Not only did he give up three hits in the ninth, his throwing error set up the entire inning and allowed Arizona to win the World Series in only its fourth year of existance.
New York had a 2-1 lead going into the ninth, courtesy of an eighth-inning homer by rookie Alfonso Soriano.
Owning the lead, New York manager Joe Torre made the automatic decision of bringing in Rivera.
His superstar closer allowed a two-out single in the eighth, but struck out the side, leaving the Diamondbacks with just three outs in their season. Arizona wound up using only one of them.
Rivera came into the game with a 2-0 record, five saves and a 0.61 ERA during this year's playoffs.
Things began to unravel, however, when Mark Grace led off the ninth with a liner up the middle for a single. David Dellucci came on to pinch run and Damian Miller came to the plate to lay down a sacrifice bunt.
Miller did that, but it came right back to Rivera, who then made the throw that ultimately cost the Yankees. The throw was wide right of second base and sailed into centerfield, putting runners on first and second with none out.
Jay Bell next pinch hit for Randy Johnson, who amazingly became the winning pitcher for the second straight night in relief of starter Curt Schilling. Bell also put a bunt down, but this time Rivera pounced on it and got the lead runner at third.
That turn of events brought Midre Cummings in to pinch run for Miller at second and Cummings promptly scored to tie the game when Tony Womack drove a looping liner down the right-field line.
With the winning run now on third base in the form of Bell, the Yankees chose to pitch to Craig Counsell. But Rivera hit Counsell with a pitch, loading the bases and bringnig up Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, who had been the central power force in Arizona's lineup this season, did the damage with something far less than a homer. But his soft floater to center over the drawn-in infield was enough to deliver the winning run.
While Womack and Gonzalez delivered the clutch hits in the ninth inning, the MVP award was shared by the two pitchers who combined to win all four of Arizona's World Series triumphs.
Curt Schilling started three games during the Series and limited the Yankees to four runs in 21 1/3 innings. Johnson won Game 2 and Game 6 and then retired the last four New York hitters Sunday night to become the winning pitcher in Game 7.
Johnson became the first pitcher to win three games in a World Series since Mickey Lolich did so for the Detroit Tigers in 1968.
Bears pull off second straight comeback
CHICAGO, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Safety Mike Brown played the role of overtime hero for the second straight week Sunday, returning an interception 16 yards for a touchdown to cap off a dramatic rally and give the Chicago Bears a 27-21 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Chicago's win highlighted Sunday's round of action in the NFL, a day that included Baltimore climbing back in the AFC Central race and the New York Giants managing a substantial comeback to prevent a fourth consecutive loss.
The Bears scored two touchdowns in the final 84 seconds of regulation to tie the game, including a 34-yard "Hail Mary" throw from Shane Matthews to James Allen with eight seconds to go.
Brown's game-winning touchdown came 2:50 into overtime and kept the Bears (6-1) a game in front of Green bay in the NFC Central. Chicago moved into a tie with St. Louis for the best record in the NFL.
"I don't know what you'd call it -- a higher power, destiny. Yeh, destiny that's the word," Brown said.
Brown scored on a 33-yard interception return 16 seconds into overtime last week against San Francisco. In that game, the Bears rallied from a 19-point second-half deficit.
Sunday's comeback was even more improbable. After Matthews hit Marty Booker with a nine-yard touchdown pass to pull Chicago within 21-14 with 28 seconds left, the Bears perfectly executed an onside kick.
Paul Edinger kicked to his left and the ball took a high bounce. Cleveland's Percy Ellsworth got a hand on it, but Chicago's Jerry Azumah knocked it away and Bobbie Howard recovered for the Bears at the Cleveland 47.
With one timeout and 24 seconds left, Matthews hit Allen with passes of four and nine yards to the Cleveland 34.
After calling a timeout with eight seconds left, Matthews set up in the shotgun and lofted a pass to the right side of the end zone. Ellsworth leaped with a teammate and a pair of Chicago receivers and batted the ball up instead of down. Allen came flying into the end zone and made a diving catch off the carom, hurdling Booker to tie the game at 21-21 and sending the fans into a frenzy.
In Pittsburgh, Kris Brown missed four of five field goal attempts, including a potential game-tying 35-yarder with eight seconds left, allowing the Baltimore Ravens to hold off the Pittsburgh Steelers, 13-10.
The Ravens moved within a half game of the lead in the AFC Central.
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Steelers (5-2), who remained in first place in the AFC Central but squandered a chance to move 2 1/2 games ahead of Baltimore.
