LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Levi LaVallee has been injured; LaVallee is hospitalized in stable condition following practices for Red Bull: New Year No Limits.

LaVallee, the snowmobile X-Games talent, was practicing for the New Year’s Eve set in San Diego. But ESPN and Red Bull, the broadcaster and organizer of the event, confirm today his injury and hospitalization today. He was expected to set a new distance jumping record on his snowmobile during the live broadcast. The current record set by Paul Thacker is 301 ½ feet.

LaVallee won the 2004 Winter X Games in HillCross, the 208 games in Snowmobile Speed and Style and won the bronze medal for best Snowmobile Trick at X Games XIV.

His status for New Years Eve remains unknown.

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VENICE (LALATE) – The bodies of Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer-Davis are believed found. Missing balloonists Richard Abruzzo, son of famed balloonist Ben Abruzzo, and Carol Rymer-Davis, died in September during a rapid descent of their balloon after a start in the Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race. Now Italian officials believe their bodies have been found in the Adriatic sea.

Fisherman found two bodies in the deep underwater early this morning along with documents believed to identify the balloonists. The bodies were found a mile from the spot in which the pair disappeared during September’s race, deep in the sea’s waters.

In September, flight director Don Cameron told news today that tracking data indicates the balloon “appears to have suffered a sudden and unexpected failure.” He claimed the balloonists fell 5300 feet, at 50 mph, to an altitude of 600 feet. At that point, they dropped off the radar.

Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer-Davis won the Gordon Bennett cup in 2004 from Thionville, France to Vannas, Sweden, but crashed in 2005. Abruzzo, 47, was from Albuquerque; Davis, 65, was from Denver.

On the Saturday of the race, the team started from Bristol, England. They disappeared Wednesday morning off the Italian coast. Italy search and rescue forces dispatched military resources at the time. Four coast guard ships, a helicopter, military planes, and a long range plane station were used to aid in the search.

Family members are en route to Italy to identify the bodies.

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Holland Reynolds (photo above) redefines the competitive spirit. Holland Reynolds’ coach Jim Tracy was diagnosed with incurable Lou Gehrig’s disease this summer. Reynolds also knew she had to cross the line to nab her school the championship title. And yet, despite complete exhaustion, Holland Reynolds pushed herself to honor her coach and advance her team.

The teen runner was in a 3.1 mile, currently holding the third place position. But at 2.5 mile mark, exhaustion set in. Exhaustion, however, did not prevent Reynolds from forgetting about her team and her coach. With two yards left, she began to lose the ability to run. In the end, she crawled to the finish line and collapsed.

After Holland woke up in an ambulance, her team was around her, wearing medals, and ready to share the news. Her effort had won the team the national championship.

Today, news is honoring Reynolds for her determination.

“By the 2 1/2 mile mark I really didn’t feel as great as I should have,” Reynolds said. “My leg started to feel really, really heavy. I was going to try and get right up behind the girl in first place, but I felt like I couldn’t run fast anymore.”

“I just kept on telling myself, ‘I need to finish and I need to cross the line,’” Reynolds said. “I don’t remember falling, but then I remember crawling across the line.”

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LONDON (LALATE) – Zulqarnain Haider, Pakistan’s wicketkeeper, remains missing today; Zulqarnain Haider has not been seen for over a day, and now his family and team are concerned.

After Zulqarnain Haider was first reported missing in Dubai, police were deployed to Lahore to protect Haider’s family. Senior Superintendent of Police in Pakistan Rana Faisal tells British news today that police security was immediately dispatched to protect Haider’s family. They remain in Lahore. Police would not confirm why they believe the additional security was needed in Pakistan. The family confirms they do not know where Haider is. They say Haider has not contacted them.

Pakistan Cricket Board media spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said today that Haider’s passport was revoked. Yet Sarwar would not indicate if the revocation was to protect Sarwar or to prevent his own possible international travel. Sarwar did confirm that the matter had been assigned to the Anti-Corruption Unit for the ICC. “Haider had taken away his passport from the team management on Sunday night and we have reported the matter of him missing to the Dubai Police.”

Faisal is concerned about threats against Haider’s residence and family.”We have deployed a dozen police officials at Haider’s residence, so that they can be guarded properly if there is any threat”.

The concerns stemmed from a Haider-sent text message over the weekend, a message Haider later added to his Faecbook page. “[I'm] leaving Pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game.” Upon news that his wicketkeeper had gone missing, team manager Intikhab Alam had no further detail.

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AMSTERDAM (LALATE) – Toine van Peperstraten and Barbara van der Vegte heat up a new report. Toine van Peperstraten and Barbara van der Vegte allegations hits today’s De Telegraaf’s Prive. In a new report out of Amsterdam, Prive claims that Toine van Peperstraten has befriended Barbara Toine van der Vegt.

The article is entitled  “Toine Falls” and makes allegations about the “Studio Sports presenter”.

Toine van Peperstraten Pictures
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“Several sources for Prive” are the basis of the report. Barbara Toine van der Vegt is reportedly the former sports reporter for the Amsterdam station AT5 and now a director of Studio Sport. “Colleagues” are allegedly chatting about the matter, claims the publication as well.

Toine also appeared in the 2006 edition of the reality show Wie is… de Mol? The Prive article has no comment from either Peperstraten nor van der Vegte. Click here for the original article and here for the translation.

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