CAPPELLETTI, OF AFL, PATRIOTS FAME, DIES
Gino Cappelletti, a former AFL Most Valuable Player and original member of the Boston Patriots who was part of the franchise for five decades as a player, coach and broadcaster, died. He was 89.
Cappelletti died Thursday at his home in Wellesley, Mass. His death was announced by the New England Patriots. No cause of death was given.
“My heart aches after learning of Gino Cappelletti’s passing this morning. For the first 51 years of this franchise’s history, Gino contributed as an all-star player, assistant coach and broadcaster. You couldn’t be a Patriots fan during that era and not be a fan of Gino’s,” New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. “As great of a player as he was, he was an even better person and storyteller.”
Known as “The Duke,” Cappelletti played receiver and kicker and scored the first regular-season points in AFL history, a 35yard field goal in the first quarter of the Patriots’ 13-10 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sept. 9, 1960.
He went on to be the league’s MVP in 1964 and was one of three players to play in every game in the AFL’s 10-year history, along with Jim Otto and George Blanda.
Cappelletti spent his entire career in Boston from 1960-70, ending it as the AFL’s all-time leader in points (1,100) and field goals (170). He was honored as the second Patriots player inducted into the team’s hall of fame in 1992, joining guard John Hannah.
Locally
The USL Championship announced the match between San Diego Loyal SC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, scheduled for Saturday at Torero Stadium, was canceled because of multiple positive tests for COVID-19 among Switchback FC’s covered persons.
San Diego State men’s golf seniors Zihao Jin (Rancho Bernardo High) and Puwit Anupansuebsai each were named to the 10-man all-Mountain West team. Anupansuebsai is the first Aztec in program history to make four all-conference teams, while Jin earned his first MW accolade.
The top-seeded Cal State San Marcos softball team dropped a 4-0 decision to eighth-seeded Northwest Nazarene in the opening game of the NCAA Division II West Regional at CSUSM Softball Field.
Sports and courts
Authorities say Denver Broncos
wide receiver Jerry Jeudy was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence-related charge in suburban Denver. The Arapahoe County Sheriff ’s Office says Jeudy was taken into custody on suspicion of second-degree criminal tampering with a domestic violence enhancer.
Tennis
With just 10 days to go before the French Open, Rafael Nadal is struggling with an injury again. Nadal was hampered by a foot problem toward the end of a 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 third-round loss to Denis Shapovalov at the Italian Open on Thursday. Nadal double-faulted twice then missed a backhand long to hand Shapovalov a break of his serve and the second set. Shapovalov then took complete control when he won 14 straight points late in the third.
Earlier, top-ranked Novak Djokovic was untroubled in a 6-2, 6-2 win over Stan Wawrinka, who was playing only his second tournament after undergoing two surgeries on his left foot.
In the women’s tournament, top-ranked Iga Swiatek was tested before pulling out a 6-4, 6-1 victory over former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka to reach the quarterfinals and extend her winning streak to 25 matches. Swiatek will next face 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu, who eliminated Croatian qualifier Petra Martic 6-4, 6-4.
Horse racing
Richard Baltas, the fifth leading trainer at Santa Anita, currently is unable to enter horses, Aidan Butler, chief operating officer of 1/ST Racing that owns the Arcadia racetrack, told Ray Paulick of the Paulick Report. “We are conducting an investigation into matters concerning trainer Richard Baltas,” Butler wrote in a text message. “Pending completion of that investigation and any final decision based on the results, horses trained by Mr. Baltas are not permitted to enter races at 1/ ST Racing venues nor engage in timed works.”
Baltas had a horse, Speedcuber, fatally injured in a May 7 race and the next day Noble Reflection was scratched by stewards after a medication issue was found.
Baltas has one horse entered today, but it is expected to be scratched by track stewards. He wasn’t allowed to enter for Saturday and Sunday.
Soccer
Tottenham revived its hopes of beating Arsenal to the final Champions League qualification position by overwhelming its fierce north London rival in a 3-0 win in the Premier League.