ESPN NFL reporter Mortensen dies at 72
Chris Mortensen, a legendary NFL reporter and award-winning journalist, died Sunday, ESPN announced. He was 72.
Mortensen, known as “Mort” around the league, first appeared on ESPN in 1991. He announced in September he was stepping away from ESPN to focus on his “health, family and faith.” Mortensen was diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer in 2016. He took a leave of absence from ESPN, but returned in 2017 after radiation and chemotherapy.
The longtime reporter’s Deflategate story about 11 of the 12 Patriots footballs were found to be two PSI under the league minimum eventually helped the 2015 saga turn into a year-long event that was covered nationally.
Colleges: Oklahoma softball’s NCAA DI-record 71-game winning streak ended, as visiting Louisiana pulled off a 7-5 extra-inning upset of the nation’s top-ranked team in front of 4,450 fans at Love’s Field in Norman. The Sooners, who have won three straight national titles, had last lost at Baylor on Feb. 19, 2023.
Golf: The Cognizant Classic will be completed Monday after the final round of the opening event on the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing was interrupted by thunderstorms that brought 2 inches of rain and forced everyone off the course for 3 ½ hours. Austin Eckroat led by one through seven holes . ... Jordan Gumberg, a 28-year-old American ranked No. 669, was the surprise winner of the European Tour’s SDC Championship in South Africa after beating Robin Williams in a playoff . ... Chile’s Joaquin Niemann claimed his second LIV Golf title in three events this year, winning by four shots at the LIV Golf Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. ... Hannah Green made a stunning 30-foot birdie on the final hole to clinch a one-stroke victory over Celine Boutier at the LPGA Tour’s HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore. It was the 27-year-old Australian’s fourth career title.
NBA: Jaylen Brown scored 29 points, Jayson Tatum had 27 on his 26th birthday, and the NBA-best Celtics posted their third-largest winning margin in team history and 11th straight victory, routing the visiting Warriors 140-88. The host Celtics set an NBA record with their third win this season by 50 points or more. The Warriors had won 11 of 13. ... Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson had to be helped off the floor with a left knee injury sustained in the first minute against the Cavaliers.