CBS Sports to air tribute to McNamara

CBS Sports Network will air a tribute to late Capital Gazette sports writer John McNamara during its coverage tonight of the Veterans Classic at the Naval Academy. McNamara, who covered Maryland basketball for more than two decades, was killed during the attack on the Capital Gazette newsroom in June. The 56-year-old Silver Spring resident was one of five employees allegedly gunned down by a Laurel man who held a long-standing grudge against the newspaper. The tribute is scheduled to air between the first and second games of the doubleheader at Alumni Hall. Providence and Wichita State play in the first game at 6 p.m., followed by Maryland playing Navy at approximately 8:30 p.m. McNamara, a Maryland graduate, had a lifelong love of basketball. Heco-authored a book on the history of basketball at Maryland’s Cole Field House and was writing on book on Washingtonarea basketball. Interviews for the tribute include a segment with former Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams. Additionally, the Naval Academy athletic department will pay tribute to McNamara by leaving a seat vacant along press row in his honor. Navy included recognition of McNamara and the other four staffers slain during the June 28 attack in the Veterans Classic program that will be distributed to fans. It includes the Annapolis Strong logo and all five names of those killed — McNamara, Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, Rebecca Smith and Wendi Winters. A statement will be read by the public address announcer during the first media timeout of the Navy-Maryland game and McNamara in particular will be recognized with his photo appearing on the scoreboard. WOMEN: Janee’a Summers scored 10 points and Kayla Jackson and Dominika Skyrocka each had nine points to lead host UMBC (2-0) to a 81-42 victory over Division III Eastern (Pa.). The Retrievers went on a 25-6 run over the Eagles (0-1) in the second quarter. UMBC beat Division III Gettysburg, 65-51, on Tuesday. six furlongs, are among five stakes worth $500,000 in purses on a 10-race card that begins at noon. Also on tap are the $100,000 Richard W. Small for 3-yearolds and up featuring graded-stakes winners Something Awesome, NameChangerandDoctorMounty and Maryland Million champions Bonus Points and Talk Show Man, and a pair of seven-furlong sprints for sophomores, the $100,000 City of Laurel and $100,000 Safely Kept, the latter for fillies.