Paul Westphal, Hall of Fame basketball player, dies at 70
Paul Westphal, a Hall of Fame player who won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 1974 and later coached in the league and in college, has died. He was 70.
The Phoenix Suns confirmed Westphal’s death in a statement Saturday. No cause was given, although he had been diagnosed with brain cancer last August.
A five- time All- Star guard, Westphal played in the NBA from 1972-84. After winning a championship with the Celtics, he made the finals in 1976 with Phoenix.
After his playing career ended, Westphal moved into coaching. He led the Suns to the NBA Finals in 1993, and also was head coach of Seattle and Sacramento.
College football
TEXAS FIRES HERMAN, HIRES SARKISIAN » Texas abruptly fired Tom Herman after four seasons, then followed it hours later with the announcement it has hired Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian to build the Longhorns back into shape.
Sarkisian, 46, also has previous head coaching experience at Washington and Southern California.
Herman was 32-18 in his four seasons.
Pro football
FLOYD LITTLE, SYRACUSE
AND BRONCOS GREAT, DIES AT 78 » Floyd Little, the Hall of Fame running back who
starred at Syracuse and for the Denver Broncos, has died. He was 78. The Pro Football Hall of Fame said he died Friday night. No cause was given.
Little was a three-time All-American at Syracuse. From 1964- 66, he ran for 2,704 yards and 46 touchd
A five-time Pro Bowler, Little rushed for 6,323 yards and 43 touchdowns and caught 215 passes for 2,418 yards and nine TDs. He had the most all-purpose yards in pro football and ranked second only to O. J. Simpson in yards rushing over his career. BROWNS DOWN 2 MORE
COACHES » Unable to practice
most of the week due to COVID-19 cases and protocols, the Browns said that offensive line coach Bill Callahan and assistant line coach Scott Peters will both miss Sunday’s game against the Steelers as Cleveland tries to lock up its first postseason berth since 2002.
Soccer
EPL PLAYERS BREACH LOCKDOWN » Four Premier League players from Tottenham and West Ham broke English lockdown laws by gathering inside a house together over Christmas just after the government had tightened coronavirus restrictions
in response to a new transmissible variant.
The revelation came as the league was forced to call off a third game this week, with a worsening COVID-19 outbreak at Fulham leading to Sunday’s game at Burnley being postponed.
Tottenham and West Ham condemned the interhousehold mixing by their players, which was revealed by a photo posted on social media.
Tottenham trio Erik Lamela, Sergio Reguilon and Giovani Lo Celso were pictured close together with West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini and other people inside a home.