Morning Briefing March 12, 2010
Football
Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, who helped form one of the NFL’s greatest defensive lines before embarking on a successful career in television, died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 69.
Olsen was a member of the Los Angeles Rams’ “Fearsome Foursome” along with Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier in the 1960s. He later starred on NFL broadcasts, commercials, and as Jonathan Garvey on the TV series “Little House on the Prairie.”
Utah State, Olsen’s alma mater, said he died outside of Los Angeles. He was diagnosed last year with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining often linked to asbestos.
Olsen was a consensus All-American at Utah State and won the 1961 Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman. The Rams drafted him third overall in 1962 and he spent the next 15 years with the team, and is still the franchise’s career leader in tackles with 915. He was picked to 14 straight Pro Bowls, a string that began with his rookie year.
Suspected gang member Willie Clark was found guilty of murder in the drive-by shooting death of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams after a New Year’s Eve outing three years ago.
Clark showed no emotion as the verdict was read but leaned back and looked at the ceiling after the jury was dismissed. He gave a small smile to relatives before he was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs.
He faces life in prison at his April 30 sentencing.
Skiing
Lindsey Vonn crashed and bruised her right knee during the World Cup giant slalom at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, but is expected to compete today in the super-G in an attempt to win her third straight overall title.
With two races remaining in the season, Vonn leads Maria Riesch of Germany by 165 points. A victory is worth 100 points.
U.S. ski team medical director Richard Quincy said Vonn has a small bone bruise on the outside of her right knee.
Olympic silver medalist Tina Maze of Slovenia won the final giant slalom race of the season, and Kathrin Hoelzl of Germany clinched the World Cup title in the event by finishing second. Riesch was third.
Two people with knowledge of his plans said Tiger Woods intends to remain out of golf at least until the Masters in April.
Woods has been practicing at Isleworth near his Orlando, Fla., home the last two weeks, and swing coach Hank Haney flew there during the weekend to work with him. That led to speculation he was close to playing again.
Five birdies were enough to put Charl Schwartzel among the leaders at the CA Championship. No mistakes is what put him in the lead alone at Doral, Fla.
Schwartzel managed to get around the famed Blue Monster without a bogey on his way to a 5-under 67 and a one-shot lead in the World Golf Championship event.
Robert Allenby, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh all sit one shot back.
Heavy rain forced the suspension of first-round play in the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open at Rio Grande.
Sled Dog Racing
John Baker has the lead at the halfway point of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Cripple, Alaska, followed by four-time champion Martin Buser and Bruce Linton.
The next checkpoint is at Ruby, and the next 150 miles will be on the Yukon River.
Baseball
Tim Lincecum struggled through 2 2/3 innings in the San Francisco Giants’ 6-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Scottsdale, Ariz.
Seattle starter Ian Snell gave up one hit and one walk while striking out two in three scoreless innings.
— The Associated Press