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Post by jimsteel on Feb 15, 2023 19:00:45 GMT -5
[img src=" " alt=" "] Greg McMackin a former coach at both the collegiate and professional levels passed away at the age of 77. At the professional level, McMackin has coached for two National Football League teams: as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks from 1995 to 1998, and as linebackers and assistant head coach for the San Francisco 49ers from 2003 to 2005. He also coached for the Denver Gold of the then defunct United States Football League (USFL). At the college level, McMackin gained prominence as the defense coordinator for the University of Miami for the 1993 and 1994 seasons. There, Miami won two Big East Championships and ranked first in total defense, scoring defense and pass defense. Further, the Hurricanes allowed just seven touchdowns on defense in one season. While there, he coached Lombardi Award winner Warren Sapp, Ray Lewis and six First-Team Consensus All-Americans. The Hurricanes played in the national championship game (Orange Bowl) in 1995. McMackin has served as defensive coordinator at six colleges: Hawaii, Texas Tech, Miami, Navy, Utah, and Idaho. Briefly, during the first half of the 2007 spring semester, McMackin was an instructor at Texas Tech. McMackin, previously the defensive coordinator for the Hawaii Warriors, was one of several individuals being considered to fill the vacancy left by June Jones as head coach. Jones left the Hawaii Warriors in January to become the head coach of SMU. On January 15, 2008, McMackin took over the position of head coach for the Hawaii Warriors. Upon signing his five-year contract, McMackin became the highest-paid state employee with a $1.12 million annual salary. The previous record was held by his predecessor, June Jones, with an $800,016 annual salary. On August 1, 2009 McMackin was suspended for 30 days without pay due to his use of a homophobic slur during an interview. McMackin resigned from his position of head coach for Hawaii on December 5, 2011, accepting a $600,000 buyout. The following is a list of coaching positions he held during his long tenure as a football coach.: 1968 Arizona (GA) 1969–1970 Aloha HS (OR) (assistant) 1971–1972 Aloha HS (OR) 1973–1975 Western Oregon State (DC) 1976–1978 Idaho (DB/DC) 1979–1983 San Jose State (DB) 1984 Stanford (LB) 1985 Denver Gold (DB) 1986–1989 Oregon Tech 1990–1991 Utah (DC) 1992 Navy (DC) 1993–1994 Miami (FL) (DC) 1995–1998 Seattle Seahawks (DC) 1999 Hawaii (DC) 2000–2002 Texas Tech (DC) 2003–2005 San Francisco 49ers (LB) 2007 Hawaii (DC) 2008–2011 Hawaii
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 15, 2023 21:44:59 GMT -5
Allen Green, a former punter and placekicker in the National Football League, passed away at the age of 84. He was one day shy of his 85th birthday. The following is an excerpt from Green's online obituary: "Throughout his life he was a part of, and even contributed to, some special events. In football, he helped lead the Hanceville High School Bulldogs to an undefeated season. He was a part of a dynasty of Ole' Miss football teams culminating in a national championship in 1960. He made history in the NFL by kicking the winning field goal for the first regular-season game that the Dallas Cowboys ever won in 1961. His career after football included contract work with NASA, helping to build America's first space station (Skylab), opening a Golf Driving Range, investing in Mr. Steak restaurants, and working for "Bobcat," helping the company to re-design and market its tractors to dominate the market and become the name associated with any skid-steer loader." Green attended Hanceville High School before moving on to the University of Mississippi. He played as a center, but got an opportunity to start kicking field goals as a senior. On October 26, 1960, he was named Lineman of the Week by the Associated Press after making his first field goal in an official game and contributing to a controversial last second upset of the University of Arkansas 10-7. Against Louisiana State University, he made another last second field goal (a career-high 41 yards) to tie the game at 6-6. He contributed to the team finishing with a 10–0–1 record, with the lone blemish the 6-6 tie against an inferior LSU squad (the Tigers went 5-4-1 after winning 20 of 22 games in 1958 and 1959). They also won the 1961 Sugar Bowl, defeating Rice University 14-6, the SEC championship and were recognized as national champions by the Football Writers Association of America. Allen was selected by the New York Giants in the eighth round (109th overall) of the 1961 NFL Draft. He was then sent to the Dallas Cowboys on a three-team deal on July 5, 1961. The Redskins acquired Fred Dugan, placekicker John Aveni, defensive back Dave Whitsell and offensive end Jerry Daniels. The New York Giants obtained offensive ends Joe Walton and Jim Podoley. The Cowboys received Green and a sixth-round pick for the 1962 NFL Draft that the team later used to draft George Andrie. In 1961, he was given the punting duties by Dave Sherer. He was also the starting kicker until Dick Bielski took over for the final five games. He made a last second field goal in the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers to earn the Cowboys their first ever victory (27-24). On October 29, he made another tie-breaker field goal in the last minutes of the game against the New York Giants for a 17-16 win. On April 27, 1962, he was traded to the Green Bay Packers in a three-team deal, with the Cowboys acquiring safety Dick Nolan and the New York Giants obtaining a draft pick from the Packers. Green was waived by the Green Bay Packers on August 19, 1964.
