1.   And Irvin, whose final four years were nothing like his first eight on or off the field, was ready to let go.

2.   Ashley went without a hit in his first eight.

3.   But he has won nine straight decisions in Houston after losing his first eight.

4.   Could it be any higher than last year, when Kenyans claimed the first five places and seven of the first eight?

5.   He lost his first eight, won his last two.

6.   He rode the first eight but was excused from the last two when he came down with severe cramps.

7.   Indeed, Buckshot seemed to be working on a tradition when he crashed his car the first eight tries at qualifying in Busch races.

8.   Jackson has been in the NBA for parts of nine seasons, the first eight with eight teams.

9.   Never mind the fact that Texas ran the ball on the first eight plays of the scrimmage.

10.   Quebec jumped out of the lockout blocks by winning its first five games and seven of its first eight.