But if he'd hung back, would he have managed on an intensely hot and humid day to set a new Olympic record?

WSJ: Menu

Mark Harpe, a 38-year-old architectural intern in Houston, says he closed his account this year after the firm refused to credit him for promised airline miles, got his e-mail address wrong despite repeated calls and served him with sales reps so clueless he hung up on some and called back.

FORBES: After the Bubble

During that time he hung out with friends and family and enjoyed being back on Cape Cod.

NPR: Cape Cod Soldier Dies in Iraq

He hugged the trophy and hung his head, appearing to fight back tears as members of the crowd at the MGM Grand shouted "Luke!"

NPR: No One More Surprised Than Luke Bryan By ACMs Win

He cleans up after himself, criticises waste and excess, and wants to be treated like an ordinary guy, someone who hung out at a popular Damascus restaurant before he got his new title (I expect to see him back before long, the manager told me).

BBC: Syria's changing face

For a while, he hung around with Frank -- who was still on the loose -- the school never cared if he came back.

CNN: Excerpt: 'Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life'