We tend to forget that there are human beings behind statistics -- the touchdowns, the passes, catches and tackles. The victories, mistakes and losses. Then Steve McNair, once a powerful, influential football player, but also a husband, father of four and a friend, was gunned down.

As the shock of his sudden death staggered friends and fans, the details quickly became muddled and disturbing. Why was McNair shot multiple times, including twice in the head? Who was the 20-year-old woman, found dead of a single gunshot wound to the head, lying near McNair's feet in the former quarterback's rented Nashville condominium?

The Tennessee Titans' signature player and a beloved figure in the Nashville community, gone at age 36.

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Don't get nervous, Brewers fans, Ryan Braun isn't asking out of Milwaukee. Quite the opposite, actually. He's asking that general manager Doug Melvin try to pull off something like he did a year ago Tuesday when the Brewers landed CC Sabathia in a deal that helped propel them to the postseason for the first time since 1982.

The timing of Braun's request is understandable. The Brewers just dropped three of four games at Wrigley Field to the recently revived Cubs, and two of those games featured poor starts from Mike Burns and Seth McClung. Those aren't names you'll find starting games for too many playoff teams, something Braun would like the Brewers to be this season.

It's one thing to be amazed by a singular feat of athleticism. It defines a moment, sometimes a career. But Tiger Woods amazes us with multiple feats of athleticism, often several times during a tournament, and it's almost as if his last unbelievable shot outshines all the unbelievable shots that preceded it.

It's a rare quality. So rare, in fact, that I can't think of anyone -- in any sport -- who comes close to matching his success. Woods is the favorite at every major championship, no matter the state of his game. That won't change in two weeks at the British Open. In fact, yesterday's result -- a win at the AT&T National -- bodes well for Tiger at Turnberry, historically speaking, anyhow.

What was supposed to happen by the end of May, er, in February, er, in December of 2008 -- you get the idea. The sale of the Chicago Cubs from Sam Zell's Tribune Company has been dragging along at a sloth-like pace for as long as anyone cares to remember. Judging by this past weekend, though, it appears the finishing touches of the sale are coming to fruition.

Zell's group has agreed to sell the Cubs to the Ricketts family -- who made their fortune through TD Ameritrade -- for what is reported to be close to $900 million. The only remaining steps are that the sale must be approved by the rest of the baseball owners and then by a court (because the Tribune Company is operating over Chapter 11 bankruptcy).

Wanderlei Silva is one of the greatest fighters in the history of mixed martial arts, but after falling to Rich Franklin at UFC 99, he's lost five of his last six fights. Does that mean his fighting career is just about over?

Silva doesn't think so. When I talked to him over the weekend, he sounded excited about returning to the Octagon late this year, and about his work as a trainer and as an ambassador for MMA. He also refuted reports that he had a hard time making the 195-pound limit for the Franklin fight, offered a prediction on the upcoming Forrest Griffin vs. Anderson Silva fight at UFC 101, and talked about whether his old friend from their days fighting in Japan, Fedor Emelianenko, will ever fight in the UFC. Silva's comments are below.

With recent speculation swirling around a possible return to the octagon for Chuck Liddell, "the Iceman" has stepped out to diffuse the rumors, telling SI.com that he would take off the rest of 2009 before deciding on whether or not to hang the gloves up for good.

A former UFC light-heavyweight champion and one of the most popular fighters in MMA history, the 39-year-old Liddell has suffered knockout losses in three of his last five fights and has lost four of his last five overall.

In his most recent bout, Liddell suffered a first-round TKO at the hands of Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

Since free agency started on July 1, the 30 NHL teams have invested over $400 million, whether it be signing an incoming free agent, or locking up their own players to long-term contracts.

If history has shown us anything, it's that some of these deals will prove to be bargains, while others will quickly lead to buyers remorse.

Let's take a look at some of the biggest contracts signed this offseason: Rick Nash, Marian Hossa, Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Marian Gaborik, Martin Havlat and the Sedin twins.

One positive ramification of Jason Kidd ditching Dallas after 1-1/2 years in Maverick blue would have been that Mark Cuban and team management could finally have admitted that the Kidd-Devin Harris trade was an absolute mistake. But no, we're due three more years of Cuban barking in a hurricane, as Kidd has re-signed with Dallas through 2011-12. The Dallas Morning News reports the deal will pay Kidd $25 million over that span.

The Knicks had allegedly been offering $18 million over three years (the mid-level exception), which means the Mavericks paid an extra $2.3 million per season than anyone else realistically could for the 36-year-old guard. And, if you're keeping track, Harris, the now 26-year-old point guard Kidd replaced, the kid who is by most objective standards a superior player to Kidd, will be paid over the next three years a total of ... $25.3 million. Well done, Mavericks.

Stress? What stress?

Jamie McOwen, an outfielder with the Seattle Mariners' Class A affiliate High Desert Mavericks, is having too much fun to fret over at-bats. In fact, he's on one of those amazing rides that has carried him into the California League record book -- and beyond.

McOwen extended his hitting streak to 42 games Sunday with a single in the fifth inning of a 8-0 home victory over the Visalia Rawhide. A week ago Sunday, McOwen set the new California Leauge record for the longest hit streak at 36 games. McOwen may have a ways to go to reach the minor-league mark of 69 games, set in 1919, but it's not like McOwen is counting out loud.

He has plenty of help in that department.

A few months ago, it seemed like we couldn't go a week without hearing Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir talk trash about each other. Mir compared Lesnar to Junie Browning, which from Mir's perspective is about as harsh as an insult can get. Lesnar called Mir's interim heavyweight championship a "make-believe belt."

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That the Phillies calmed a lot of nerves this weekend. The reigning world champs haven't looked quite like themselves for most of the season, but they had plenty of reason to be optimistic after completing a three-game sweep of the Mets Sunday.

Philadelphia entered the series with a 13-22 record at Citizens Bank Park, but won three straight at home against a hated rival. That wasn't the only positive sign. Jimmy Rollins, who has been slumping all season, belted a leadoff homer against New York ace Johan Santana in the 2-0 sweep-clinching win and Brad Lidge, who has blown six saves this year, struck out the side to lock up the victory.

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