Talk » members have not been named yet -- has already provided

Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam was found dead Monday night in a Boulder park less than two miles from Folsom Field, where he carved his name into the University of Colorado record books as one of the greatest players in the programs history.The Boulder County coroners office was still investigating the cause of the death of the 42-year-old Salaam, who won the Heisman in 1994. The body of the one-time running back was found at Eben G. Fine Park in Boulder. Police say foul play was not suspected.Salaams mother, Khalada, told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday that police said they suspect he killed himself. They said they found a note and would share that with us when we get there, Salaams mother said.Dave Plati, associate athletic director at Colorado and a close friend of Salaams, said the former Buffaloes star never let on that he was hurting : When you were around him he was just the same old Rashaan. You know, effervescent, jolly, go-lucky, smiling all the time, doing things for other people.There was just no way to tell Salaam had these kind of demons inside him, Plati added. I was as close to him as anybody and loved the guy ... and wish I could have noticed or done something for him or wished that he would have called me.Salaams death stunned the Colorado football community which this year celebrated a revival with a 10-3 record, an appearance in the Pac-12 championship game and the Buffaloes first bowl bid in almost a decade.You talk about a young man who was smart, handsome, talented. He was very, very gifted. He was humble. He was a team guy, Bill McCartney, who coached Salaam from 1992-94, told The Associated Press.McCartney remembered Salaam as a natural leader.His personality was infectious. He just had a warmth about him, a genuineness about him that was really contagious, McCartney said. On the surface, he had everything. We thought he was a cut above, and he turned out to be.Former teammate Matt Russell, now the Denver Broncos director of player personnel, said Salaam was a fiercely loyal friend, the ultimate teammate and the very definition of a winner.He practiced hard, he played hard and he made our teams better, Russell said. My heart goes out to Rashaans mother and his family. They have a lot to be proud of with the person that Rashaan was, the way he treated people and the friend he was to everyone he came across. He will be missed by so many.Salaam rushed for 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior in 1994, leading the Buffaloes to an 11-1 record, a win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl and a No. 3 finish in the final polls. He won the Heisman in a runaway.I went to New York with him, McCartney recalled. I was thrilled for him. Im pretty sure hes the only Buff that ever got that award. When we recruited him we knew he was special ... he just kept getting better.His work ethic was renowned. Former teammate Blake Anderson cant forget how Salaam used to lift weights with the offensive linemen, because thats how strong he was, and how dedicated he was.We were blessed with an incredible team and love for one another, said Anderson, who was a receiver on the `94 team that also included fellow receiver Michael Westbrook and quarterback Kordell Stewart. It was just an awesome, awesome experience to have the magnitude of the players that we had on that team, not only for their abilities to play football, but their abilities to love and be great friends, which we all are currently today.We are all hurting tremendously today.Salaam was one of the nations most prized recruits coming out of eight-man football at La Jolla Country Day, a private school in San Diego. His father played freshman football at CU in 1963 before transferring to San Diego State to be closer to home.When we recruited him and got him to commit, it was huge, McCartney said. We knew that he was going to distinguish himself. He was very highly recruited. I can remember how happy we were. He lived up to all our expectations. He was a tough kid, he was rugged, he had great acceleration, great athleticism.The Chicago Bears made him a first-round draft pick in 1995, and he rushed for 1,074 yards and 10 touchdowns in winning NFC Rookie of the Year honors.Injuries cut short his career. He only scored three rushing TDs in the next two years in Chicago and played his last NFL game with the Cleveland Browns in 1999. Salaam played for the Memphis Maniax of the defunct XFL and attempted one last comeback with the NFL before retiring.He was the only Heisman Trophy winner in the state of Colorado, Plati said. That could have been a burden in later years because he kind of felt he didnt have the great professional career that should have followed that. But that doesnt matter, its what you did to win the Heisman and hes an icon in college football.Rick Neuheisel, who was an assistant coach in Boulder when Salaam won the Heisman, said the play that epitomizes Salaams career for him was the Miracle at Michigan, when Stewarts 64-yard Hail Mary to Michael Westbrook on the final play beat the Wolverines 27-26 on Sept. 24, 1994.All he did was create time for Kordell Stewart to get that play off, Neuheisel said. And if you ever see that play, Rashaan Salaam had one blocking assignment and then came back and got another blocking assignment, which allowed Kordell to kind of crow-hop up in the pocket and make the throw that well all remember for a lifetime.But there was the Heisman Trophy winner. He wasnt just about getting the ball or catching the ball. He was about, `What do I need to do for my guys so that we can have the best possible chance for success? And whether he had ball or didnt, it didnt matter, he was going to go all-out.---AP College Football Writer Ralph Russo, Associated Press writer Sadie Gurman, Associated Press videographer Peter Banda and Associated Press photographer Brennan Linsey contributed to this story.---More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org Custom Mike Scott Jersey . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. Mike Scott Jersey .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. http://www.customastrosjersey.com/custom-jose-cruz-jr-jersey-large-206y.html . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Custom Craig Biggio Jersey . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Darryl Kile Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. MILAN -- Silvio Berlusconi would stay on as honorary president at AC Milan after selling the club to Chinese investors if he can retain powers impacting the squad.I would have to have some abilities to intervene, like yes or no on buying or selling players or on playing formations, Berlusconi told reporters early Monday following Milans 2-2 draw with Inter in the city derby, confirming that the Chinese group offered him the position.If Im assured of that Ill try to accept even the honorary presidency, he added.The closing for the club sale is slated for Dec. 13.The deal with the Chinese group, which includes the participation of a Chinese state investment fund, values Milan at 740 million euros (about $800 million).Whether he becomes honorary president or not, it was likely Berlusconis final derby as Milans owner and the Rossoneri fans paid tribute in their pre-match choreography, unveiling a giant banner with a picture of him and all the trophies won during his tenure.Berlusconi owns 99.93 percent of the club, which he purchased 30 years ago. The three-time former premier and billionaire businessman hass been negotiating for more than a year to sell the seven-time European champions.ddddddddddddFininvest, Berlusconis holding company, is still waiting for the Chinese group to pay the final chunk of 440 million euros ($465 million). The Chinese group -- of which all the members have not been named yet -- has already provided a 100 million euro ($105 million) deposit.We have very precise assurances from the banks that the deal will be closed the 13th, Berlusconi said. So well wait until the 13th and see what happens. If its not concluded then well see what to do.The Milan sale comes after Suning, the Chinese retail giant, took control of 70 percent of Inter in June.Berlusconi also wants longtime club vice president Adriano Galliani to stay on at Milan, even though Galliani has indicated he would be interested in running for Serie A president.I really hope theres space for him, Berlusconi said. Im going to make that one of the conditions for me accepting the honorary presidency. ' ' '