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STANFORD, Calif. Jake Matthews Jersey . -- Chester McGlockton, a four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman who emerged as a talented assistant coach and mentor at Stanford, died Wednesday. He was 42. McGlockton also spent time helping the San Francisco 49ers and former Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh -- his former racquetball partner -- during training camp this summer as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship. Harbaugh expressed sadness and shock upon hearing of McGlocktons death. Stanford said the schools defensive assistant died overnight. "Chesters been a very close and dear friend over the last four years," Harbaugh said Wednesday. "It was a shock. Just sad, sad today with the news of his passing. Chester was a great guy, good man, doing the right things. ... He was helping a lot of people. Were really going to miss him. To say he was coming into his own as a coach would be understating it. He had already blossomed. He was so positive with the players and with the other coaches. He always had coaching advice or spiritual advice, a smile for you." The cause of death was not immediately announced. "Everyone in the Stanford Football family is deeply saddened by the passing of Chester McGlockton," Stanford coach David Shaw said in a statement. "For the past two seasons, Chester has been a valuable member of our football staff and a wonderful friend to us all. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chesters wife Zina and their two children." A native of Whiteville, N.C., McGlockton starred at Clemson before being selected 16th overall by the Los Angeles Raiders in 1992. He played 12 seasons in the NFL with the Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos and New York Jets. He made all four of his Pro Bowl appearances while with the Raiders from 1994-1997. "I had the privilege to coach Chester with both the Raiders and the Chiefs and he was a quality person and a consummate pro -- everything you could ever want in a football player," Detroit Lions defensive co-ordinator Gunther Cunningham said. "I will forever cherish the opportunity to have coached him." McGlocktons best season came in 1994, when he had a career-high 9 1/2 sacks with three forced fumbles and 48 tackles. "The thoughts and prayers of the Raider Nation are with the McGlockton family during this difficult time," Raiders CEO Amy Trask said. Denver Broncos coach John Fox, who coached McGlockton when he was with the Raiders in the mid-1990s, also was stunned by the news. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family," Fox said. "Chester was a great player, a Pro Bowl player. I had him while I was with the Oakland Raiders. Like I said, Im still a little bit in shock, but he was a tremendous player. " After his playing career, McGlockton returned to school and earned his undergraduate degree from Tennessee-Martin in 2010. He had lived in San Ramon, Calif., with his wife and two children while serving as a Stanford defensive assistant the last two seasons. Big Chet, as he was known by many, was around 335 pounds during his career. But he had lost weight in recent years after undergoing laparoscopic weight-loss surgery and improving his workout and eating habits. "We had done walks together, we played racquetball together quite a bit the last year, he was in very good shape for being a big man," said Steve Wisniewski, a friend and former teammate. "I spoke to Chester yesterday, as a matter of fact," Wisniewski said. "He had a great day with his girls and was looking forward to kind of a few slow weeks as Stanford prepares for a bowl (game), so he could have some more family time. Anybody who knows Chester, he loved his wife and girls to the moon. "Again, I just cant express how tragic it is lose someone like that at 42." McGlockton was remembered as a fierce competitor until the end. Harbaugh said when playing McGlockton in racquetball, hed always remember to wear his goggles. McGlockton had attended three 49ers games this season and regularly checked in with Harbaugh and other San Francisco coaches via text message, providing words of encouragement. "You were fighting for survival inside the racquetball court," Harbaugh said. "Just a positive, huge presence on the football team at Stanford. Dear friend, loved him." Funeral arrangements were pending. Paul Worrilow Jersey . -- After enjoying the chance to watch Toronto beat Anaheim, the San Jose Sharks took advantage of a tired Maple Leafs team to move closer to the Ducks in the standings. Jonathan Massaquoi Jersey . A goal machine for the MLS team when healthy, the former striker is back in his native Netherlands these days.MINNEAPOLIS -- Phil Hughes didnt come to Minnesota to be a saviour. He just wanted to throw strikes and help his new team win some games. On Sunday, he gave the Twins more proof they made a wise investment. Hughes won his third start in a row, Trevor Plouffe and Kurt Suzuki hit two-run doubles and the Twins beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2. "It starts with the starting pitcher and he gave us a great opportunity against a very potent lineup," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who was especially pleased with Hughes control. "You put guys on base, you miss a play and youll wind up killing yourself against those guys." Brought in as a free agent to help cure some of the Twins starting pitching woes, Hughes (3-1) again pitched like the ace the team hoped hed be. Hughes gave up two runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings, walking none and striking out three. He became the first Twins pitcher to win three consecutive starts since Sam Deduno won three straight in July 2013. "I said in the off-season when they signed him I thought he was a really good sign," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He gives you a lot of confidence. (He can) go up and go away and let those guys who can really run the ball down run it down. He was effective. Hes added the cutter and a lot more." Hughes, who left the Yankees in the off-season to join the Twins, gave up four earned runs in each of his first three starts this season. He has given up a total of six earned runs and just one walk in 19 1-3 innings over his last three outings. The focus was on control the weekend after Twins pitchers issued 22 walks -- including 12 by their starters -- as the Dodgers swept three games at Target Field earlier in the week. Against the Orioles, the Twins walked just two batters in three games and took two of three in the series. "I always take pride in throwing strikes, making guys earn their way on base and not giving any free passes," Hughes said. "If were going to make mistakes in the zone and were going to get beat on aggressive pitches, so be it. William Moore Jersey. But we dont want to let them on for free." After giving up a single to Nick Markakis to start the game, Hughes retired the next 14 batters. Nelson Cruz broke up Hughes shutout bid with two outs in the sixth, hitting a two-run shot for his ninth homer of the season. Glen Perkins pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in eight chances this year. The Twins played most of the day without first baseman Joe Mauer, who left in the top of the third inning with lower-back spasms. Gardenhire said that Mauer underwent treatment throughout the game and said he thinks he could play on Monday. The Twins scored twice in the third, helped by the hustle of the Twins most slump-ridden hitter. Eduardo Escobar led off with a single off Miguel Gonzalez (1-3) and Pedro Florimon, who entered the game hitting .121, followed with a routine ground ball to second base. Running hard down the line, Florimon barely beat shortstop J.J. Hardys double-play relay to first base. Brian Dozier then singled and one out later, Plouffe lined a double into the left-field corner that scored both runners. Gonzalez walked the bases full with two outs, then walked Kurt Suzuki to force home a run. Reliever Troy Patton bailed him out of the jam by retiring Sam Fuld. The Twins tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh against reliever Ryan Webb. Chris Colabello hit a one-out double, Jason Kubel walked and Suzuki hit a double to left that scored both runners. Kubel slid home just ahead of catcher Matt Wieters tag, a call that was confirmed via an instant-replay challenge. NOTES: Plouffe leads the majors with 14 doubles. ... Minnesota wrapped up an eight-game homestand with a 3-5 record. RHP Kyle Gibson (3-2, 4.34) is scheduled to start on Monday when the Twins begin a four-game series at Cleveland. Wholesale Jerseys ' ' ' |
