In the news
Steelers chairman Dan Rooney dies at 84: Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney, one of the NFL’s most influential and popular executives, has died. He was 84.
Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said Rooney died Thursday.
Rooney took over operation of the team in the 1960s from his father, Art, who founded the franchise. From there, Dan Rooney oversaw NFL championships for a team that had never even played in an NFL title game.
He was a powerful force within the league. He helped develop the Rooney Rule under which NFL teams are required to interview minority candidates for coaching and front-office positions. He was a key figure in labor negotiations and league expansion.
He made the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 and also served as the U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 2009-2012.
Orlando fires GM Hennigan after missing playoffs for 5 years: The Orlando Magic have fired general manager Rob Hennigan after missing the postseason for five straight seasons.
The team confirmed the dismissal on Thursday. The Magic finished this season 29-53.
At 30, Hennigan was the youngest general manager in the NBA when he was hired by the Magic.
Hennigan has made several questionable moves that didn’t pan out during his tenure. His most recent move, trading Victor Oladipo to Oklahoma City for veteran power Serge Ibaka last summer, failed nearly from the start as the Magic went big in a small-ball era.
Ibaka was under contract for only this season. Once it became clear he would not re-sign with the team, he was traded in February to Toronto for Terrence Ross.
NBA sets attendance record with nearly 22 million fans: The NBA has broken its attendance record by drawing nearly 22 million fans this season.
The league said Thursday the total exceeded 21.9 million, topping last season’s mark by more than 25,000.
The average attendance of 17,884 was also a record. The 723 sellouts tied the mark set in 201516.
Cardinals Hall of Famer Lou Brock diagnosed with bone cancer: The St. Louis Cardinals say Hall of Fame outfielder Lou Brock was recently diagnosed with bone cancer.
The 77-year-old Brock was supposed to appear at a Busch Stadium event on April 25, but that has been canceled while he is undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma.
His left leg was amputated below the knee in late 2015 because of an infection caused by complications with diabetes. He was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes more than 15 years ago and has worn a prosthesis since the amputation to throw out the occasional ceremonial first pitch at Cardinals games.
Mariners unveil statue honoring Ken Griffey Jr.: The Seattle Mariners on Thursday unveiled the statue of Ken Griffey Jr.
“One of the things I’m known for is my swing and I think it was pretty much going to be a given (that would be the pose),” Griffey said during the unveiling ceremony. “They pretty much nailed it. It was overwhelming to see something like that.”
The 7-foot-tall statue stands on top of a 4-foot granite base. It includes a Mariners 20th anniversary patch and a patch recognizing the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball. Griffey helped lead the charge toward all major leaguers wearing Robinson’s No. 42 each year in recognition of Robinson’s trailblazing career.
Griffey became the first Mariners player to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame last year. The Mariners officially retired his No. 24 in August, making him the first player to have his number retired by the franchise.
Griffey played 22 big-league seasons with the Mariners, Reds and White Sox. A 13-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove Award winner in center field, Griffey hit 630 home runs, sixth all-time, and drove in 1,836 runs.
Colts agree to terms with DT Hankins: The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to contract terms with free-agent defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins.
It is reportedly a three-year deal worth $30 million and $15.9 million in guaranteed money, according to a person with direct knowledge of the contract terms. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Colts hadn’t announced the numbers.
The 6-foot-2, 320-pound Hankins spent the last four seasons with the New York Giants. He’s the biggest name the Colts have signed this offseason.
Last year, Hankins had 43 tackles, three sacks and eight tackles for loss while forcing one fumble. He has started 41 of 52 career games and has 140 career tackles and 10 sacks in the NFL.
Steelers’ Golson briefly detained at Alabama airport: Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Senquez Golson was briefly detained when airport security agents in Mobile, Ala., found an unloaded pistol in his carry-on bag.
Mobile Regional Airport police chief Brian Fillingim says Golson was stopped Wednesday and questioned before being allowed to board his flight. He says similar incidents happen at the airport a couple of times a month and that the Transportation Security Administration typically imposes fines.
Fillingim says his officer told him that Golson “was extremely nice, polite, didn’t give him any problems whatsoever.”
The Steelers drafted the former Ole Miss player in the second round in 2015.