3 Iditarod mushers rescued because of poor trail conditions
Three mushers participating in Alaska’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race were rescued Friday after they activated their SOS beacons because of deep overflows of water on the trail near the last checkpoint before the finish line in Nome.
Even before the rescue of 52-year-old Tom Knolmayer, 28-year-old Sean Underwood and 37-year-old Matthew Failor, more than onethird of the participants in this year’s 1,000-mile (1609.3-kilometer) race had quit largely because of conditions. The winner, Thomas Waerner of Norway, arrived at the finish line in Nome early Wednesday.
Iditarod officials confirmed the three rescued Friday had officially withdrawn from the race. That brings the number of those who scratched to 22, short of the record of 24 set in 1980. In this year’s race, another musher also was removed for not being competitive.
Friday, the emergency beacons set off a rescue east of the mouth of the Solomon River, Alaska State troopers said in an online report.
The Iditarod said in a statement the conditions were created by high winds and warm conditions near the checkpoint of Safety, which is 22 miles (35 kilometers) from Nome.
The mushers were transported by helicopter to Nome, where they were taken to a hospital for medical clearance and were being released Friday afternoon, according to the Iditarod. The dog teams were in good condition and being brought to Nome, the Iditarod said.
KANSAS CITY, MO. (AP) » The Chiefs agreed to a one-year contract with former New York Giants cornerback Antonio Hamilton on Friday, the first deal made by the Super Bowl champions since the start of free agency earlier in the week.
Kansas City entered the market desperate for help in the defensive backfield after losing Kendall Fuller, Morris Claiborne and Bashaud Breeland to free agency. Fuller and Breeland in particular were crucial to a defensive turnaround under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo that helped deliver the Chiefs their first Super Bowl title since 1970.
The 27-year-old Hamilton was signed by the AFC Westrival Raiders as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina State in 2016, then was claimed off waivers by the Giants before the 2018 season.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) » The Carolina Panthers signed free agent wide receiver Pharoh Cooper to a one-year contract Friday and safety Juston Burris to a twoyear deal.
Cooper was an All-Pro returner for the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 with 932 yards and a touchdown on 34 kickoff returns to lead the NFL with an average of 27.4 yards per return. He also racked up 399 yards on 32 punt returns.
The 25-year-old Cooper is still developing as a wideout, though. He had a career-high 25 receptions for 243 yards and a touchdown in 12 games last season with Arizona. He also returned 25 kickoffs for 561 yards (22.4 yards per return) and 17 punts for 129 yards.
LENEXA, KANSAS (AP) » John Erickson, a former Milwaukee Bucks general manager and Wisconsin men’s basketball coach, has died. He was 92.
Rick Wiseman, funeral director at Porter Funeral Home in Lenexa, Kansas, confirmed Friday that Erickson died Wednesday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Porter Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Erickson served as the Bucks’ general manager from 1968-70. He was in that role when the Bucks won a coin flip with the Phoenix Suns and earned the right to select eventual NBA career scoring leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, with the first pick in the 1969 NBA draft.
Erickson coached Wisconsin from 1960-68 and posted a 100114 record.