Fast Break

FOOTBALL

‘Idiot kicker’ returns to Canada

Mike Vanderjagt’s kicking career has come full circle.

The former Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys player who was the most accurate in NFL history and was once called an “idiot kicker” by Peyton Manning for comments he made on Canadian TV took part in the first Toronto Argonauts practice of the season Sunday at Mississauga, Ontario.

The day before, he signed with the team that helped propel him to stardom in 1996.

“Toronto was the front-runner, regardless of what NFL team called,” said Vanderjagt, who won back-to-back Grey Cup championships in his only two full CFL seasons. “I really wanted to come to Toronto, more than anything else.”

In 2002 Vanderjagt lashed out at head coach Tony Dungy and quarterback Peyton Manning following a 41-0 playoff loss to the New York Jets.

Manning fired back at Vanderjagt, calling him “our idiot kicker who got liquored up and ran his mouth off a lot.”

ROWING

Cougars finish eighth in nation

The Washington State women’s rowing team capped its 2008 season with an eighth-place finish at the 2008 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships on Sunday at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center in Gold River, Calif.

The eighth-place finish is the second-highest in school history. The Cougars were fourth in 2006.

The Cougars had two second-place boats on Sunday, placing second in the Petite Final of Varsity 4s and the Petite Final of the second Varsity 8. WSU Varsity 8 boat finished third in its Petite Final.

Brown won the team competition, with the University of Washington second. The Huskies won the Varsity 4 Grand Final.

Also on Lake Natoma, Western Washington won its fourth consecutive Division II team championship. Amelia Whitcomb of Ferris and Samantha Marikis of Republic both row on the Vikings’ winning Varsity 8.

Ultimate fighting

MMA action figures on way

The burgeoning sport of mixed martial arts has muscled its way into toy stores, thanks to a Canadian company.

Round 5, co-owned by brothers Damon and Barron Lau along with UFC heavyweight champion Randy (The Natural) Couture, launched its first line of MMA action figures four weeks ago in 2,500 stores across North America. The figures are also headed to the United Kingdom and Japan.

The first four figures, which retail for a suggested price of $16.99 each, are Couture, UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton (Rampage) Jackson, former UFC welterweight title-holder Matt Hughes and former UFC light-heavyweight champion Tito (The Huntington Beach Bad Boy) Ortiz.