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In Delaware, a No-Bull Endeavor for Charity

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Times Staff Writer

The Running of the Bulls is back.

Only this time, it’s on a beach in Delaware, not on the streets of Pamplona, Spain. And there’s only one “bull” -- two people in a bull costume.

The safe version of the Running of the Bulls apparently has been going on in Dewey Beach, Del., for 10 years, and organizers have raised about $5,000 to benefit local police and lifeguards, according to television station KBOC.

One half of the bull, Garrett Walsh, told the station of he and his partner’s philosophy: “You try to gore them like any good bull would do ... but this is just pretend.”

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Trivia time: Who was the first woman to pole-vault 15 feet?

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Florida flop: How could a college team with receiver Cris Collinsworth go through an entire season without a victory?

Incredibly, and memorably, it happened to the Florida Gators in 1979.

Even though first-year coach Charley Pell attempted to run a tight ship, the effort resulted in an 0-11-1 season.

An early attempt at discipline was aimed at Collinsworth and teammate Dock Luckie when they arrived two minutes late for a meeting.

“Everyone else got steak and potatoes,” Luckie told Joey Johnston of the Tampa Tribune. “We got hot dogs and beans -- with ice on top -- all week. The coaches were waking us up at 4 a.m. to run the stadium steps.”

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Chronicle of Roddick: The Indianapolis Star caught up with struggling Andy Roddick, who has been in California working with his brother, John, and tennis legend Jimmy Connors.

Roddick has not advanced past the fourth round of a Grand Slam event since reaching the Wimbledon final in 2005. His post-match sessions with reporters have run the gamut from testy to defensive to downright comical.

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“I have to take all the concern about my game as a backhanded compliment,” he told the newspaper. “For a while, I’ve been the face of American tennis, so I’ve developed a thick skin. The media buildup has helped me financially, so I have to accept you’re going to go through bad spells.”

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Add Roddick: His former coaches could form a dinner club, albeit one seated at a small table.

One of them, Brad Gilbert, is expected to be officially hired this week by the Lawn Tennis Assn. of Britain to work with up-and-coming Andy Murray and other British players.

Gilbert’s coaching mantra was spelled out in his 2004 book, “I’ve Got Your Back.”

“Show me a coach who doesn’t listen -- really listen -- and I’ll show you a probable loser,” he wrote.

“Show me a coach who domineers and demeans, who manages through fear, and I’ll show you an accident waiting to happen.”

We can’t wait for the sequel with a chapter on dealing with British tabloids.

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Trivia answer: Emma George in 1998.

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And finally: Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, on Brazil’s remaining No. 1 in the world soccer rankings despite finishing out of the money in the World Cup:

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“Did FIFA borrow the BCS computers?”

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