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 16, 2023 14:17:02 GMT -5
Former MLB Player Tim McCarver passed away An All-Star catcher and decorated baseball broadcaster for generations of fans. He was 81.
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Post by TTX on Feb 16, 2023 15:18:54 GMT -5
RIP Tim
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 16, 2023 15:52:28 GMT -5
Paul Jerrard, a former NHL defenseman who played one season in the National Hockey League for the Minnesota North Stars, passed away at the age of 57. Mr. Jerrard lost his battle with cancer. Jerrard was drafted in the 9th round of the 1983 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers from Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Saskatchewan, a famous hockey school in Canada. After being drafted by the New York Rangers, he left Canada to play college hockey at Lake Superior State University, where he played all 4 seasons for the Lakers. After graduating from LSSU, he joined the Colorado Rangers of the IHL. He would be traded to the Minnesota North Stars in 1988, who he would play 5 games for in the 1988–89 NHL season. After a brief stint in the NHL, he would remain in the minors for the rest of his career, ending it with the Hershey Bears in 1997. Jerrard was an assistant coach for the Omaha Mavericks of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) and he was previously a coach for the Stars' AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars. He served as assistant coach for the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League, and then as an assistant coach for the Calgary Flames. The following are the teams Mr. Jerrard played for in his pro hockey career: Minnesota North Stars Colorado Rangers Denver Rangers Kalamazoo Wings Albany Choppers Milwaukee Admirals Fort Wayne Komets Hershey Bears The following list are the teams that Mr. Jerrard coached: 1997–1998 Lake Superior State (asst) 1998–1999 Lowell Lock Monsters (asst) 1999–2002 Lake Superior State (asst) 2002–2003 Colorado Avalanche (asst) 2003–2005 Hershey Bears (asst) 2005–2008 Iowa Stars (asst) 2008–2009 Iowa Chops (asst) 2009–2011 Texas Stars (asst) 2011–2013 Dallas Stars (asst) 2013–2016 Utica Comets (asst) 2016–2018 Calgary Flames (asst) 2018–Present Omaha (asst)
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 17, 2023 11:38:26 GMT -5
Paul Wieland, an original member of the Buffalo Sabres' public relations department and a former broadcaster on telecast of the Sabres, passed away at the age of 84. Mr. Wieland worked for the Sabres from in front of the mic and behind the scenes for over 25 years. Wieland was instrumental in starting the Sabres' local cable broadcasts of home games on the Niagara Frontier Sports Network. He served as the director and executive producer of all Sabres local TV broadcasts for many years on WNYB, WUTV and the Empire Sports Network.
