Ex-Bengals owner Sawyer dead at 90

CINCINNATI (AP) — Former Cincinnati Bengals president and part owner John Sawyer has died. He was 90.

The Bengals said that Sawyer died Thursday morning at a retirement home in Cincinnati after battling health problems for the past four years.

He was team president from 1968-93 and had served as a vice president since 1994. He is considered to be one of the founders of the Bengals and had long been a key adviser to the Brown family, including Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown and his son Mike, now the team president.

Sawyer, a former World War II pilot, rarely missed a Bengals home or away game. He was a former part owner of the Cincinnati Reds and helped initiate construction of Riverfront Stadium, which was home to both franchises for more than 30 years.

 

Former Raiders’ QB Stabler dies

Ken Stabler, who led the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl victory and was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1974, has died as a result of complications from colon cancer. He was 69.

His family announced his death on Stabler’s Facebook page on Thursday. The statement said Stabler “passed peacefully” on Wednesday while surrounded by family, including his three daughters. Raiders owner Mark Davis said the team was “deeply saddened by the passing of the great Ken Stabler.”

Stabler was a four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Raiders, leading the franchise to consistent success during the 1970s, including a 32-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the 1977 Super Bowl.

The Foley, Alabama, native threw for 27,938 career yards over 15 seasons.

 

Umpires named for MLB All-Star Game

NEW YORK (AP) — Tim Welke will be the home plate umpire for next week’s All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

Welke, in his 32nd season in the major leagues, will also serve as the crew chief in the July 14 game. Major League Baseball announced the umpires on Wednesday.

Welke also worked the All-Star games in 1990 and 2005.

Jerry Meals (first base), Paul Schrieber (second base), Ron Kulpa (third base), James Hoye (left field) and Alan Porter (right field) have also been assigned to next Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic.

Brian Gorman will be the replay official based in New York.

The official scorers for the game will be longtime Cincinnati-based scorers Mike Cameron and Ron Roth as well as John Fay of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

 

Lakers land Hibbert in deal with Pacers

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired two-time All-Star center Roy Hibbert from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a future second-round draft pick.

The Lakers and the Pacers formally completed the trade Thursday.

The Pacers dumped their 7-foot-2 big man and his $15.5 million salary for the upcoming season after Hibbert spent the past seven years with Indiana, averaging 11.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots.

The Lakers welcomed Hibbert into their ample salary cap space after striking out on the biggest names in free agency, including LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan and Greg Monroe.

Hibbert is among the NBA’s top defensive centers, but his offensive game is perceived to be in decline despite numbers that are roughly comparable to his best seasons.

 

Spurs get McCallum for 2016 draft pick

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Sacramento Kings have traded guard Ray McCallum to the San Antonio Spurs for a second-round pick in next year’s draft.

The teams announced the deal Thursday.

Sacramento selected McCallum in the second round and 36th overall in 2013. McCallum averaged 6.9 points, 2.7 assists and 20.7 minutes per game the past two seasons.

He started 30 of the 68 games he played last season. McCallum became the starter after Darren Collison suffered a season-ending core muscle injury and Ramon Sessions was traded to Washington.

It was clear McCallum’s time in California’s capital city could be ending after the Kings reached an agreement on a one-year, $10 million deal with Rajon Rondo last week. Rondo and Collison are expected to split time in the backcourt.