THE great American novelist John Updike, though not a sportswriter, did at times indulge his nation’s favourite pasttime. And when he did, he hit a home run.

Senator Edward Kennedy’s body was taken on the first leg of its final journey, first past landmark after landmark bearing his family’s famous name and then to his murdered brother’s presidential library where mourners lined up by the thousands to bid farewell to him.

YANKEE STADIUM, which closed last Saturday night, opened for business on April 18, 1923 with a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

THE NEW York Yankees’ new stadium has been cleansed of possible infection by arch-rivals the Boston Red Sox, it emerged yesterday.

YOU’RE aware that they’re picking presidential candidates in America at the moment.

Two finals, three semi-finals and an awful lot of heartache; the near misses are scratched into the soul of every Munster supporter. Yet a dip into the sporting archives reveals that those who follow the advice of ancient Scottish king Robert The Bruce, to try, try and try again if at first they do not succeed, are very often rewarded. Eventually. SIMON LEWIS investigates.

ARNOLD Schwarzenegger’s wife broke her foot cheering her favourite baseball team to victory.

Film-making siblings Peter and Bobby Farrelly are devastated they can't film their upcoming baseball movie Fever Pitch in Boston after being ordered to film it in Toronto, Canada.