Sports – Page 67 – The Mississippi Link

George 'Boomer' Scott, All-Star 1B, dies at 69

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George “Boomer” Scott, a three-time All-Star first baseman who hit 271 homers in a 14-year major-league career and is a member of the Red Sox hall of fame, died Sunday, July 28. He was 69.

Washington County coroner Methel Johnson confirmed Scott died in Greenville, his hometown.

A three-time All-Star, Scott spent most of his career with the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers. He hit 27 homers with 90 RBIs during his rookie season in 1966 – second for a Red Sox rookie only to Ted Williams – and had his best year with the Brewers in 1975, when he hit 36 homers and had 109 RBIs. […]

Former Jackson State football coach ’Judge’ Hughes dies

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Former Jackson State football coach, Robert “Judge” Hughes died Wednesday, July 31, at the age of 68.

Jackson State says in a news release Hughes died Wednesday from complications of diabetes. Services are pending.

Hughes, who has been in and out of the hospital over the last several months, will be remembered by JSU fans as one of the great football players and coaches in the history of Tigers football, Jackson State said in a release. […]

Former Mississippi standout Crespino dies at 75

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Robert “Bobby” Crespino, a tight end and receiver for some of Mississippi’s best football teams from 1958 to 1960, died on Monday, July 29, in Atlanta. He was 75.

Cockrell Funeral Home in Macon, Miss., confirmed Crespino’s death after a lengthy illness, but did not provide details of the illness.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Crespino played for three Ole Miss teams that had a combined 29-3-1 record and earned a share of two national championships in 1959 and 1960. He caught 30 passes for 408 yards and four touchdowns in 1960. […]

Emile Griffith, elegant boxing champ, dies at 75

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Inside the smaller theater at Madison Square Garden about five years ago, shortly before a world title fight, Emile Griffith was introduced one more time to the crowd. He rose shakily from his seat, waved ever so briefly and then sat down.

The applause kept going.

Revered in retirement perhaps more than during his fighting days, Griffith died Tuesday, July 23, at 75 after a long battle with pugilistic dementia. The first fighter to be crowned world champion from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Griffith required full-time care late in life and died at an extended care facility in Hempstead, N.Y. […]

Hickerson’s bust presented to Ole Miss

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The Pro Football Hall of Fame bust of the late Gene Hickerson has found a permanent home at University of Mississippi.

The Oxford Eagle reports that the bust was presented to Ole Miss by Hickerson’s family. Hickerson helped the Rebels to the 1955 SEC title and a 1956 Cotton Bowl win over TCU, plus a victory over Texas in the 1958 Sugar Bowl.

Hickerson went on to play 15 seasons for the Cleveland Browns as the lead blocker for three Hall of Famers – Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell. […]

Former MSU player Mitchell dead at 72

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Leland Mitchell, a former Mississippi State basketball star who played in the renowned MSU-Loyola game in 1963, died Saturday, July 6 at the age of 72.

Mitchell died at his home in Starkville.

Officials with Welch Funeral Home in Starkville said services were held on July 11.

The 6-foot-4 Mitchell starred at guard on the MSU team that won the Southeastern Conference championship and earned a berth in the NCAA tournament. State law prohibited the all-white Bulldogs from traveling to East Lansing, Mich., to face an integrated Loyola University of Chicago team, but MSU coach Babe McCarthy sneaked the team out of town to play the game. […]

Settlement reached in death of Mississippi player

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The family of a Mississippi football player who died following a workout in 2010 has reached a settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit against the university and the NCAA.

Bennie Abram III, a 20-year-old non-scholarship player from Southaven, collapsed during an offseason workout and later died at a hospital in Oxford. An autopsy determined Abram’s death was caused by complications from sickle cell trait, which can alter red blood cells after strenuous exercise.

According to settlement documents, the family will receive $50,000 from the insurance company for the university’s athletic foundation. The Abrams’ attorney, Gene Egdorf of Houston, Texas, says the family also will receive $275,000 from the NCAA’s insurance policy. […]

Police: UM’s Henderson appeared to have drugs; suspended indefinitely

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The Oxford police chief says Mississippi guard Marshall Henderson appeared to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana and cocaine during a traffic stop in May.

Henderson, a 6-foot-2 senior from Hurst, Texas, was suspended indefinitely by coach Andy Kennedy on Wednesday for “violation of team rules,” but no other reason was given.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the traffic stop, citing a police report. […]

Jones and Totten to be honored at Legends Reception

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Former Mississippi Valley State quarterback Willie Totten and the late defensive lineman David “Deacon” Jones will be two of five former HBCU standouts to be honored Thursday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. at the MEAC/SWAC Legends Reception in Orlando, hosted by ESPN.

The Legends Award was established in 2009 to pay tribute to extraordinary alumni who have used their respective MEAC and SWAC university education to bring excellence to their professional achievements and/or community service endeavors whether local, statewide, nationally or globally.
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Ole Miss football player killed in car accident

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The Old Miss Rebels “are hurting” head coach Hugh Freeze said after one of their own was killed in a car accident Wednesday afternoon.

Park Coleman Stevens was killed on impact when his truck hit the back of a semi that was crossing a four-lane highway in Chickasaw County, Miss.

Although he was not immediately identified, Cpl. Chris Turnipseed told the Mississippi Daily Journal that “the driver of the pickup was killed upon impact.” […]