Former Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie said his election into the College Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday in his first year of eligibility means, “I guess I did more than just throw one pass.”
Flutie, the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner, was elected with 11 other players and two coaches, including Penn State’s Joe Paterno. Flutie will always be remembered for one of the most famous plays in college football history: his 48-yard “Hail Mary” touchdown pass to Gerard Phelan as time expired for a 47-45 victory at Miami.
However, Flutie’s body of work goes far beyond one pass. He holds nine Boston College records, including career passing yards (10,579). He played 12 seasons in the NFL and eight in the Canadian Football League. On Tuesday he became the first non-Canadian elected to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
The other new Hall of Famers: Oklahoma center Tom Brahaney, Michigan defensive back Dave Brown, Clemson linebacker Jeff Davis, Texas defensive back Johnnie Johnson, Ohio State quarterback Rex Kern, Oregon running back-receiver Bobby Moore (now Ahmad Rashad), Indiana running back Anthony Thompson, Houston defensive tackle Wilson Whitley, Dartmouth linebacker Reggie Williams, Southern California linebacker Richard Wood and Notre Dame defensive tackle Chris Zorich.
Herb Deromedi, who had 110 wins at Central Michigan and is the winningest coach in Mid-American Conference history, also was elected. Paterno was elected last year, but his induction was postponed as he recovered from a broken leg.
BOXING
De La Hoya-Mayweather bout richest
Oscar De La Hoya’s fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. set a record for most televised buys for a fight, surpassing Mike Tyson’s second fight with Evander Holyfield and making it boxing’s richest event.
A total of 2.15 million households paid $54.95 for the fight, generating revenue of $120 million. The previous record set by Tyson-Holyfield was 1.99 million buys.
A person close to the promotion said De La Hoya would end up making about $45 million for the fight and Mayweather just more than $20 million. The $45 million would be the biggest purse paid to a fighter, higher than the $35 million purses Tyson and Holyfield reportedly were paid for the infamous “Bite Fight.” Mayweather beat De La Hoya on a split decision Saturday night.
NBA
Riley: Shaq not going anywhere
Coach Pat Riley issued a one-sentence statement regarding the future of the Miami Heat: Shaquille O’Neal will be a part of it.
“Amongst growing speculation in the media, in reference to Shaq, I want to set the record straight and say that we are not trading Shaq,” Riley said.
Indiana Pacers star Jermaine O’Neal said there is nothing to reports he’s pushing to be reunited with his old coach Isiah Thomas at the New York Knicks.
“That’s just somebody that’s putting out speculation,” O’Neal said. “That didn’t come from the Pacers, and that didn’t come from me.”
FOOTNOTES
Titans sign quarterback Rattay
The Tennessee Titans signed quarterback Tim Rattay and claimed linebacker Gilbert Gardner off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts. The Titans also signed free-agent offensive lineman Marques Ogden, the younger brother of Baltimore Ravens left tackle Jonathan Ogden.
Emirates Team New Zealand topped the Louis Vuitton standings by defeating BMW Oracle Racing by 1 minute, 34 seconds to finish with 38 points, one more than the American entry, as nearly three weeks of America’s Cup challenger series racing concluded off the coast of Valencia, Spain. In the best-of-nine semifinals that begin Monday, Emirates Team New Zealand will face Desafio Español, while the Americans compete against Luna Rossa of Italy.
The Indianapolis 500 qualifications and race will be telecast in high definition for the first time. ABC and ESPN2 will have five hours of live coverage of pole day time trials beginning at 10 a.m. MDT on Saturday. ESPN2 will have more than three hours of live coverage of the second day of qualifications Sunday. The networks will provide similar coverage the final weekend of qualifications May 19-20.
Miami athletic director Paul Dee said he plans to resign in June 2008 and join the faculty.
A 42-year-old man who pleaded guilty to fatally shooting TCU kicker Kasey Davis with a deer rifle last year was sentenced to life in prison in Conroe, Texas. Davis was home for Christmas break, sitting in a parked car at an apartment complex, when police say Jeffrey Clay Lasiter walked up to the driver’s window and shot him.
Rafael Nadal extended his clay-court winning streak to 73 matches with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian wild card Daniele Bracciali, while Andy Roddick opened his clay- court season in style, beating 2004 French Open champion Gaston Gaudio 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) at the Rome Masters.
