31.  A win would make him the first player on the PGA Senior Tour to win the same event four times.

32.  After all, he would have been the first player picked in the NBA draft had he turned pro after his sophomore and junior seasons.

33.  After finishing second at the Masters and tying for second at the U.S. Open, Els could become the first player to finish second in three consecutive majors.

34.  After the game, Jones was the first player out of the clubhouse.

35.  Also, Yao will be the first international player selected first overall, with NBA Rookie of the Year Pau Gasol taken third last year.

36.  Brees, who set numerous Big Ten and Purdue passing records, was the first player taken in the second round.

37.  Borje Salming, the great Toronto defenseman, was inducted into the Hall of Fame this fall, the first NHL player from Europe so honored.

38.  Both started as rookies after being the first player taken in their respective drafts.

39.  Burke was the first player to admit to being gay and contracting the disease and therein lies a crucial difference.

40.  But Brosius is emerging as a legitimate threat to be the first player to win two consecutive World Series MVP Awards.