IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Gay, Felix win Jesse Owens Award as top US athletes

NEW YORK: World champions Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix were named winners of the 2007 Jesse Owens Award on Monday as the sport's top US athletes, USA Track & Field (USATF) announced.

Gay sprinted to 100 and 200 meters world titles and led the US to the 4x100 meters relay gold at the IAAF championships in Osaka, Japan. He also ran the second-fastest 200 meters of all time, 19.62 seconds, at the American championships, where he won the sprint double.

"This (award) is the greatest honor of my career," the 25-year-old Gay said in a statement. "Jesse Owens is a hero of mine for many reasons, and to have my name linked with his, and with the great athletes who have been honored before me, is humbling."

Felix, 21, capped an unbeaten 200 metres season by taking the world title. She also played key roles in US victories in the 4x100 and 4x400 meters relays at Osaka.

Vick starts dogfighting jail time early

ATLANTA: NFL star Michael Vick turned himself in on Monday to begin serving prison time on dogfighting conspiracy charges, a US Marshal said, although he is not due to be sentenced until December 10.

Vick, one of the most famous players in the National Football League, pleaded guilty to charges that he, along with three other men, took part in an illegal dog fighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels."

His indictment in July shocked US sports fans in part because it represented a spectacular fall from grace for one of the most popular players in the National Football League, who had signed a 10-year $130 million contract.

Vick faces a maximum of five years in prison on the charges, although prosecutors have requested a 12 to 18-month sentence under terms of the plea deal he reached in August.

Carr steps down at University of Michigan

NEW YORK: Lloyd Carr said Monday he was stepping down as University of Michigan coach after five Big Ten titles and one national championship at college football's most successful program.

The 62-year-old Carr compiled a 121-40 record during his 1995-2007 tenure and ranks seventh among active college coaches with a .752 winning percentage.

Carr led the Wolverines to the 1997 national championship with a 21-16 victory over Washington State in the 1998 Rose Bowl.

He will become an associate athletics director at the Ann Arbor school.

Michigan has claimed 11 national titles and won more games than any other major college program.

Report: Boston's Lowell poised to sign new deal

BOSTON: World Series Most Valuable Player Mike Lowell is on the verge of signing a new deal with the Boston Red Sox, local media reported on Monday.

The free-agent third baseman has agreed in principle to a three-year contract worth between $36 million and $38 million, said the reports.

Lowell, 33, batted .400 during Boston's sweep of the World Series against the Colorado Rockies after a strong regular season in which he hit .324 with 21 homers and 120 RBIs.

White Sox acquire Cabrera in exchange for Garland

CHICAGO: The Chicago White Sox have acquired Gold Glove-winning shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for pitcher Jon Garland, the clubs announced on Monday.

Cabrera, 33, batted .301 with eight homers and 86 RBIs last season. He also scored 101 runs and stole 20 bases.

The Colombian, who last season earned his second award as leading fielder among shortstops, also stroked a career-best 192 hits in 2007.

Hall of Fame center Ringo dies

NEW YORK: Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Ringo, a center who was a stalwart on the offensive line for Vince Lombardi's title-winning Green Bay Packers, died on Monday.

Ringo, a 15-year NFL veteran who was two days shy of his 76th birthday, died after a short illness, Hall of Fame President Steve Perry said in a statement.

The Packers selected Ringo out of Syracuse in the seventh round of the 1953 draft. He played for Green Bay from 1953 to 1963 and the Philadelphia Eagles from 1964-67.

Ringo played in a then-record 182 consecutive games from 1954 to 1967. He earned All-NFL acclaim seven times, was voted to 10 Pro Bowls, and was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1960s.

He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

(China Daily 11/21/2007 page23)