Former Raider great Stabler dies
Associated Press
Ken Stabler, who led the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl victory and was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1974, has died as a result of complications from colon cancer. He was 69.
His family announced his death on Stabler’s Facebook page Thursday. The statement said Stabler “passed peacefully” on Wednesday while surrounded by family, including his three daughters and longtime partner, who wasn’t named. Raiders owner Mark Davis said the team, which was informed by the family, was “deeply saddened by the passing of the great Ken Stabler.”
“He was a cherished member of the Raider family and personified what it means to be a Raider,” Davis said in a statement. “He wore the silver and black with pride and poise and will continue to live in the hearts of Raider fans everywhere. Our sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to Kenny’s family.”
The family’s statement said he was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in February.
USA women on top of rankings
ZURICH (AP) — The United States has returned to the top of the FIFA women’s rankings after winning the World Cup.
The U.S. toppled Germany after beating Japan 5-2 in Sunday’s final in Vancouver to collect the top prize in women’s soccer for the first time in 16 years.
Germany finished fourth in Canada after losing to England in the third-place game.
England moved up a place to fifth, behind France and Japan, after its best Women’s World Cup showing.
9th career win for Crafton
SPARTA, Ky. (AP) — Matt Crafton earned his ninth career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory Thursday at Kentucky Speedway in a race stopped early because of a wreck that damaged the catch fence.
NASCAR called the race with five laps to go after Ben Kennedy’s truck clipped and bent portions of the catch fence in Turn 1. Kennedy’s truck lifted off the ground and slid on top of the SAFER barrier after making contact with the trucks of David Gilliland and John Wes Townley.
Kennedy is the 23-year-old son of International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa France Kennedy and great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. He was evaluated and released from the infield care center shortly after the accident. No fans were injured, NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said.
Hilliard golfer withs Ohio Am
ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Joo-Young Lee of Hilliard birdied the first playoff hole to beat Dublin’s Jared Howard and win the 109th Ohio Amateur Championship at the Zanesville Golf Club on Friday.
Lee trailed Howard and three other co-leaders by four strokes entering the final round but shot a 4-under-par 68 to finish with a 4-under total of 284.
Howard made a 6-foot par putt on the 18th to complete an even-par 72 round. In the playoff on the par-3 18th, he left his first shot about 25 feet to the right of the pin while Lee’s shot landed 3 feet above the hole.
After missed Howard missed two putts for par, Lee made his first attempt.
Clark Engle of Springfield finished third, one shot back.
NASCAR qualifying rained out
SPARTA, Ky. (AP) — Rain returned to Kentucky Speedway on Friday and canceled qualifying for the Sprint Cup and Xfinity series races.
Starting grids have been set by the rule book, with Kyle Larson on the pole beside Brad Keselowski for Saturday night’s 400-mile Cup race at the 1.5-mile track. Larson posted the fastest practice speed of 182.537 mph.
J.J. Yeley’s top speed of 174.967 mph in Thursday’s final practice earned the pole for Friday night’s 300-mile Xfinity race.
Two days of showers canceled tests of a new track-specific rules package for Cup teams. Practice and qualifying for Thursday’s Camping World Truck Series race were also washed out.
Cup drivers got on the track Friday morning for more than an hour before showers halted practice. Another practice is scheduled this afternoon.
