obit Page 5 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
SuperSonics icon Donald "Slick" Watts dies at age 73
Seattle SuperSonics legend Donald "Slick" Watts died Saturday at age 73, according to his son, Donald Jr.,The elder Watts had a stroke in 2021 and had struggled with his health in recent years.,"You did so much for so many of us. It was an honor to call you pops," said Watts Jr., a former college pl...
Former Arkansas, NBA C Oliver Miller dies at 54
Oliver Miller, who starred at center for Arkansas ahead of a lengthy NBA career, died at age 54, the National Basketball Retired Players Association announced on Wednesday.,No cause of death was stated.,<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The basketball community has lost a Lege...
Former Bucks player, part-owner Junior Bridgeman dies at 71
Former college star, NBA player and Milwaukee Bucks part-owner Junior Bridgeman collapsed and died on Tuesday. He was 71.,Bridgeman had a medical emergency while at a luncheon at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Ky. He reportedly told a reporter he thought he was having a heart attack. First resp...
Guardians owner Larry Dolan dies at 94
Cleveland Guardians owner Lawrence J. "Larry" Dolan died at age 94, the club said Monday.,Guardians senior vice president for public affairs Bob DiBiasio said in a statement that Dolan passed on Sunday night. A cause of death was not given.,"We are saddened by the loss of our dad, but lucky to have ...
Former All-Star pitcher Eddie Fisher dies at 88
Former All-Star knuckleballer Eddie Fisher died after a brief illness. He was 88.,The right-handed Fisher died on Monday in Altus, Okla.,Fisher pitched 15 seasons (1959-73) with six teams and went 85-70 with a 3.41 ERA and 82 saves in 690 games (63 starts).,His best season came in 1965 for the Chica...
Former Pirates P Scott Sauerbeck dies
Former Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Scott Sauerbeck died, the team announced on Thursday. He was 53.,While the team did not provide details on Sauerbeck's passing, Pittsburgh Baseball Now said he suffered a fatal heart attack in his Florida home on Tuesday.,"The Pirates family mourns the passing o...
Figure skating legend Dick Button dies at 95
Dick Button, an Olympic champion figure skater who became one of the voices of the sport for decades, died Thursday at age 95 in North Salem, N.Y., his daughter told The Washington Post.,Button became the first U.S. skater and youngest American man to capture Olympic gold in 1948 at age 18, then suc...
Man of Interest: Lenny Randle dies at 75
Former infielder Lenny Randle, who played 12 major league seasons, died Sunday. He was 75.,Randle died at his home in Murrieta, Calif., according to reports.,<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Wild Things are saddened to learn of the passing of Lenny Randle, a 12-year majo...
Beloved sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel dies at 78
Greg Gumbel, the longtime CBS Sports anchor and play-by-play announcer most associated with the network's NCAA Tournament coverage, has died, his family confirmed Friday. He was 78.,"(Gumbel) passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer," wife Marcy Gumbel and...
Al 'The Bull' Ferrara dies at 84
Former outfielder Al "The Bull" Ferrara died Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced. He was 84.,Ferrara was part of Dodgers' world championship teams in 1963 and 1965 and also hit 27 total homers over two-plus seasons with the San Diego Padres from 1969-71.,<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p la...
Famed USC coach John Robinson dies at 89
John Robinson, one of Southern California's most successful and famous football coaches, died Monday at the age of 89, the school announced.,He died in Baton Rouge, La., from complications stemming from pneumonia.,Robinson compiled a 104-35-4 record over two separate tenures as head football coach a...
South Florida coach Amir Abdur-Rahim dies at 43
South Florida coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died Thursday due to complications during a medical procedure, the school announced. He was 43.,Abdur-Rahim underwent the procedure at a Tampa-area hospital. He was viewed as a rising star in college basketball circles after going 25-8 during the 2023-24 campaign...
Legendary Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela dies at 63
Fernando Valenzuela, who sparked a fan phenomenon known as Fernandomania as a rookie and evolved into a legendary Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, died Tuesday evening at age 63.,The Dodgers announced Valenzuela died in a Los Angeles hospital but gave no details. Valenzuela, who won one Cy Young Award a...
Abdul Salaam, part of Jets' NY Sack Exchange, dies at 71
Abdul Salaam, a member of the Jets' famed "New York Sack Exchange" in the 1980s, has died at the age of 71.,Salaam battled diabetes and other health issues, his widow, Debbie, confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday.,Salaam recorded 21 sacks in 97 career games (85 starts) for the Jets from 1976-83.,He played...
3-time U.S. Women's Open champ Susie Maxwell Berning dies at 83
Susie Maxwell Berning, a three-time U.S. Women Open champion, died this week in the Palm Springs, Calif., area at age 83, the LPGA announced Wednesday.,According to the tour, Maxwell Berning fought lung cancer for two years.,Among her 11 career victories were four major titles: the U.S. Women's Open...
Baseball legend Pete Rose dies at 83
Pete Rose, the all-time major league leader in hits and games played who was banned for life for betting on baseball, died Monday, ESPN reported. He was 83.,ESPN baseball commentator Eduardo Perez broke the news while appearing on "SportsCenter," saying he had confirmed the news with Rose's son.,The...
Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo dies of brain cancer
Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo died Monday from brain cancer, the NBA announced. He was 58. ,Known for both his shot-blocking and finger-wagging in addition to a pronounced gravelly voice, Mutombo provided a dominating presence at Georgetown before playing for six NBA teams. ,The 7-foot-2 center also...
Hall of Famer, Lions legend Joe Schmidt dies at 92
Pro Football Hall of Fame middle linebacker Joe Schmidt has died. He was 92.,Schmidt's family said the Detroit Lions' legend died Wednesday. No cause of death was revealed.,Schmidt was a 10-time Pro Bowler who helped the Lions win NFL championships in 1953 and 1957. The only linebackers with more Pr...
Golf legend Chi Chi Rodriguez dies at 88
Juan "Chi Chi" Rodriguez, known as much for his on-course showmanship as for the talent that led to his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame, died on Thursday at age 88 in Clearwater, Fla.,Rodriguez earned eight victories on the PGA Tour, starting with the 1963 Denver Open Invitational and end...
Billy Bean, among first pro athletes to come out, dies at 60
Billy Bean, one of the first athletes in American team sports to come out as gay, died Tuesday, 11 months after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. He was 60.,An outfielder and first baseman who played in parts of six MLB seasons, Bean most recently served as the league's senior vice presid...