Chris George

U.S. officials confirmed that 37-year-old Chris George, of the Westport, Conn.-based Save the Children Federation, was taken by unknown kidnapers in Israel's occupied Gaza Strip. The kidnapers apparently demanded Israel release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for his freedom, Arab reports in Jerusalem said. Several hours after George's disappearance, the office of the Red Cross in Gaza received a ransom demand, Palestinian reports said. Some reports said it came in the form of a written letter in which the kidnapers demanded Israel release Palestinian detainees.

BUT SERIOUSLY FOLKS... LeBron James, on the jokes in his Nike commercial: "Well, none of them was jokes. " OK, ASIDE FROM THAT... Miami's Chris Bosh, on the pressure the Heat faces: "We know a lot of people are really putting us under the microscope.... We knew it was going to be that way. Dealing with it is another thing. But at the end of the day, it's not going anywhere. It's going to be here. " GOOD LUCK Denver Coach George Karl, on his mission: "Try to convince Melo [Carmelo Anthony]

The Bush Administration, brushing aside a storm of criticism from Israel and its American supporters, on Friday defended its decision to talk to the deputy chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization and vowed to continue the six-month-old U.S.-PLO dialogue. State Department spokeswoman Margaret Tutwiler said Robert H. Pelletreau Jr., the U.S. ambassador to Tunisia, has held unannounced meetings recently with a number of PLO officials in addition to Yasser Arafat's deputy, Salah Khalaf.

The Bush Administration, brushing aside a storm of criticism from Israel and its American supporters, on Friday defended its decision to talk to the deputy chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization and vowed to continue the six-month-old U.S.-PLO dialogue. State Department spokeswoman Margaret Tutwiler said Robert H. Pelletreau Jr., the U.S. ambassador to Tunisia, has held unannounced meetings recently with a number of PLO officials in addition to Yasser Arafat's deputy, Salah Khalaf.

BUT SERIOUSLY FOLKS... LeBron James, on the jokes in his Nike commercial: "Well, none of them was jokes. " OK, ASIDE FROM THAT... Miami's Chris Bosh, on the pressure the Heat faces: "We know a lot of people are really putting us under the microscope.... We knew it was going to be that way. Dealing with it is another thing. But at the end of the day, it's not going anywhere. It's going to be here. " GOOD LUCK Denver Coach George Karl, on his mission: "Try to convince Melo [Carmelo Anthony]

Israeli authorities questioned U.S. relief worker Chris George about his 29-hour abduction in the occupied Gaza Strip, finding it strange that he refused to say where he was held or to give a description of two of his kidnapers. George, 35, co-director of the Save the Children Foundation, was seized by gunmen Thursday and released unharmed Friday. "I was released on condition that I pass a letter along to President George Bush" urging Washington to end its support for Israel, he said.

El Modena High School's Laurie McRae has been named the Century League's Most Valuable Player by the league's softball coaches. Other members of the coaches' teams were: FIRST TEAM--Cheryl Tomlinson, Deana Kurose and Suzie Barnett of Villa Park; Celest Collins and Jennifer Jillson of Canyon; Stephany Fleischaker and Tracy Johnson of Foothill; Kristy Jones and Shelly Montgomery of El Modena; Debbie Kerr of Orange and Deirdre Lyles of Santa Ana.

Christian Fletcher of San Clemente earned the largest first-place prize in surfing history Sunday by winning the $100,000 Body Glove Surf Bout at Camp Pendleton's Lower Trestles. Fletcher, 19, won $31,725 by defeating North Hollywood's Joey Jenkins, Cardiff's Colin Smith (24th seed) and San Clemente's Noah Budroe (seventh seed) in the final. Top-seeded Dino Andino of San Clemente finished fifth, maintaining his overall ratings lead with three tournaments remaining on the 11-city Bud Light U.S.

Esteban Loaiza must be having a hard time avoiding thoughts of the All-Star game. After all, it's in his home park, and he's tied for the major league lead in victories. Loaiza (11-2) gave up an unearned run and six hits in eight innings to match a career high in victories, and the Chicago White Sox defeated the Minnesota Twins, 2-1, Tuesday night at Minneapolis. Loaiza lowered his earned-run average to 1.

Israeli soldiers on Wednesday shot and killed the main suspect in last week's abduction of an American aid worker. The suspect, Mohammed Ahmed abu Nasser, was slain in an encounter with Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip, a military spokesman said. Military sources said that Israeli troops ambushed Abu Nasser near the Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya. Israel Television said that Abu Nasser had commandeered a taxi and that troops opened fire when he refused to stop at a military roadblock.

U.S. officials confirmed that 37-year-old Chris George, of the Westport, Conn.-based Save the Children Federation, was taken by unknown kidnapers in Israel's occupied Gaza Strip. The kidnapers apparently demanded Israel release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for his freedom, Arab reports in Jerusalem said. Several hours after George's disappearance, the office of the Red Cross in Gaza received a ransom demand, Palestinian reports said. Some reports said it came in the form of a written letter in which the kidnapers demanded Israel release Palestinian detainees.

Too bad the Kansas City Royals have to go on the road. Then again, they're playing great in every ballpark. Joe Randa hit a go-ahead double in the sixth inning and the Royals beat the Minnesota Twins, 2-1, at Kansas City, Mo., Thursday to become the first team since 1987 to win its first 10 home games. "This is awesome. It's really something to be proud of," said Chris George, who beat the Twins' Brad Radke. "I wouldn't say we feel invincible, but certainly confident."

Third-seeded Jewel Peterson of USC, who is ranked 26th in the nation, defeated Michelle Gough of Arizona, 6-4, 6-3, to win the singles title at the ITA Southern California Women's Tennis Championships Monday at UC Irvine. Pepperdine's Ipek Senoglu and Paolo Palencia won the doubles title with an 8-4 victory over Arizona's Lindsay Blau and Michelle Gough. Senoglu and Palencia are the top-ranked doubles team in the country.