3time Indy 500 champ Bobby Unser dies at 87
Bobby Unser, who began racing jalopies in New Mexico and became a beloved figure across racing and part of the only pair of brothers to win the Indianapolis 500, died Sunday at 87. He died at his home in Albuquerque of natural causes, Indianapolis Motor Speedway said.
“There simply was no one quite like Bobby Unser,” said Roger Penske, now the speedway owner. “Beyond his many wins and accomplishments, Bobby was a true racer (who) raised the performance of everyone around him. He was also one of the most colorful characters in motor sports.”
Unser was a member of one America’s most famed racing families and one of the greatest drivers in the history of the speedway, winning the race in 1968, 1975 and 1981. His little brother, Al, won four times there. And Al Jr., Bobby’s nephew, has won twice.
“He is part of the Mount Rushmore of Indy,” said threetime Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti.
Unser also had a 20year broadcasting career. Transgender rights: A U.S. appeals court in Boise, Idaho, gave little indication of how it might rule on the constitutionality of the first law in the nation banning transgender women and girls from playing on women’s sports teams. The threejudge panel heard virtual arguments in the case that could have farranging consequences as more states follow conservative Idaho’s lead. Idaho passed its law last year, and more than 20 states have considered such proposals this year.
⏩ Republicans in Kansas came up one vote short and failed to overturn the Democratic governor’s veto of a ban on transgender athletes in female sports. The senators’ decision blocked a vote in the House. Kansas became the second state within two weeks, after North Dakota, in which a legislature with a Republican supermajority failed to override a GOP governor’s veto of such a measure.
NFL: Amazon Prime Video will become the exclusive home of the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” package in 2022, a year earlier than anticipated, which will make it an 11season deal through 2032. It originally was supposed to begin in 2023 when the league’s new mediarights deals take effect. This is the first time a streaming service has had the full rights to an NFL package.
⏩ Defensive end Rashad Weaver, a fourthround pick by the Tennessee Titans out of Pitt, has been charged with assault following an incident in Pittsburgh last month in which at least one witness told police Weaver struck a woman.
⏩ The Chicago Bears cut left tackle Charles Leno Jr., who started every game the past five seasons and made the Pro Bowl as an alternate in 2018. Colleges: The WCC announced that Commissioner Gloria Nevarez has signed a contract extension through 2026. Nevarez became the commissioner in 2016. She previously worked for the Pac12 and Cal.
Soccer: A medical report on the death of Diego Maradona says he agonized for more than 12 hours, did not receive adequate treatment and still could be alive if he had been properly hospitalized.
(1961): If “Star Wars” was just another scifi story like “Flash Gordon,” it probably never would have reached the dizzying heights it has. What sets it apart is the mythology of the Jedi, a set of warrior monks with laser swords who battle injustice. Lucas drew those elements from two of director Akira Kurosawa’s best films, “Yojimbo” and “The Hidden Fortress.”
Of the two, “The Hidden Fortress” has the most direct parallels to “Star Wars.” It’s about two peasants (Minoru Chiaki and Kamatari Fujiwara) who are trying to escape a war they want no part in. Unfortunately, they are captured and forced to work as slaves until they wind up with a rebel general (Toshiro Mifune) who involves them in a plot to help a princess. Yes, it’s basically the story of droids R2D2 and C3P0.
“Yojimbo” is another Kurosawa masterpiece that Lucas … borrowed from. The parallels are less blatant here, but the lone swordsman bravely taking on corrupt government officials is often a dead ringer for the way the Jedi behave throughout the series. In fact, the franchise is still copying from the film today. In the season 2 episode “The Jedi” of “The Mandalorian,” there are shots recreated directly from “Yojimbo” when Ahsoka Tano confronts Imperial Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth. You have to admit, samurai in space is a pretty good idea.
⏩ Watch it: “The Hidden Fortress” and “Yojimbo” are available to stream on HBO Max.