31.   Still, the Mavericks missed Nash, who recently played in his first All-Star game and skipped practice Tuesday and Wednesday while trying to recover from the flu.

32.   Switzer said he was informed that it was the first time Aikman had willingly skipped practice.

33.   The coach said that Kiernan Speight and one other player whom he did not identify had asked to skip practice Monday and Tuesday.

34.   The road is little fun in the NHL, and yesterday was a good day to skip practice, Stars players said loudly throughout the trip.

35.   The three boys had skipped practice today for a chance at getting a McGwire home run ball.

36.   The team skipped batting practice and met with hitting instructor Reggie Smith before the game.

37.   They have skipped practice, cursed out their coach, blamed everyone but themselves for truly rotten seasons.

38.   They think nothing of skipping practices, ignoring dress codes, challenging and cursing their coaches.

39.   They were beaten up, so much so that they often skipped practice to rest their weary bodies.

40.   Wesley has regularly skipped practice sessions and doubtless will rest Sunday.