Jagr Knows He Can't Replace Gretzky, At Least Until After He Studies English

Jaromir Jagr doesn't think he's ready to replace Wayne Gretzky. Not yet, anyway.

"I would like to be the spokesman with Wayne (Gretzky) leaving," the Pittsburgh Penguin right wing said. "But first I have to learn some English.

"That's what I'm working on right now. I have to learn to speak better. You can say stuff but I'm not able to exactly explain how I feel."

Funny, he doesn't look like Nick Eddy

For five seasons, the players and coaches at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School in Rochester, Mass., believed one of their assistant football coaches had played at Notre Dame.

William Nicholas Eddy-McMullen told them he was Nick Eddy, the All-America halfback who played for the Fighting Irish in the mid-1960s, helping them to a national championship in 1966.

But then Nick Eddy called the school, which led to McMullen's resignation. "I didn't deny it. I didn't embellish it," McMullen said of his claims. "In fact, people were amazed at how modest . . . how I didn't talk about my past and my exploits and what I'd done, etcetera."

The real Nick Eddy, an insurance executive in Modesto, Calif., heard a rumor that he had divorced his wife and had a new family in Massachusetts.

Norris, race-car driver

During the week, Eric Norris coordinates stunts and directs episodes of the TV program, "Walker, Texas Ranger." On weekends, he races cars and trucks.

Norris competes for the Bobby Hamilton Racing Team and will run in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Bluebonnet 300 Oct. 15 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

The star of the TV show, Norris' father, Chuck, plans to attend the race.

St. Peter's Square circuit

There, in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, was two-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher posing with Swiss Guards. He was joined by Jean Alesi, Luca Badoer and Giancarlo Fisichella for Pope John Paul II's weekly general audience. The drivers were in Rome to raise funds as members of a celebrity soccer team.

"Thank you for your presence, and I encourage you to continue your activities to build a more just and solid society," the pope said.

Aw, who's counting?

The golf game was set: Sergio Garcia, Michael Jordan and Michael Douglas, on the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. Completing the foursome was Catherine Zeta Jones, Douglas' girlfriend, who walked along during the Dunhill Cup pro-am.

Jordan wouldn't reveal his score but said, "I had a great time, lots of fun."

"I didn't get any tips today from him (Garcia)," Douglas said. "But he has a wonderful attitude, and we had a wonderful time with him."

On this date

On Oct. 7, 1916, Georgia Tech's football team beat tiny Cumberland College 222-0. It was 126-0 at halftime.

Faster than a pouring pint

Guinness offered 10,000 pounds ($16,000) for a charity designated by the first player at the Rugby World Cup to score a try in less time than it takes to pour a pint of stout.

Australia's Tim Horan will choose his charity. He scored a try in 92 seconds. It takes 119.5 seconds to pour the perfect pint.