Sports briefs
In football
Ross Browner, a two-time All-American at Notre Dame and one of four brothers who played in the NFL, has died. He was 67.
Browner’s son, former NFL offensive lineman Max Starks, posted on Twitter early Wednesday morning that his father had died.
“The world has lost a Titan,” Starks said. “Our hearts are heavy but he is at peace now.”
A native of Warren, Ohio, Browner was part of an accomplished football family. The defensive end was the oldest of six brothers who were high school football stars in Ohio. Three others – Jimmie Browner, Keith Browner and Joey Browner – followed Ross to the NFL.
Starks played offensive line in the NFL for a decade, twice winning the Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Ross Browner’s younger son, Rylan, played college football at Arizona.
Browner was a four-year starter at Notre Dame, helping the Fighting Irish win national titles in 1973 and 1977 under coach Ara Parseghian.
Browner was an All-American in 1976 as a junior, winning the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best lineman.
In the NBA
Portland guard Damian Lillard will miss the next three games because of lower abdominal tendinopathy.
The Trail Blazers announced Wednesday that Lillard will undergo further evaluation and consultation concerning the injury, which has bothered him since the Tokyo Olympics.
Duquesne postponed
The George Washington at Duquesne men’s basketball game, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was moved to Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. The game was postponed because GW was in COVID-19 protocols.
Duquesne has not played since Dec. 19. The last four Dukes games have been postponed or canceled.
In the NHL
Edmonton captain and reigning league MVP Connor McDavid went on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list Wednesday, while the Dallas Stars and their captain Jamie Benn prepared to return to the ice after missing six games over 2 ½ weeks because of virus issues.
McDavid, forward Derek Ryan and defenseman Tyson Barrie were placed in COVID-19 protocols before the Oilers’ game Wednesday night at Toronto.
In tennis
Novak Djokovic’s chance to play for a 10th Australian Open title was thrown into limbo Thursday when the country denied him entry and canceled his visa because he failed to meet the requirements for an exemption to COVID-19 vaccination rules.
The top-ranked Djokovic announced on social media Tuesday that he had “exemption permission” and landed in Australia late Wednesday after receiving a medical exemption from the Victoria state government that would shield him from the strict vaccination regulations in place for this year’s first major tennis tournament.
In college basketball
Santiago Vescovi scored 17 points, including a critical 3-pointer and two big free throws in overtime, as No. 18 Tennessee pulled out a 66-60 victory over Mississippi on Wednesday night.