Newsmakers
Died Hall of Fame running back Ollie Matson, who was once traded for nine players during his 14-year NFL career and won two medals at the 1952 Olympics, has died. He was 80. Matson died Saturday of respiratory failure surrounded by family at his home in Los Angeles. A nephew said Matson had been mostly bedridden for several years due to a form of dementia. He said Matson hadn’t spoken in four years. Matson played with the Chicago Cardinals from 1952-58 before being traded to the Los Angeles Rams for nine players. He spent 1959-62 with the Rams, then played a single season for the Detroit Lions before finishing his career with Philadelphia from 1964-66. Matson earned a silver medal in the 1,600-meter relay and a bronze in the 400 meters at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.
• University of Alaska Anchorage officials say one of their top cross-country runners was found dead in his apartment near campus. William Ritekwiang was 23, and a sophomore from Kenya. No foul play is suspected.
Missed Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera missed the Tigers’ first day of a full-squad practice Saturday. The first baseman was arrested late Wednesday on suspicion of drunken driving in Fort Pierce, Fla., about 110 miles southeast of the team’s spring training home in Lakeland.
Suspended Louisiana Tech guard DeAndre Brown has been suspended indefinitely for violating athletic department policy and team rules. Brown is Louisiana Tech’s leading scorer, averaging 15.8 points per game.
Revealed Former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Chicago Tribune. His death has been ruled a suicide, but the Miami-Dade police department has not made the information public yet. The 50-year-old was found dead Thursday night in his Miami home.
Killed The vice president of a last-place soccer team in Guatemala has been shot to death after receiving threats about the club’s poor play. National Civil Police spokesman Donald Gonzalez said no suspects have been detained in the killing of Carlos Noe Gomez.