‘Forgotten Four’ to be honored by football hall
The four men who smashed the race barrier in professional football in 1946 have been selected to share the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Ralph Hay Pioneer Award. The Canton, Ohio-based organization announced Thursday that Kenny Washington,
Woody Strode and Hall of Famers Bill Willis and Marion Motley — often called the Forgotten Four —will be honored during the Hall’s enshrinement week in August.
More NFL: Jacksonville center Luke Fortner signed a four-year contract worth $5.5 million . ... Baltimore signed quarterback Brett Hundley.
Gymnastics: Abby Pearson Spadafora, a former member of the Canadian national gymnastics team, wrote a public letter accusing the country’s 2016 Olympic coach of inappropriate and unwanted touching. The letter revealed the latest in a long series of allegations of sexual, emotional and physical abuse by coaches Dave and Elizabeth Brubaker, who have been banned by Gymnastics Canada. Spadafora accused the coach of climbing into bed with her and of reaching his hand underneath her shirt.
Hockey: Drake Batherson scored on a power play 43 seconds into overtime to give Canada a 4-3 comeback victory over Sweden in the world hockey quarterfinals. In the semifinals Saturday, defending champion Canada will face the Czech Republic, and the United States will play Finland. The Czech Republic beat Germany 4-1, the United States topped Switzerland 3-0, and Finland beat Slovakia 4-2.
College football: The Sugar Bowl has been moved off its usual primetime spot to noon Dec. 31 to avoid a conflict with a Monday night NFL game.
Cycling: Belgian rider Dries De Bondt won a four-man sprint to take the last flat stage of a Giro d’italia that looks like it will be decided on the last day, Sunday. Richard Carapaz, the 2019 champion and Tokyo Olympics gold medalist, maintained a threesecond lead in the overall standings from Australia’s Jai Hindley.
— Wire reports