"harlie Blackmon spent his life earning attention, but never like this. After spending three years in the minor leagues, a bad break created good fortune, allowing the Rockies' outfielder to finish his degree at Georgia Tech. As the Rockies were finishing up their season, Blackmon, sidelined with a fractured left foot, returned to the Atlanta and signed up for a 16-hour course load.

"I was the old guy on campus with the pea green scooter (for his foot)," Blackmon said Thursday. "It was a little different.""