HANIFAN, O-LINE COACHING GREAT, DIES AT AGE 87
Jim Hanifan, the former St. Louis Cardinals coach who returned to the city as offensive line coach to help the Rams win the Super Bowl, died. He was 87.
Hanifan’s daughter, Kathy Hinder, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he died Tuesday at Missouri Baptist Hospital. She said the cause of death hasn’t been determined, but said it wasn’t related to COVID-19.
The Cardinals’ head coach from 1980-85, Hanifan is best known for his offensive lines as an assistant with St. Louis and Washington. He coached star tackle Dan Dierdorf and notorious guard Conrad Dobler with St. Louis, then directed the “Hogs” in Washington.
Hanifan went 39-49-1 with the Cardinals, reaching the playoffs in 1982. He won Super Bowls as an assistant with Washington after the 1991 season and the Rams after the 1999 season.
Hanifan came to St. Louis in 1973 along with head coach Don Coryell from San Diego State. He also coached in the college at Utah and California, and was an NFL assistant with the San Diego Chargers, too, and interim head coach of the Falcons.
Sports and courts
Tampa Bay outfielder Randy Arozarena was released by Mexican authorities Thursday after his former partner told a judge in Yucatan state that she did not want to press charges.
Arozarena had been arrested Tuesday for a situation involving custody of his daughter, just two weeks after he won the Babe Ruth award for the Most Valuable Player in the postseason.
The Yucatan state prosecutors’ office confirmed that Arozarena was released because the ex-partner said any damages had been settled.
Soccer
Arsenal’s academy products helped the team cruise into to the knockout stage of the Europa League, while Leicester needed a late equalizer from Jamie Vardy to advance.
Arsenal’s record signing Nicolas Pepe showed his better side after he was sent off in a 0-0 draw at Leeds in the Premier League on Sunday, scoring the opening goal in a 3-0 away victory at Norway’s Molde.
Hoffenheim and Leicester also progressed into the round of 32 with two matches to spare. The Premier League club equalized three times in a 3-3 draw at Braga, with Vardy grabbing the final goal in injury time.
• Only half of the Premier League stadiums — mainly in London — will be allowed the return of some fans when coronavirus restrictions are relaxed next week, according to new government measures. Another 10 top division clubs are in areas classified as the highest risk for COVID-19 infections so will remain closed to spectators, including Manchester sides United and City.
Skiing
Petra Vlhova won her third World Cup race in six days, beating unheralded Paula Moltzan of the United States in a f loodlit parallel event at Lech-Zuers, Austria. Coming off two straight slalom wins in Finland last weekend, Vlhova won the first run of the final against Moltzan by 0.21 seconds.
Also
Robin Roussel reeled off five straight birdies at the start of his back nine to shoot a 7-under 65 and take a share of the first-round lead at the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship at Malelane, South Africa. The Frenchman was tied with Adrian Meronk of Poland, who had two eagles in his opening round.
• Marco Belinelli is going back to Italy, announcing that he has signed a three-year contract to play for Virtus Bologna. The 34-year-old guard spent 13 seasons in the NBA, playing for nine different teams — Golden State, Toronto, New Orleans, Chicago, Charlotte, Sacramento, Atlanta, Philadelphia and, most recently, San Antonio.
• Men’s 100-meter world champion Christian Coleman has formally appealed against his two-year ban for missing multiple doping tests, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said.