Original 9, Hewitt, Raymond among nominees for tennis Hall
NEWPORT, R.I. โ Billie Jean King and the other members of the Original 9 who laid the groundwork for the womenโs professional tennis tour are the first group nominated together for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. They join Jonas Bjorkman, Sergi Brugera, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Lleyton Hewitt, Lisa Raymond and the late Dennis Van der Meer on the ballot announced Monday for the Hallโs Class of 2021. That group and Van der Meer, who advocated for a universal teaching method in tennis, were nominated in the Contributor Category. Van der Meer died last year. The full ballot now goes to the official voting group โ which includes tennis journalists, historians and Hall of Fame members โ and fans can vote online in the Player Category from Oct. 1-25.
Police: Justin Townes Earle's death was probable overdose
New West Records publicist Brady Brock confirmed his death, but did not immediately provide details. Earle was the son of country star Steve Earle. (AP Photo/Joe Giblin, file)NASHVILLE, Tenn. Nashville police said a preliminary investigation into the death of singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle shows his death was a probable drug overdose. Police spokesman Don Aaron said officers did a welfare check at Earle's home on Sunday where he was found dead. He was the son of country star Steve Earle, although the younger Earle was mostly raised by his single mother, Carol-Ann.