Former Raiders star Cannon dies at 80

Billy Cannon, a star on the Raiders’ first Super Bowl team and the first of seven Heisman Trophy winners to play for the franchise, died on Sunday. He was 80.

Cannon was an All-Pro tight end for the Raiders in 1967, leading them with 10 touchdowns, helping them win their only American Football League title before their Super Bowl II loss to the Packers.

Cannon and George Blanda, who later teamed up with the Raiders, starred for the Houston Oilers and led the team to the first two AFL championships in 1960 and ‘61. Cannon was the MVP in both title games.

Former Raiders coach John Madden said acquiring both Cannon and Blanda from the Oilers in 1967 was a key in turning the Raiders into first-time champions.

“It gave us not only instant credibility but instant veterans and crustiness,” Madden told KCBS740’s Steve Bitker on Monday. “And there was no one crustier than George Blanda and Billy Cannon. But you need some crusty. Crusty’s good.” — Jon Becker RAIDERS SIGN DRAFT PICKS >> Tackle Brandon Parker (third round) and cornerback Nick Nelson (fourth round ) signed contracts with the Raiders, leaving only Arden Key unsigned from the 2018 draft class.

Tennis

SERENA NOT SEEDED FOR FRENCH OPEN >> Serena Williams’ return to Grand Slam tennis from maternity leave just got even tougher, as French Open organizers announced on they will not give Williams a seeding.

While she was No. 1 when she left the tour to give birth, Williams is currently ranked No. 453. Without a seeding, the 23-time Grand Slam champion risks facing highly ranked players in the early rounds.

Colleges

STANFORD TENNIS ADVANCES TO NCAA FINAL >> Caroline Lampl’s 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 comeback over helped power No. 15 Stanford women’s tennis team to a 4-2 victory over No. 3 Duke in the semifinals of the NCAA Championships.

Stanford (23-3) has won 19 in a row and now stands one win away from its 20th national championship. The Cardinal will appear in its third straight national final when it faces Vanderbilt today in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Stanford is threatening to duplicate its 2016 NCAA title run, when the Cardinal became the lowest-seeded team to win national championship.

CARDINAL GOLF REACHES MATCH PLAY >> Stanford has advanced to match play at the NCAA Championships for the fourth consecutive year. The No. 5 Cardinal will face No. 4 seed Northwestern in the quarterfinals today.

Swimming

OLYMPIAN SUES USA SWIMMING >> Olympic swimmer Ariana Kukors Smith sued USA Swimming, alleging the sport’s national governing body knew her former coach sexually abused her as a minor and failed to protect her while shielding him.

Golf

FORMER LPGA CHAMP DIES >> Carol Mann, a two-time major champion who won 38 LPGA Tour titles, has died. She was 77. Her major titles were the 1964 Women’s Western Open Invitational and the 1965 U.S. Women’s Open.

MLS

GALAXY BEATS IMPACT >> Playing a man down after Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic got a red card in the 42nd minute, the Los Angeles Galaxy got past the Montreal Impact 1-0.

Motor sports

FORCE WINS HEARTLAND NATIONALS >> Courtney Force won her second straight Funny Car race, capturing the rain-delayed NHRA Heartland Nationals.