Newsmakers: NZ Formula One driver Chris Amon dead at 73

Died New Zealand motor racing driver Chris Amon, who was considered one of the best Formula One drivers of his generation, has died aged 73, his family said on Wednesday. The cause of death was cancer. Amon competed in Formula One between 1963 and 1976, starting 95 races, taking five pole positions and finishing on the podium 11 times without winning.

American F1 champion Mario Andretti said Amon was so unlucky “if he became an undertaker, people would give up dying” while three-time champion Jackie Stewart called him “one of the most skilful and natural drivers ever to grace Formula One.”

Amon won the 1966 Le Mans 24 hour race with compatriot Bruce McLaren in a Ford GT40 with compatriot Bruce McLaren, who was later killed in a racing accident. Amon’s death came shortly after the 50th anniversary of that victory.

Suspended Texas suspended sophomore wide receiver DeAndre McNeal for an unspecified violation of team rules. It was unclear if and when he will be allowed to return. The Longhorns report for the 2016 season on Friday.

Announced World heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury was provisionally suspended in June after testing positive for a banned substance. However, the U.K. Anti-Doping says Fury and his cousin Hughie, a heavyweight boxer who was also suspended, had their bans lifted “pending full determination of the charges.” UKAD says that both fighters were charged on June 24, but that U.K. anti-doping rules “allow athletes to challenge the imposition of a provisional suspension.”

The statement adds that the National Anti-Doping Panel which lifted their suspensions will arrange a hearing of the charges “in due course.”

Rising gymnastics star Laurie Hernandez is turning professional ahead of the Summer Olympics. The 16-year-old from Old Bridge, New Jersey announced that she is giving up her amateur status just days before helping Team USA vie for a second straight Olympic gold. Hernandez had verbally committed to competing collegiately at Florida before signing with Shade Global Inc.

Signed Midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, a regular starter on the U.S. national team, has signed with Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union from France’s Nantes. The 29-year-old, who played at the 2014 World Cup, has two goals in 53 international appearances. He has played for Sweden’s Orebro (2009-11), Scotland’s Glasgow Rangers (2011-12), Sweden’s Helsingborgs (2012-13) and Nantes (2013-16).

The Cleveland Cavaliers have re-signed veteran swingman James Jones for a third season. While Jones hasn’t made a huge contribution on the floor, the Cavaliers value his leadership. Jones has been teammates with LeBron James for the past six seasons, winning two titles with Miami and a third in Cleveland.

Extended Tennessee State coach Dana Ford has signed a contract extension through the 2020-21 season. Ford, 32, owns a 25-37 record in two seasons at Tennessee State. After going 5-26 in his first year on the job, Ford led Tennessee State to a 20-11 mark last season.

Dismissed Auburn coach Gus Malzahn has dismissed top running back Jovon Robinson from the team. Malzahn said he made the move before the Tigers’ first practice of preseason camp. He says the team’s top returning rusher didn’t meet his standards for an Auburn player but declined to elaborate.

He added that, “There’s going to be no distractions.”

Robinson came on strong late last season and ran for 639 yards and three touchdowns. Leading rusher Peyton Barber left early to enter the NFL draft, and No. 3 runner Roc Thomas transferred to FCS Jacksonville State.

The Tigers added former Baylor signee Kam Martin this summer after he was granted a release from his scholarship.

Reported Notre Dame tight end Alize Jones, a sophomore, will miss the entire 2016 season for failing to meet academic responsibilities, Jones said in a tweeted statement. Jones will be permitted to practice with the team but won’t be allowed to play in games, per Irish coach Brian Kelly.

Tennessee’s backcourt has suffered two major preseason losses as Andraya Carter is bypassing her final season of eligibility to recover from injuries and Te’a Cooper will miss the entire 2016-17 season with a knee injury.

Prosecutors say a new arrest has put at risk a New York City man’s plea deal in the stabbing of a professional basketball player last year outside a nightclub. Shevoy Bleary pleaded guilty in June to two counts of assault in the April 2015 stabbing of former Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland and a woman. Prosecutors agreed to allow him to serve a handful of weekends in jail. But after his June arrest in Brooklyn for possessing forged credit cards, Manhattan prosecutors say the deal is no longer on the table.