sports obituaries gallery hi res landscape

British author Sue Townsend’s “Adrian Mole” diaries sold millions of copies.  (Ben McMillan / EPA/Penguin Group)

In this 1960 photo, Kenneth Stanley “Bud” Adams, right, shakes hands with the Houston Oilers’ Billy Cannon in the dressing room in Houston. Adams died of natural causes in his Houston home, the Tennessee Titans announced Monday. He was 90.  (Ed Kolenovsky / Associated Press)

Former boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter holds up the writ of habeas corpus that freed him from prison, during a news conference held in Sacramento, Calif., in 2004. Carter, who spent almost 20 years in jail after twice being convicted of a triple murder he denied committing, has died at his home in Toronto at 76.  (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

German-Jewish writer Stefanie Zweig, best known for her autobiographical novel “Nowhere in Africa,” has died at 81.  (Uwe Zucchi / Associated Press)

Detroit Lions owner William Clay Ford on the sidelines before a game against the Washington Redskins in 2008. He became known as an unpretentious owner with a greater passion for his team than for his profits.   (Paul Sancya / Associated Press)

Sandy Grossman (1935-2014) -- The television sports director oversaw broadcasts of a record 10 Super Bowls.  (Roman Iwasiwka / Associated Press)

In 1996, the Padres’ Tony Gwynn smiles while waiting for batting practice before a game against the Dodgers.   (Susan Sterner / Associated Press)

Bebo Valdes, shown on stage in 2003, enjoyed a career resurgence starting in the 1990s.  (Rafa Rivas, AFP/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Inquirer co-owner Lewis Katz, shown last week in Philadelphia, was among seven people killed Saturday night in a fiery plane crash in Massachusetts, the newspaper’s editor said Sunday.  (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)

Louis “Red” Klotz, at his home in Margate, N.J., in 2001.   (Chris Polk / Associated Press)

Jeanne Cooper won an Emmy in 2008 for best actress in a drama series. She played grande dame Katherine Chancellor for nearly four decades on the CBS soap opera “The Young and the Restless.”  (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)

Northern State men’s basketball coach Don Meyer, second from the left, celebrates his 903rd career victory, which propelled him to the top of the total career victories list in 2009. Meyer has died at 69.  (John Davis / Associated Press)

Billie Jean King, right, stands with her mother, Betty Moffitt, center, and Ilana Kloss, left. King has said her mother helped her remain balanced as a child.  (Elise Amendola / Associated Press)

Backup quarterback Earl Morrall, left, with Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, center, and Bob Griese. In the 1972 playoffs, Morrall guided Miami to a victory over Cleveland but was replaced by Griese after the Dolphins fell behind to Pittsburgh in the AFC title game.   (Mark Foley / Associated Press)

In this Jan. 7, 2012, photograph, former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips tips his hat to the crowd before an NFL playoff football game in Houston. Phillips died Friday at the age of 90.  (David Einsel / Associated Press)

Right-hander Bob Welch winds up to throw to the Philadelphia Phillies in a National League playoff game in 1978. He threw a blazing fastball and rose quickly through the Dodger system.  (Rusty Kennedy / Associated Press)

Hiroshi Yamauchi, president of Japan’s Nintendo Co., in 1992.   (Katsumi Kasahara / Associated Press)

Boston Red Sox manager Don Zimmer, right, argues with home plate umpire Terry Cooney in the first inning of a baseball game at Anaheim Stadium.   (Reed Saxon / Associated Press)