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 17, 2023 17:16:59 GMT -5
Simone Edwards, WNBA’s 1st Jamaican player, dies at 49
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 17, 2023 17:19:32 GMT -5
Alex Herrera, a former MLB pitcher passed away he was 43. No cause of death was released. Herrera was signed by Cleveland as an amateur free agent in 1997. He started his professional career in 1998 with the Caribes de Oriente club of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League and pitched in the Indians Minor League system from 2000 through the 2002 midseason, reaching Triple-A level with the Buffalo Bisons before joining the big team in 15 Major League games as a left-handed specialist. He allowed seven runs on 10 hits and eight walks, striking out 11 batters, while recording a 5.11 ERA in 12+1⁄3 innings of work. Following his four-year stint in the Cleveland organization, Herrera pitched from 2004 to 2006 for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Richmond Braves and Toledo Mud Hens, Triple-A affiliate teams of Colorado, Atlanta and Detroit, respectively. His most productive season came in 2001, when he posted a combined 7–0 record with five saves and a 1.32 ERA for A+ Kinston Indians and Double-A Akron Aeros. Herrera has pitched in the Can-Am League, Italian League and Mexican League, as well as for several teams in the Venezuelan winter league through the present. He earned an All-Star Futures Game selection in its inaugural 2001 edition and has also appeared in numerous Caribbean Series. In a 15-year career, Herrera has compiled a 57–54 record with a 4.09 ERA and 27 saves in 447 pitching appearances, including 877 strikeouts, 510 walks, 101 starts, two shutouts, and four complete games.
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 17, 2023 17:22:36 GMT -5
Don Blackburn, a former NHL left winger who played in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and Minnesota North Stars, passed away, according to the NHL Alumni Association, he was 84. He also played for the World Hockey Association with the New England Whalers. After retiring in 1976 he became a coach with the Whalers and remained in that position through 1981, serving as their first coach when they joined the NHL in 1979 as the Hartford Whalers. Except for a six-game stint with the Boston Bruins, Blackburn spent the majority of the early portion of his career with various minor league teams. He was a dominant force with the Quebec Aces of the AHL during the mid-1960s, including a 36-goal performance in 1965–66. He was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL expansion draft and was a regular contributor during the first two years of the fledgling team's existence. In 1969, he was traded to the New York Rangers, but he played sparingly for two years with the team. He was claimed by the New York Islanders in the 1972 expansion draft, but was traded to the Minnesota North Stars late in the season. He finished his career with three seasons with the WHA's Whalers, scoring 59 points in 1973–74. Blackburn was the first ever Hartford Whalers coach. He led them to a 27–34–19 record in the 1979–80 NHL season. In the playoffs, the Whalers were swept by Montreal in three games. Blackburn was fired midway through the 1980–81 season after the Whalers sat with a record of 15–29–16. He was replaced by interim coach Larry Pleau. From 1956-1976 he has played for the following teams: 1956–57 Hamilton Tiger Cubs OHA 1957–58 Hamilton Tiger Cubs OHA 1958–69 Vancouver Canucks WHL 1959–60 Vancouver Canucks WHL 1959–60 Providence Reds AHL 1960–61 Kingston Frontenacs EPHL 1961–62 Kingston Frontenacs EPHL 1962–63 Boston Bruins NHL 1962–63 Kingston Frontenacs EPHL 1963–64 Quebec Aces AHL 1964–65 Quebec Aces AHL 1965–66 Quebec Aces AHL 1966–67 Rochester Americans AHL 1967–68 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 1968–69 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 1968–69 Baltimore Clippers AHL 1969–70 New York Rangers NHL 1969–70 Buffalo Bisons AHL 1970–71 Rochester Americans AHL 1970–71 New York Rangers NHL 1971–72 Providence Reds AHL 1972–73 New York Islanders NHL 1972–73 Minnesota North Stars NHL 1973–74 New England Whalers WHA 1974–75 New England Whalers WHA 1974–75 Cape Codders NAHL 1975–76 New England Whalers WHA 1975–76 Cape Codders NAHL
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Post by jimsteel on Feb 18, 2023 0:09:06 GMT -5
Powerlifter And NPC Bodybuilder Dawn Whitham Has Passed Away At 57 Dawn Whitham passed away after a long and successful career in fitness. Whitham had been battling brain cancer
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