Anna Soderstrom

Anna Soderstrom is due to give birth in the autumn, according to the Daily Mail. Jones’s relationship with Miss Soderstrom soured his 35-year “open” marriage to Alison Telfer, a London biochemist. She reportedly threw the comedian out of their family home after hearing of his attachment to the student, even though the couple had agreed that would be allowed to see other people.

A friend of his estranged wife said: “He doesn’t seem fazed by it, but everyone else is. If anything it’s a classic case of male pride taking over. Getting a young filly pregnant shows there’s life in the old dog yet,” they told the Daily Mail newspaper. “Alison and the kids are a different proposition. For them it’s devastating and humiliating. They’ll never speak about it because they’ve got far too much dignity for that.”

Jones met 26-year-old Soderstrom at a book signing in 2004 at Oxford University where she was an undergraduate - and he subsequently split from Telfer, who he married in 1970. But the news of the baby, which is due in the autumn (09), hasn't been welcomed by everyone - Jones' children are upset at the announcement, according to the Daily Telegraph newspaper. A source tells the publication, "He doesn't seem fazed by it, but everyone else is. If anything it's a classic case of male pride taking over. Getting a young filly (girl) pregnant shows there's life in the old dog yet.

Jayson Williams

Yes, it's the Jayson Williams you're thinking of. The former New Jersey Net was arrested and hospitalized this morning after tearing up a hotel room and acting "violent" and "suicidal." So he's not doing well? Police were called to a Manhattan hotel at 4:00 a.m. after Williams trashed his room and then barricaded himself inside.

Oh and here's a fun fact that you may have forgotten about—Williams never actually served time for accidentally shooting his limo driver and then trying to cover up it. Neat, huh? (He still faces a re-trial on manslaughter and the obstruction charges, but the shooting took place over seven years ago. So no rush!) You would think that not going to prison even though you killed a guy would leave a man pretty chipper, but I guess the heart works in mysterious ways.

Jayson Williams was Tasered by police Monday morning in his Manhattan hotel room after the troubled former hoopster became suicidal and violent, police sources said. Williams, a charismatic New Jersey Nets center who stood trial for shooting his chauffeur, was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, sources said. Police were called to the Hilton Battery Park City at 4 a.m. after hotel officials described a disturbance in Williams' room, the sources said. An aggressive Williams, 41, trashed his room, forcing Emergency Service Unit officers to subdue the former All-Star with a Taser gun, sources said.

NASCAR crash

NASCAR crash investigators will examine the major wrecks to determine if any change or improvements to the sport's safety plan should be implemented. It was the third time in Talladega track history the retaining fence played a role in a major crash here. In 1987, Bobby Allison hit the fence coming out of the tri-oval near the start-finish line in an incident that led to the institution of restrictor plates for superspeedway cars. And in 1993, Neil Bonnett hit the fence coming through the tri-oval.

Al Muskewitz covers golf and Jacksonville State University sports teams for The Anniston Star. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA."I don't want to wreck anyone, but to say a no-contact sport is fun, I don't buy that. These guys want to see contact just as much as I want to give it and take it."

"The retaining fence did its job," NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said. "Safety is our No. 1 priority, and always will be. We have certainly made strides in that area, but the job is never done. We've got a research and development center and they won it every day." The retaining fence that caught Edwards' car kept the vehicle from careening into the seating area. Another portion of the fence had to be repaired during a caution period following a 14-car wreck early in the race.