NEW ORLEANS — Former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith was shot and killed in a case of road rage by a man who had rear-ended his car, police said.
Smith was beloved by fans for his role in bringing a Super Bowl championship to New Orleans in 2009, though the defensive captain also found himself at the center of the NFL’s bounty probe in 2012.
There was no indication Smith, 34, knew 28-year-old Cardell Hayes before the deadly confrontation, or that anything except the car wreck led to the shooting. Hayes waited for police to arrive after the shooting and was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder. Police Superintendent Michael Harrison would not say whether Hayes claimed self-defense, citing the ongoing investigation.
A magistrate set bond at $1 million Sunday evening for Hayes.
Harrison said the former defensive end had dined just hours before the Saturday night crash with a police officer who had once been sued by Hayes, whose father was shot and killed by police in 2005. However, it was not clear if that played any role in the confrontation.
VANDERBILT RAPE TRIAL
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The victim of a Vanderbilt dorm room rape condemned a jury verdict that resulted in a former football player being convicted of lesser charges.
Jurors found Cory Batey guilty Friday night of a host of charges, but only agreed on one of five counts of the most serious charge of aggravated rape, which carries a penalty of 15 to 25 years in prison.
“I am deeply disappointed in the jury’s verdict,” the woman said in a statement. The Associated Press does not normally identify victims of sexual assault.
This was the second time Batey went to trial. Batey and former teammate Brandon Vandenburg were tried last year and convicted on multiple aggravated rape charges. But the verdicts were thrown out because the jury foreman did not reveal that he was a victim of statutory rape.
BASKETBALL
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers have hired Bryan Colangelo as team president.
The Sixers also announced that his father, Jerry Colangelo, has relinquished his role as chairman of basketball operations and will remain as special adviser to ownership.
Bryan Colangelo takes over days after Sam Hinkie quit as general manager via a 13-page manifesto to ownership.
Colangelo was previously president and general manager of the Toronto Raptors from 2006-13. He also spent 15 seasons working for the Phoenix Suns. He was one of three executives to win NBA executive of the year with two different franchises.
The Sixers have the worst record in the NBA at 10-69.
They have about $60 million in salary cap space, and they could have up to four first-round picks in the draft.
AUTO RACING
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — Ronnie “The King” Davis died from injuries sustained in a crash during a drag racing event at Rockingham Dragway.
The track said that the 66-year-old Davis, from Suwanee, Georgia, had completed a final qualifying run in the PDRA Spring Nationals when his 1963 Corvette turned left and shot across the track in front rival Mark Malcuit’s car. Davis’ car cleared the right-side guardwall and barrel-rolled.
Davis was taken to Moore County Regional Hospital in Pinehurst and later to UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill.
Davis was a five-time IHRA season champion. Early in his career, he was almost unbeatable at Atlanta Speed Shop Dragway, where he earned his nickname by dominating a competition called “King of the Hill.”
He owned Davis Golf Carts in Suwanee.
BASEBALL
SAN FRANCISCO — First baseman Brandon Belt and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a $72.8 million, five-year contract that starts in 2017.
Belt reached a $6.2 million, one-year agreement in February, and general manager Bobby Evans remained optimistic the sides would reach a long-term deal. The new contract calls for a $6 million signing bonus, payable next Jan. 15, a $2.8 million salary for 2017 and $16 million annually from 2018-21. Each Nov. 1 starting in 2017, Belt may designate 10 teams he cannot be traded to without his consent.
Belt, who would have been eligible for free agency after the 2017 season, took a physical Saturday morning at AT&T Park. The 27-year-old batted .280 with 18 home runs and 68 RBIs last year as the Giants missed the playoffs.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
SAN FRANCISCO — A California assistant basketball coach who resigned following a reporter’s sexual harassment allegations has been hired by another Division I team.
Nevada said it has hired Yann Hufnagel as assistant coach for the Wolf Pack.
Hufnagel resigned from California on Thursday, a day before the results of his appeal of its attempt to fire him were to be released. His attorney, Mary McNamara, has said California’s toxic environment made it impossible for Hufnagel to rejoin the team, even if he’s vindicated in full “as the facts would show.”
The allegations against Hufnagel were among many recent high-profile sexual harassment cases at California that have raised questions over top officials’ handling of them. Other cases involved a renowned astronomy professor, a vice chancellor and the law school dean.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A former University of Kansas running back who had been missing for a week has been found dead in a secluded area in central Missouri.
Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman said 24-year-old Brandon Kyle Bourbon’s body was found Friday afternoon on a riverfront property near Vienna, about 80 miles west of his hometown of Polosi.
He says Bourbon killed himself, but he didn’t provide additional details. Bourbon was reported missing April 2.
Bourbon played football for Kansas until 2014 and transferred to Washburn for the 2015 season.
University of Kansas football coach David Beaty issued a statement sending his condolences to Bourbon’s family and calling him a constant source of inspiration within the football program.
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