NAMES & FACES

Elton Brand

The longtime NBA forward announced his retirement Thursday after a 17-season career. Brand says playing in the NBA has been “a wonderful journey. It’s been an honor and a privilege.” Brand was the first overall pick from Duke in the 1999 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls and was named Rookie of the Year. Brand played 17 seasons in the NBA and was in his second stint with the Sixers. He averaged 15.9 points and 8.5 rebounds in 1,058 games with the Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers. Brand was a two-time All-Star when he spurned better offers and signed a five-year, $82 million free-agent contract in 2008 with Philadelphia.

Lewis Hamilton

The Mercedes driver is glad to back in Austin, Texas, this weekend for the U.S. Grand Prix, even though he’s running out of time if he hopes to catch teammate Nico Rosberg and retain his Formula One championship. “America has been good hunting ground for me,” said Hamilton, who trails by 33 points with four races left. That means Hamilton has to make a big push starting Sunday on a track where he’s won three of the past four years. “My frame of mind at the moment is to have fun,” Hamilton said. “I’m determined to win. There’s never a day in my life when I don’t want to win . ... I know what I’m doing, so just go do it the best I can and enjoy.”