Minor league coach dies during game

North Little Rock, AR (Sports Network ) - Tulsa Drillers coach Mike Coolbaugh died Sunday after being hit in the head by a line drive while he was serving as the team's first base coach against the Arkansas Travelers.

Tino Sanchez hit a line drive that struck Coolbaugh in the temple during the top of the ninth inning.

Coolbaugh was knocked unconscious and was administered CPR on the field. He was eventually taken by ambulance to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Coolbaugh, a former Drillers player, had just joined the team on July 3 as a replacement for Orlando Merced, who had resigned earlier in the season.

He spent 17 seasons in professional baseball, appearing in 44 games with the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals. Coolbaugh also spent time in the Toronto, Texas, Oakland and New York Yankees organizations.

Original Story at: Sportsnetwork.com

Hamilton fit to race after crash

Alan Baldwin, Reuters

NUERBURGRING, Germany, July 21 (Reuters) - McLaren cleared Lewis Hamilton to race in Sunday’s European Grand Prix after the Formula One championship leader escaped injury in a heavy qualifying crash.

"There is...absolutely no medical reason that he can’t race," McLaren team boss Ron Dennis told reporters after the 22-year-old Briton returned to the paddock from hospital on Saturday.

The rookie must however have a final check by the International Automobile Federation’s doctor on Sunday morning before being formally given the green light.

"I’m feeling fine, very fortunate, very lucky that I haven’t got any bruises. I’m sure tomorrow I’ll wake up with some bruises," Hamilton told reporters.

"The most important thing is that I’m well and the team is doing a good job to make sure we have a good car tomorrow. I have to be signed off tomorrow morning, so we have to wait and see. But I feel fine for the race. So fingers crossed."

Hamilton, 12 points clear of double world champion team mate Fernando Alonso after nine podium finishes in a row, brought qualifying to a halt when he left the track at around 260kph and ploughed into the tyre wall.

The session remained red-flagged for more than half an hour while doctors attended to him and the debris was cleared away.

Hamilton, wearing an oxygen mask and with a drip applied, waved and gave a thumbs-up sign as he was taken to a waiting ambulance.

RIGHT WHEEL

Dennis said the accident was probably caused by a faulty

wheel gun which failed to tighten a nut on the McLaren’s right front wheel.

"We were quite fortunate to be honest because the wheel nut on Fernando’s car was not properly tightened either," added the team boss.

Read Full Story at: autos.canada.com

Further Reading

Personal Website of Lewis Hamilton: www.lewishamilton.com
Lewis Hamilton at : Wikipedia
Lewis Hamilton Picture Gallery
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Official Site

Mourinho Urges Galaxy: Don't Take Risks With Beckham

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho hopes LA Galaxy will not take chances with the fitness of superstar recruit David Beckham.

The Major League Soccer side host Premiership big hitters Chelsea in Los Angeles tonight in a prestigious friendly which has been billed for weeks as Beckham's baptism into the US soccer scene.

But the script has been compromised by an ankle injury that could well delay Beckham's much-anticipated Galaxy debut.

While Mourinho has reassured all and sundry that the Chelsea players would not be intent on targeting Beckham should he play and aggravating his injury, he has advised the Galaxy coach, Frank Yallop, to think long and hard about whether or not play his prized asset in a friendly against the Blues.

"When I was a child I heard dozens of stories of Eusebio, who was injured but had to play a certain game because of the cachet of the match," recalled Mourinho.

Read Full Story at: goal.com

Donaghy under investigation for betting on NBA games

NEW YORK -- The FBI is investigating allegations that veteran NBA referee Tim Donaghy bet on basketball games over the past two seasons, including ones in which he officiated. Defense attorney John Lauro confirmed Donaghy is under investigation but refused to comment on the allegations or the case. According to a law enforcement official, authorities are examining whether the referee made calls to affect the point spread in games on which he or associates had wagered. The law enforcement official, who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on the condition of anonymity, said the referee was aware of the investigation and had made arrangements to surrender as early as next week to face charges.

The law enforcement official said the bets involved thousands of dollars and were made on games during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons.

Read Full News at ESPN News Service