Botched field goal kicking also cost the Dallas Cowboys, who let a 17-point halftime lead get away and then fell in overtime to the Giants, 27-24. Tim Seder missed two field goals for Dallas and the Cowboys also suffered four interceptions.
Other NFL results: Miami 23, Carolina 6; Indianapolis 30, Buffalo 14; Tennessee 28, Jacksonville 24; New England 24, Atlanta 10; Green Bay 21, Tampa Bay 20; San Francisco 21, Detroit 13; Philadelphia 21, Arizona 7; Kansas City 25, San Diego 20; Washington 27, Seattle 14; New York Jets 16, New Orleans 9.
Mike Weir captures sudden death playoff
HOUSTON, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Mike Weir, who cost himself a chance to win in regulation when he bogeyed the 18th hole, birdied it moments later to win a sudden death playoff Sunday and capture the season-ending Tour Championship.
The Canadian defeated Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia and David Toms on the first extra hole by rolling a five-foot putt that brought him the first-place check of $900,000.
The playoff participants finished 72 holes at the Champions Golf Club tied at 14-under 270, one shot in front of Kenny Perry and third-round leader Scott Verplank and two ahead of Jim Furyk, Bob Estes and David Duval. Tiger Woods finished six shots off the lead in a tie for 13th place.
Although Weir has become recognized as one of the world's leading players, Sunday's victory was his first on American soil. He captured his first PGA Tour title last year in Canada and then won the season-ending World Golf Championship event played in Spain.
He shot a 3-under 68 Sunday while Toms had a 67, Garcia a 68 and Els a 68. Weir came to the final hole of regulation with a one-shot advantage, but he drove into the rough, put his second shot just short of a greenside bunker in deep grass and wound up missing a 12-foot par putt.
Garcia barely missed a 15-footer at the final hole that would have given him the win while Els birdied the 18th hole from six feet to get into the playoff.
Verplank, who led for much of the tournament, bogeyed the 17th to fall out of a share of the lead.
Houston wins at the buzzer
PHOENIX, Ariz., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Moochie Norris made a three-pointer at the buzzer off a feed from Steve Francis Sunday night to give the Houston Rockets a 103-100 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Houston set up for one final shot with the game tied at 100-100 with 14 seconds to go. Francis began his drive to the basket with six seconds left and met traffic in the paint before dishing to a wide-open Norris near the top of the key. Norris swished his shot as time expired.
Norris' shot capped a closing 30-12 run by Houston, which trailed by 15 with 8:31 to go. The final 3 1/2 minutes featured three lead changes and two ties.
Other NBA results: Dallas 94, Memphis 85; Toronto 113, Indiana 100; Detroit 100, Washington 78; Golden State 96, Portland 86; Sacramento 103, San Antonio 83; Los Angeles Lakers 100, Utah 96.
Blackhawks remain unbeaten at home
CHICAGO, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Michael Nylander and Igor Korolev scored 69 seconds apart to cap a three-goal first period Sunday night as the Chicago Blackhawks remained unbeaten at home by handing the Detroit Red Wings their first road loss of the season, 5-4.
Chicago Stadium used to be one of the NHL's most imposing arenas. Since moving across Madison Street to the United Center in January 1995, however, the Blackhawks have had a winning home record just twice in six seasons.
But they built a four-goal lead midway through the second period and held on to defeat their long-time rivals, improving to 6
2 at home. Last season, Chicago did not record its sixth home win until Jan. 3.
Other NHL results: Carolina 1, Phoenix 0 in overtime; Edmonton 2, Minnesota 0; Anaheim 5, Atlanta 0.
Nemechek captures NASCAR race
ROCKINGHAM, N.C., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- In a NASCAR Winston Cup season that has become so predictable, Joe Nemechek's victory Sunday in the Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 provided something different.
Nemechek scored an easy win at 1.017-mile North Carolina Speedway as he defeated pole-winner Kenny Wallace by 6.285-seconds -- the largest victory margin of the season.
Johnny Benson was third in a Pontiac Grand Prix, followed by Dale Jarrett in a Ford Taurus and Jerry Nadeau in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
It was the second career victory for the driver from Lakeland, Florida, who scored his first in 1999 at New Hampshire International Speedway for team owner Felix Sabates. It was the second win this season for team owner Andy Petree, whose other victory came when Bobby Hamilton captured the Talladega 500 in April.
Records set at New York Marathon
NEW YORK, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Run under the pall of the attack on the city less than two months ago, the 32nd New York City Marathon inspired record-setting performances Sunday.
Both Tesfaye Jifar of Ethopia and Margaret Okayo of Kenya set course records on a gorgeous day for distance running.
