NEW YORK — Jack Whitaker, whose Hall of Fame broadcasting career ranged from the first Super Bowl to Secretariat’s Triple Crown to short essays from major sporting events, died on Sunday morning, CBS reported.
The network said Whitaker died of natural causes in his sleep in Devon, Pa. He was 95.
Whitaker, a Philadelphia native who was wounded on Omaha Beach three days after the D-Day invasion, began his broadcast career at WCAU-TV in Philadelphia and spent 22 years for CBS Sports. He worked for ABC from 1982 in the news and sports divisions, and was part of the network’s Olympics coverage in 1984 and 1988.
“I grew up watching him deliver contemplative and contextual prose with his famous short essays, bringing class and dignity to his industry,” Jim Nantz, the lead CBS Sports announcer, said in a statement. “I spoke to him this week after hospice came to his home, and his mind was still brilliantly sharp right to the end.”
Whitaker had been the only living play-by-play announcer from the first 21 Super Bowls.
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — A fourth victim has died from injuries sustained during a fight between fans of the rival Honduran soccer teams Motagua and Olimpia, a hospital spokeswoman said on Sunday.
The violence began when fans of the Olimpia team threw stones and other objects on Saturday evening at a bus carrying Motagua players to the National Stadium, breaking windows and injuring three players. Emilio Izaguirre, a former player for Scotland’s Celtic club, sustained a cut near his eye. Paraguayan Roberto Moreira and Argentine Jonathan Rougier were also injured by glass fragments.
The National League and police suspended the game, but a fight broke out between fans of the teams at and around the stadium. Fists flew and gunfire was heard before police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Courtney Williams scored 18 points and Connecticut beat Dallas to clinch a playoff berth.
Jonquel Jones had 16 points and 10 rebounds for her 14th double-double of the season, and Jasmine Thomas added 16 points and nine assists. Connecticut (19-8) has won three games in a row and eight of 10.
Shekinna Stricklen converted a 3-point play to make it 35-32 with 39 seconds left in the first half and Connecticut led the rest of the way. Allisha Gray’s layup with just under four minutes left in the fourth quarter cut the Wings’ deficit to six, but Thomas answered with a 3-point play to spark a 9-0 spurt that pushed the Sun’s lead to 78-63 with 1:47 to go.
Gray tied her career best with 22 points for Dallas (9-18). Arike Ogunbowale added 20, and Isabelle Harrison had 11 points and tied her career high with 13 rebounds.