Jack Whitaker passes away at 95

Jack Whitaker, whose Hall of Fame broadcasting career ranged from the first Super Bowl to Secretariat’s Triple Crown to short essays from major sporting events, died Aug. 18, CBS reported.

The network said Whitaker died of natural causes in his sleep in Devon, Pennsylvania. He was 95.

Whitaker, a Philadelphia native who was wounded on Omaha Beach three days after the D-Day Invasion, began his broadcast career at WCAU-TV in Philadelphia and spent 22 years for CBS Sports. He worked for ABC from 1982 in the news and sports divisions, and was part of the network’s Olympics coverage in 1984 and 1988.

“I grew up watching him deliver contemplative and contextual prose with his famous short essays, bringing class and dignity to his industry,” Jim Nantz, the lead CBS Sports announcer, said in a statement. “I spoke to him this week after hospice came to his home, and his mind was still brilliantly sharp right to the end.”

Whitaker had been the only living play-byplay announcer from the first 21 Super Bowls. BENSON DIES IN ACCIDENT >> Former NFL running back Cedric Benson, one of the most prolific rushers in NCAA and University of Texas history, has died in a motorcycle accident in Texas. He was 36.

Benson’s attorney, Sam Bassett, said Austin law enforcement told him that Benson was killed in the wreck Saturday night. He had no details about the accident.

Auto racing

POWER WINS AT POCONO >> ill Power won the shortened race at Pocono Raceway, the 13th straight season he’s won an IndyCar race. The race was called with 72 laps left because of lightning and severe weather in the area.

Lightning strikes at Pocono after a rainshortened NASCAR race killed one fan in 2012.

Power was in the right position to a win a race marred by yet another horrific wreck that collected five drivers on the first lap and sent Chip Ganassi Racing driver Felix Rosenqvist to the hospital.

Golf

THOMAS WINS AT BMW >> Justin Thomas had more stress than he wanted and answered with the shots he needed at Medinah to win the BMW Championship and claim the No. 1 seed going into the FedEx Cup finale.

Thomas watched a sixshot lead shrink to two in a span of three holes around the turn until he regained control with two great wedges, and two pivotal putts. One last birdie gave him a 4-under 68 and a threeshot victory over Patrick Cantlay (65).

The victory, the first for Thomas since the World Golf Championship at Firestone last year, gives him a twoshot lead starting the Tour Championship next week as the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup chase the $15 million prize.