A North Carolina community is rallying around a high school senior with down syndrome who has just been told he can no longer be a full member of his high school's football team. Brett Bowden has been the inspirational leader of the Hobbton High School team, dressing in pads with the team he loves, but rarely playing. Now, because of state rules, the 19-year-old senior has been told he's too old to fully suit up this season. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association says that Brett's not kicked off the team, and that he can still wear the jersey and take part in pre-and-post-game activities. He just can't dress in full pads. But Brett's friends and family are saying this age limit rule is going to crush him. There is now a Facebook page called "Let Brett Bowden Play," and as of this morning, over 45,000 people have "Liked" the page.
It was an emotional homecoming at a minor league baseball game when a pair of 4-year-old twin girls were surprised by their daddy, who had just come home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Little Gracie and Ruby Weichman thought they had won a contest to play on the field between innings at a Spokane Indians game, but instead, they got a much more special gift... a surprise from their father! In tears, Sgt. Chris Weichman dropped to his knees and embraced his girls, who sprinted across the field to hug their dad. They had no idea that he had just come home, finished with his 3rd tour of duty in Afghanistan. The crowd in attendance rose to its feet for an emotional standing ovation.
Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has cracked the Top 10! No, not in boxing... in singing! His hit single "Sometimes When We Touch" has just moved to number seven on the secondary adult contemporary charts. Pacquiao recorded that song in his workout clothes while he was training for a fight. The boxing champ says he sings to his children every night.
Hope Solo is taking it all off! The goalie and most well-known player from this summer's inspirational US Women's World Cup soccer team will be appearing in ESPN The Magazine's annual "Body Issue." The special issue is billed as a celebration of the athletic physique... but it's basically a bunch of really buff athletes, both male and female, posing nude (tastefully!). Solo sent out this Tweet this week: "Being naked outside is very liberating."
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