NFL
Former Eastern Illinois standout Jimmy Garoppolo is set to join a distinguished list of former FCS-level quarterbacks who have stepped onto football’s biggest stage.
His start for the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV against Kansas City on Sunday will mark the eighth time it has happened with a signal caller who played collegiately in Division I’s subdivision. Three FCS quarterbacks have won the game and Super Bowl MVP honors.
Hall of Fame defensive end Chris Doleman, who became one of the NFL’s most feared pass rushers during 15 seasons in the league, has died at age 58. The Minnesota Vikings and Pro Football Hall of Fame president and CEO David Baker offered their condolences in separate statements late Tuesday night. There was no word on the timing of Doleman’s death, but he had surgery in January 2018 to remove a brain tumor and Baker said he passed away ”after a prolonged and courageous battle” against cancer.
NBA
The National Transportation Safety Board has determined that the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others did not have a recommended warning system to alert the pilot he was too close to the ground, though it’s still unclear if the device could have prevented Sunday’s crash that
killed all on board.
The Los Angeles County coroner’s office said all nine bodies have been recovered from the scene, with the 41-year-old Bryant one of four passengers that have been identified using fingerprints.
MLB
The Chicago Cubs will have control of third baseman Kris Bryant for an extra year. ESPN reports Bryant lost his grievance against the team seeking an extra year of service time that would allow him to become a free agent after the 2020 season. That means Bryant can’t become a free agent until after the 2021 season. The former NL Rookie of the Year and 2016 NL MVP has been the subject of trade rumors this off season.
Golf
The PGA Tour’s Waste Management Open begins tomorrow at TPC Scottsdale with Louisville area native Justin Thomas, Campbellsville native JB Holmes and Nashville’s Brandt Snedeker in the field.
The PGA Tour Champions is overseas for the Morocco Open, with Union native Steve Flesch in the field for the event that starts tomorrow.
The LPGA Tour is off this week.