English soccer legend Charlton dies at age 86

Bobby Charlton, an English soccer icon who survived a plane crash that decimated a Manchester United team destined for greatness to become the heartbeat of his country's 1966 World Cup triumph, has died. He was 86.

The death of Charlton, who is regarded by many as the greatest ever English player, was announced in a statement from his family that was released by United, which said he died Saturday surrounded by his family.

An extravagantly gifted attacking midfielder with a ferocious shot, Charlton was the leading scorer for both United (249 goals) and England (49 goals) for more than 40 years until being overtaken by Wayne Rooney.

He was easily recognizable with his comb-over, and known globally for being a gentleman of the beautiful game.

“Sir Bobby was a hero to millions, not just in Manchester, or the United Kingdom, but wherever football is played around the world,” United said.

“He was admired as much for his sportsmanship and integrity as he was for his outstanding qualities as a footballer; Sir Bobby will always be remembered as a giant of the game.”

Alex Ferguson, who managed United from 1986-2013, said before Charlton's death that he “is the greatest Manchester United player of all time — and that's saying something.”

“Bobby Charlton is absolutely without peer in the history of the English game,” Ferguson said.

Charlton was also renowned for his humility and discipline. He was never sent off in 758 appearances for United from 195673 or 106 internationals for England from 1958-70.

Exercise rider dies at Los Alamitos Race Course

A 53-year-old exercise rider died Saturday in a training incident at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Alfredo Luevano was riding the 2-year-old filly Fly From The Fire on the backstretch during morning training hours at the Cypress track when the incident occurred, according to Los Alamitos Race Course publicity director Orlando Gutierrez.

Luevano was on the ground when assistance arrived, then taken to Long Beach Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Gutierrez said.

There have been no eyewitness accounts with any precise details on the incident, according to Gutierrez.

Fly From The Fire ran off under her power and was not injured. The quarter horse was entered in Saturday's seventh race but scratched as a precaution, Gutierrez said.

Luevano was born in Luis Moya in the Mexican state of Zacatecas. He had 33 mounts as a jockey, mostly in Mexico and Colorado.

Luevano was issued an exercise rider license by the California Horse Racing Board this year.

Luevano is survived by his wife, Marisela Martinez; their children, Lisbet, Alfredo Jr., Alex, Aldo, and Camila; six grandchildren; and his father, Augustine.

A moment of silence will be held in Luevano's memory before Sunday's race card at Los Alamitos.

“On behalf of the Los Alamitos Race Course family, we express our deepest condolences to Mr. Luevano's family members and friends,” Gutierrez said.

Fly From The Fire has run in five races in her career, all at Los Alamitos. A second-place finish in a handicap race July 30 was the only time she has finished in the money.

LA Bowl now set to be hosted by Gronk

Goodbye, Jimmy Kimmel. Hello, Rob Gronkowski to the world of bowl games.

The LA Bowl announced on Saturday that Gronkowski has signed a multiyear agreement to partner with the college football postseason game. LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk will take place at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 16 and match teams from the Mountain West and Pac-12 conferences.

“Jimmy was a fantastic host and brought a lot of elements to the game. But it's my turn now and I'm going to turn it up, that's for sure,” Gronkowski said.

Gronkowski said having this bowl game named after him is in some ways a full-circle moment. His Arizona squad defeated BYU 31-21 in the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl, which hosted the Mountain West-Pac-12 matchup before it was relocated to Los Angeles in 2021.

Rob's brother, Chris Gronkowski, caught a 24-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to give the Wildcats their first bowl victory and winning season in 10 years.

It also ended up being Rob Gronkowski's final collegiate game. He sat out the 2009 season due to back surgery before being drafted in the second round by the New England Patriots in 2010. He won four Super Bowl titles during an 11-year career — three with New England and one with Tampa Bay.

Kimmel, who hosted the first two editions of the LA Bowl, had a vomiting camel — “Jimmy Camel” — as a mascot and an official sandwich as ways to keep the fans entertained.

Gronkowski didn't mention anything about a mascot, but he did say he was coming up with a special performance either at halftime or during the game along the lines of when he performed on “The Masked Singer” in 2020.

The winning team, along with the offensive and defensive MVPs, will continue to receive their own championship belts.

The game will feature the top selection from the Mountain West and the Pac-12's No. 5 pick after the College Football Playoff and New Year's Six matchups are set. The Mountain West has won the past two games, including Fresno State's 29-6 victory over Washington State last year.

With 10 schools leaving the Pac-12 at the end of the season, the future lineup for the LA Bowl will be determined next year.

Shelton reaches first tour final at Japan Open

Ben Shelton rallied from a set down to beat American qualifier Marcos Giron 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 6-4 on Saturday at the Japan Open in Tokyo to reach his first tour final.

The 21-year-old Shelton, playing in consecutive tournament semifinals after reaching the same stage last week in Shanghai, will play Aslan Karatsev in Sunday's final.

The American converted four of eight break points in an armwrestle of a match against Giron.

“It's a huge achievement for me and my team, especially the way the match panned out today,” Shelton said. “Definitely one of the toughest matches I've played in my life. Marcos was waxing me from the baseline in almost every rally and I had to completely change my game to even have a chance against him.

“To be able to get through that match, to not only figure some things out but get a win and be going into my first ATP final, the win couldn't be sweeter.”

Rawls, 4-time U.S. Open champion, dies at 95

Betsy Rawls trained to be a physicist and instead devoted her life to golf, first as a fourtime U.S. Women's Open champion and later as a tournament administrator, a remarkable career that landed her in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Rawls, who won eight majors in her 55 LPGA Tour titles, died Saturday at her beach home in Delaware, the LPGA Tour confirmed. She was 95.

“There are simply not many careers that can compare to Betsy's,” said Mike Whan, the CEO of the USGA and former LPGA Tour commissioner.

He cited her 55 wins and eight majors — Rawls ranks sixth on both lists — along with her induction into the LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame, the Bob Jones Award and her 17 years as tournament director of what was then the LPGA Championship.

“She was a legend in the game who would have been successful in anything she pursued, so we are all lucky she made golf her passion,” Whan said.