In times of war and struggle, sports can offer a rare opportunity for constructive engagement between enemies. But in Iraq, athletes and athletic officials are systematically being kidnapped, tortured and even killed by the insurgency in an effort to suppress any of sport's positive effects. The situation is so dangerous that the Iraqi national soccer team is afraid to return home, while the president of the Iraqi Olympic Committee has been kidnapped and is feared dead. In a story that won't be seen anywhere else, Real Sports correspondent Bernard Goldberg travels to the Middle East to shed light on this disturbing reality.
When former Dallas Cowboys fullback Ron Springs (the father of current Washington Redskins cornerback Shawn Springs) needed a kidney transplant to help save his life, an unlikely donor stepped up. In February 2007, Everson Walls, Springs' former Cowboys teammate, donated his kidney to Springs. With this gift, Walls displayed uncommon friendship and love. Correspondent Frank Deford reports on this Real Sports/Sports Illustrated story.
Steve Clarkson is one of the biggest names in football who most people have never heard of. A former standout quarterback at San Jose State, Clarkson, 45, failed to make an impact in the NFL as a player, yet his effect on today's collegiate and professional games is astounding. After starting a private quarterback coaching business 20 years ago, Clarkson's tutelage has produced the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Leinart, Jimmy Clausen and almost 200 other NFL and Division I collegiate signal callers. He's so sought-after that even Hall of Fame legend Joe Montana enlisted Clarkson's help for his two sons. Correspondent Jon Frankel reports.
After 12 highly successful seasons, Joe Torre is out as manager of the New York Yankees. Last week, the news that Torre would not return as skipper of the Bronx Bombers in 2008 ignited a New York media firestorm that has yet to cool off. In his first TV interview since the story broke, Torre sits down with HBO's Bob Costas for an exclusive one-on-one discussion.
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