Jifar captured the men's race in 2:07:43 and Okayo pulled away to win the women's event in 2:24.21.
Jifar, who was making his debut on the 26-mile, 385-yard course that winds its way through the city's five boroughs , bested the 2:08:01 run of 1989 winner Juma Ikangaa of Tanzania. Okayo beat the mark of Australian Lisa Ondieki, who completed the 1992 New York Marathon in 2:24:40.
A second-place finisher at the Tokyo Marathon and the World Half-Marathon Championships, Jifar recorded the fifth fastest time in the world this year as he claimed the $80,000 top prize.
Blinded in his right eye at age 12, the 25-year-old Jifar set the Ethiopian national record of 2:06:49 in 1999, when he won the Amsterdam Marathon.
Okayo, who collected the same winner's package as Jifar, rebounded after finishing third in New York a year ago. She ran a personal-best 2:25:05 in June to win the Rock 'n Roll Marathon at Virginia Beach.
Kansas fires football coach
LAWRENCE, Kan., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- In the midst of another losing season, Kansas fired football coach Terry Allen Sunday.
The move to replace Allen came one day after the Jayhawks suffered a 51-7 loss to Nebraska. Defensive coordinator Tom Hayes will serve as interim coach for the final three games.
Allen, who served as coach since 1997, has never had a winning record with the Jayhawks. He compiled a 20-33 record during his tenure, including a 2-6 record this season. The Jayhawks have lost their last three games by a combined score of 129-47.
Miami stays No. 1
MIAMI, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The top five remained unchanged and Michigan slipped to No. 13 Sunday in the coaches' football poll released Sunday.
Top-ranked Miami (7-0) rolled to a 38-0 rout of Temple, but lost five first-place votes. The Hurricanes, who are third in the Bowl Championship Series poll, received 41 first-place votes and a total of 1,479 points.
Nebraska, the No. 1 team in the BCS poll, pounded Kansas, 51-7, and picked up four first-place votes, giving them 18 and 1,456 points.
A 71-13 rout of Vanderbilt netted Florida (7-1) a first-place vote. The Gators remained No. 3 with 1,346 points, 16 ahead of Oklahoma (8-1). The Sooners blanked Tulsa, 58-0.
Texas (8-1), which beat Baylor, 49-10, again completed the top five.
Michigan (6-2) suffered a 26-24 loss to Michigan State and slipped seven spots to No. 13.
Tennessee (6-1) took over Michigan's former spot and Oregon (8-1) and Washington (7-1) each moved up two places to seventh and eighth.
Brigham Young (9-0), one of three remaining unbeatens in Division I-A, slipped one spot to No. 9 despite a 56-34 victory over Colorado State on Thursday.
Florida State (6-2) broke into the top 10 followed by Atlantic Coast Conference rival Maryland (8-1).
Davenport withdraws with knee injury
MUNICH, Germany, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Lindsay Davenport withdrew from Sunday's final of the $3 million Sanex Championships with a knee injury, thus handing fellow American Serena Williams the title.
Davenport injured her right knee while up 5-2 in the third-set tiebreaker of Saturday's semifinal victory over Kim Clijsters.
"I absolutely can't put any weight on my right knee," said Davenport, who had a 15-match winning streak come to an end. "I really cannot say how terrible I feel."
This is the first time this season a final did not take place due to an injury. The last time a championship match was cancelled was the State Farm Tennis Classic at Scottsdale, Ariz., on March 5, 2000 when the final between Davenport and Martina Hingis was scratched due to persistant rain.
GHENT, Belgium, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Sean Towsend captured a gold medal for the United States at the World Gymnastics Championships Sunday, winning the parallel bars event by a narrow margin over Cuba's Eric Lopez.
It was the fourth American medal of the competition, which ended Sunday with 17 nations having won at least one medal.
Towsend was the last competitor on the parallel bars and had several clean swings and somersaults along with a perfect double-pike somersault landing.
The bronze medal went to Ivan Ivankov of Belarus.
The other two event finals Sunday went to Viasios Maras of Greece on the high bar, in a major upset, and Marian Dragulescu of Romania in the vault.
Andrea Raducan of Romania won both the women's event finals in the floor exercise and balance beam. They were her fourth and fifth medals of the championships -- having won a gold in the team event and a bronze in both the all-around and vault.
All-around champion Svetland Khorkina of Russia also won five medals. She also claimed golds in the uneven bars and vault, won a silver with the Russian team and took a bronze Sunday in the floor exercise.
Romania led the medal table with six golds and eight overall.
