Who needs it anyway? Player to cut finger

Australian Rules Football player Brett Backwell plans to have one of his fingers amputated in an attempt to improve his game, telling the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Tuesday that he has suffered from pain since he broke his left ring finger three years ago. Doctors had suggested fusing the bones in the finger, but he rejected the idea. “To chop a finger off, that’s a bit drastic,” Backwell said. “But I love my footy, and love playing sport, and if that’s going to help me to succeed at this level, then it’s something you’ve just got to do.”
from the usa today sports brief 14 september 2005

what the…. okay, i have heard of people being passionate about things, like my friend Derek. but this is just insane! i am passionate about working with students, but i am not sure if i am as passionate about it as brett is. sorry, to anyone who is reading this that may be dissapointed.

and in other sad news….. jeff gordon and robbie loomis have decided to part ways. while i am glad that it was over good terms and that robbie has decided to devote more time to family. i am sad to see this happen, because i think they made a great team despite having a disappointing end of the “regular season” this year. but i am happy that they chose to do it now so that way jeff and steve letarte can get used to one another in this new setting. but at least they have worked together for the past 10 years and know one another pretty well. this wil give them an opportunity to get things going for next year. when jeff does the drive for five!