David Close - Sports News Supervisor
David Close
Sports News Supervisor
David Close is a Sports News Supervisor for CNN Sports.
Latest
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Former NFL and college star Rudi Johnson dead at 45Sep 24, 2025Rudi Johnson, an eight-year NFL player and star running back at Auburn University in 2000, has died, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office in Florida. He was 45 years old. -
Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí win men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or awardsSep 22, 2025Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé won his first Ballon d’Or award on Monday, while Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí captured her third straight Ballon d’Or Féminin at the annual soccer awards celebrating the best players in the men’s and women’s game. -
Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw to retire at end of seasonSep 19, 2025One of baseball’s very best is set to hang up his cleats. Clayton Kershaw, the three-time National League Cy Young Award winner for the Los Angeles Dodgers, will retire as a player at the conclusion of the 2025 season, according to the team. -
• Live Updates Live UpdatesLive Updates Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz set for another classic showdown in the US Open finalSep 6, 2025Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will square off again Sunday for a grand slam title after they won their US Open semifinals on Friday. -
NBA to investigate report of prohibited Clippers endorsement deal with 2-time champion Kawhi LeonardSep 4, 2025The NBA announced it would investigate the Los Angeles Clippers following a report by podcast host and journalist Pablo Torre, who accused the team of orchestrating a deceptive endorsement deal to sign then-free agent star forward Kawhi Leonard, circumventing the NBA’s salary cap. -
Deion Sanders keeps baseball ‘close to’ him as he recovers from life-altering cancer scare ahead of Colorado’s season kickoffAug 29, 2025In his heyday within the global spotlight, no one in the sporting world multitasked better than Deion Sanders. Decades later, despite overcoming a challenging battle with bladder cancer, Sanders tells CNN he is fully focused on preparing his Buffaloes for a new year full of lofty expectations. Yet, Coach Prime can also direct his attention to mentoring two of his NFL aspiring sons, his unwavering faith, and keep an eye on a sport near to his heart. -
• Video 3:41Video Deion Sanders speaks to CNN Sports about fatherhood, football, MLB and his cancer battle 3:41Aug 29, 2025Last month, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders shocked the sports world by revealing he had his bladder removed when doctors found an aggressive malignant tumor within him. The unflappable Sanders said he didn’t stare death in the face, instead, he stared life in the face – pledging to set the example of positivity. Coach Prime and CNN Sports’ Coy Wire caught up to discuss fatherhood, football, Sanders’ love for playoff baseball and the day he courageously acknowledged his cancer battle. -
Man arrested after Premier League opener halted due to alleged racist abuseAug 16, 2025A 47-year-old man has been arrested after the Premier League’s season opener on Friday was briefly halted due to alleged racist abuse, local police announced Saturday. -
Emotional, electrifying start to Premier League season as Liverpool wins 6-goal bonanza after honoring Diogo Jota at AnfieldAug 16, 2025The highly anticipated new Premier League season kicked off at Anfield on Friday, with some supporters still wiping away tears from their eyes on a bright, sunny day. Those same supporters likely wiped very different tears away once the final whistle sounded following a six-goal affair that saw the home club walk away with a 4-2 victory. -
NFL’s Roger Goodell calls NYC shooting an ‘attack on humanity’ in first public comments since Monday’s tragedyAug 1, 2025NFL commissioner Roger Goodell called Monday’s shooting in New York City an “attack on humanity” ahead of Thursday night’s annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. -
Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe out at ESPN just weeks after settling sexual assault and battery lawsuitJul 31, 2025Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe, who has been one of the faces of ESPN’s morning sports debate show “First Take,” is no longer with the network, a source with knowledge of the situation told CNN. -
Pro Football Hall of Famer and podcast star Shannon Sharpe settles sexual assault and battery lawsuitJul 18, 2025Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe has reached a settlement with the anonymous woman who filed a lawsuit against the famed tight end, accusing him of multiple instances of assault, sexual assault, battery and sexual battery, according to a statement from the victim’s attorney on Friday.
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NFL player Rashee Rice sentenced to jail time and probation following involvement in 2024 street racing incidentJul 17, 2025Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was sentenced to five years probation and 30 days of jail time on Thursday following a multi-car crash last year, according to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. -
Joey Chestnut triumphant in Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest returnJul 4, 2025The champ is back. After a year away from the famed eating contest on the Coney Island boardwalk, Joey Chestnut returned to once again dominate at Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest by consuming 70 1/2 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes to win another “Mustard Belt.” -
American Coco Gauff ousted in the opening round at Wimbledon in a shocking upsetJul 1, 2025No. 2 seed Coco Gauff was shockingly upset at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships on Tuesday as Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska defeated the Roland Garros champion 7-6(3), 6-1. -
Sammy Sosa welcomed back to Wrigley Field for first time in 21 yearsJun 20, 2025Former Cubs great Sammy Sosa, who once was the face of Chicago’s Friendly Confines, made his long-anticipated return to the place he used to hit towering home runs and flash his big smile.
