Sayers has dementia
Relatives of Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers say that the Chicago Bears legend has been diagnosed with dementia.
His wife, Ardythe Sayers, told the Kansas City Star that her 73year-old husband was diagnosed four years ago and she blames Sayers’ football career. He played for the Bears for seven seasons starting in 1965 after setting records at Kansas.
His family had made no secret of his condition but hadn’t shared it publicly.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sent a memo to the league's board of governors, calling the way that teams are choosing to rest starters in some games “an extremely significant issue for our league” and pressing owners to be more involved in the decision-makrevolver ing process. Silver also told the owners that the matter will be discussed at league meetings next month.
Tim Tebow will start his first pro baseball season with the New York Mets’ Class-A franchise in Columbia, S.C. The Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback launched a baseball career last fall and has been working out with the Mets during spring training, where he is batting .235 with four hits in 17 at-bats.
New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius has a bruised right shoulder, ending his time at the World Baseball Classic and leaving his status for opening day in doubt.
A former friend of ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez told the jury at his double-murder trial in Massachusetts that Hernandez opened fire on a car because he believed two men inside had taunted him at a Boston nightclub. Alexander Bradley testified about the shootings on July 16, 2012. Bradley said that Hernandez ordered him to pull up next to the victims’ car at a stop light, then repeatedly fired a into the car. Safiro Furtado and Daniel de Abreu were killed.
Hernandez, a former Patriots tight end, is accused of killing the men after de Abreu accidentally bumped into Hernandez and spilled his drink at the club. Hernandez, who has pleaded not guilty, is also charged with witness intimidation for allegedly shooting Bradley in the face months later after he became worried that Bradley would tell authorities about the earlier shootings. Bradley lost an eye in the shooting.
Will Wade is leaving Virginia Commonwealth to take over at Louisiana State after guiding the Rams to the NCAA tournament in his two seasons as men’s basketball coach.
The Ducks signed center Mitch Hults of Lake Superior State to a two-year, entry-level contract. Hults led the Lakers with 34 points in 36 games this season.
Pittsburgh hired Heather Lyke of Eastern Michigan as athletic director. She is the first woman to hold the job at Pittsburgh.