Vaccaro to speak at Curbstone Coaches

Sonny Vaccaro, a famous sports marketing executive and American sports businessman, will be the guest speaker at Monday’s luncheon meeting of The Curbstone Coaches at the Avion Banquet Center on Western Reserve Road in Beaver Township.

The event begins at noon and the public is welcome to attend.

For those arriving early the buffet lines will open at 11:45 a.m. For this speaker, the doors will open 11:15 a.m.

Vaccaro previously worked at Nike, Adidas and Reebok. He was one of the men responsible for signing Michael Jordon to Nike and Kobe Bryant to Adidas.

The story of his blockbuster Jordon deal is told in the 2023 movie “Air,’ which stars Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Viola Davis.

He attended Youngstown State University to play football, but an injury ended his career. It was during his time at YSU that Vaccaro first became involved with legendary YSU basketball coach Dom Rosselli.

Vaccaro ran the Dapper Dan Round Ball Classic from 1965-2007. During that the time, several future NBA legends would play in the game, including NBA Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing, Moses Malone, Alonzo Mourning, Calvin Murphy, Adrian Dantley and Dominique Wilkins.

Primanti Bros. to open early for Browns

YOUNGSTOWN — Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar will open select restaurants at 9 a.m. on Sunday to give fans an opportunity to gather for the Browns’ game taking place in London.

Locations opening early in the area are Boardman and Niles.

“This is a really cool moment for Browns fans – and we wanted to make sure that they had a place to gather, eat, drink and cheer on the team – even with the early kickoff,” said Jim Prezioso, director of beverage at Primanti Bros, in a press release. “If you aren’t able to get to London for the game – there’s no better place to be.”

In addition to just opening early, Primanti Bros. will be featuring its Almost Famous Happy Hours – beginning at 9 a.m. – with nearly all drinks behind the bar being served for half-price.

“Listen, we might’ve been born in Pittsburgh – but we’re proud to operate in Browns territory,” Prezioso said. “And if we can all get together at 9 a.m. and crack a beer – we’re in.”

Former Raven Arthur Jones, 39, dies

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Arthur Jones, a defensive lineman who spent his first four NFL seasons in Baltimore and won a Super Bowl with the Ravens, has died. He was 39.

Syracuse, Jones’ alma mater, said he died Friday morning. The school and the Ravens didn’t give a cause of death in their announcements.

“Arthur’s presence was a gift to everyone he encountered,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said. “His big, bright smile, infectious energy and eternal positivity created a presence that continuously uplifted others.”

Jones was a fifth-round draft pick in 2010 and had 8 1/2 of his 10 career sacks in a two-season stretch in 2012-13. The Ravens beat San Francisco in the Super Bowl to cap the 2012 season.

Jones sacked 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick just before a power outage at the Superdome in New Orleans. He also had a fumble recovery in that Super Bowl.

Jones spent two years with Indianapolis and a final season in Washington in 2017.

Jones played for Syracuse and was the older brother of former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former Syracuse and NFL defensive end Chandler Jones, a four-time Pro Bowler who won a Super Bowl in New England.

Jones had 38 1/2 tackles for loss at Syracuse, a school record for an interior defensive lineman. He was a first-team All-Big East selection each of his final two seasons.

“Arthur Jones was a tremendous player and even better person,” Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said. “We were fortunate that Arthur continued to support our football program after his playing career. He impacted many of our student-athletes, always with a smile and uplifting message.”

Aces drop Mercury in WNBA Finals opener

LAS VEGAS — A’ja Wilson and Dana Evans each scored 21 points, and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury 89-86 in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Friday night.

Wilson scored 12 of her points over the final 14 minutes, and Phoenix’s Satou Sabally missed a long 3-pointer with 2 seconds left that would have tied it.

Game 2 is Sunday in Las Vegas.

Evans led an Aces bench that outscored the Mercury’s reserves 41-16. Reserve Jewell Loyd scored 18 points for second-seeded Las Vegas, and starter Jackie Young had 10. Wilson had 10 rebounds, and Chelsea Gray had 10 assists.

Kahleah Cooper scored 21 points for the fourth-seeded Mercury. Sabally added 19 points and Alyssa Thomas had 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Copper scored 19 points in the first half, one off her playoff career high for a half. Her personal best also came against the Mercury, when she scored 20 points for Chicago in the first half of Game 3 of the 2021 Finals. Copper’s five 3-pointers in the first half topped her previous high of four for a game.

If this game was any indication, these Finals — a best-of-seven series for the first time — figure to be tight throughout. The largest lead was nine points, and there were 12 lead changes and nine ties.

The Mercury threatened to take control several times, only for the Aces to respond with a run. In the end, it was Las Vegas that nearly pulled away, only for Phoenix to keep it close.

With Phoenix Down a point with 24.6 seconds left, Thomas went to the free-throw line but missed both. Young was fouled on the other end with 13.5 seconds remaining and made both free throws for the final margin.