News+Notes: Rafer Johnson, 1960 Olympic decathlon champion, dies at 86,
R a fer Johnson, who won the decathlon at the 1960 Rome Olympics and helped subdue Rober t F. Kennedy’s assassin in 1968, died Wednesday. He was 86.
He died at his home in the Sherman Oaks section of Los Angeles. His death was confirmed by his family. No cause of death was announced.
Johnson was among the world’s greatest athletes from 1955 through his Olympic triumph in 1960, winning a national decathlon championship in 1956 and a silver medal at the Melbourne Olympics that same year.
At the 1960 Rome Olympics, Johnson was the U. S. team’s flag bearer, the first Black American so honored.
In an eventful life, Johnson broke racial barriers, played an unexpected role in the international relations of the Cold War and immersed himself in the turbulent politics of the 1960s. To help disabled children, Johnson co - founded the California Special Olympics in 1969 and served as its president for 10 years.
On June 5, 1968, Johnson was working on Kennedy’s presidential campaign when the Democratic candidate was shot in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Johnson joined former NFL star Rosey Grier and journalist George Plimpton in apprehending Sirhan Sirhan moments after he shot Kennedy, who died the next day.
Pro football
STEELERS 19. RAVENS 14>> Playing in the middle of the afternoon in the middle of the week in the middle of a pandemic, Ben Roethlisberger threw for 266 yards and a fourth- quarter touchdown to JuJu SmithSchuster, and Pittsburgh improved to 11- 0 by beating the undermanned Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens (6- 5) lost their third straight while playing without more than a dozen players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins.
A COVID-19 outbreak in Baltimore forced the NFL to push the game back three times: first from Thanksgiving to Sunday, then from Sunday to Tuesday, and eventually from Tuesday to Wednesday. The teams kicked off in the afternoon to not interfere with NBC’s annual Christmas special at Rockefeller Center.
Pro basketball
JAMES INKS CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH LAKERS >> LeBron James has agreed to a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers.
James’ agency, Klutch Sports, confirmed the deal during the first week of training camp for the NBA champions. The Los Angeles Times reported James’ extension is a two-year, $85 million deal through the 2022-23 season. The fourtime NBA champion is getting the maximum deal to extend his tenure in Los Angeles, where he moved
two seasons ago after his second stint with his hometown Cavaliers.
College basketball
INDIANA BEATS STANFORD 79-63 >> Trayce Jackson-Davis scored a career- high 31 points and Indiana responded to an ugly loss a day earlier by beating Stanford 79-63 in the third-place game at the relocated Maui Invitational.
The Hoosiers (3-1) were coming off a 66- 44 loss to No. 17 Texas in Tuesday’s semifinals. It marked the program’s lowest scoring output since January 2010, while Indiana had more turnovers (14) than field goals (11) and shot just 24%.
This time, the Hoosiers never trailed after the opening minute and shot 53% against the Cardinal (1-2).
Daejon Davis scored 18 points and Oscar da Silva added 17 for Stanford.
Soccer
QUAKES KEEP HOMEGROWN THOMPSON >> The San Jose Earthquakes signed defender Tommy Thompson to a new multiyear contract. Thompson, entering his eighth year with San Jose, is the club’s longest tenured player currently under contract for the 2021 season.