Newsmakers
Died University of Mississippi football player Bennie F. Abram died after collapsing during the first day of team workouts. The non-scholarship junior transferred from Itawamba Community College last fall. Trainers noticed that Abram was having difficulty early Friday shortly after the workout started. Officials say the trainers began first aid and called 911.
•Longtime umpire John Kibler, seen emphatically pointing fair on the ground ball Bill Buckner missed in the 1986 World Series, died in Palo Alto, Calif. He was 81. Kibler died of a heart attack Thursday.
Charged Washington Redskins cornerback Byron Westbrook was arrested and charged with driving under the influence at Waldorf, Md. Westbrook, the brother of Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, failed a field sobriety test and was arrested.
Offered Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski says he has made a contract offer to free agent Johnny Damon. The 36-year-old Damon hit .282 with 24 homers for the New York Yankees last season. He likely would bat leadoff for the Tigers, filling the void left when Detroit dealt Curtis Granderson to the Yankees. The Atlanta Braves also appear interested in adding Damon. The Chicago White Sox withdrew their offer to Damon.
Released A widow accused of killing her Olympian husband has been released from jail after posting $1 million bail. The Ventura (Calif.) County sheriff’s office says Jane Laut was released early Friday. A judge on Thursday had lowered bail from $3 million to $1 million. Laut was arrested last weekend and charged with the first-degree murder of Dave Laut, who won an Olympic bronze medal in the shot put in 1984.
Lost Former New Jersey Devils prospect Patrice Cormier has lost his appeal of a suspension for the remainder of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season and playoffs for a violent hit on an opposing player.
Ruled Catcher Jeff Mathis defeated the Los Angeles Angels in salary arbitration and reliever Sean Burnett lost to the Washington Nationals. Mathis was given a raise from $450,000 to $1.3 million by arbitrators. The Angels had argued he should be paid $700,000. Burnett was awarded $775,000 rather than his request for a raise from $408,500 to $925,000.