Basketball

Tyler Honeycutt’s former coach had grown concerned — A former coach and family friend of onetime Sacramento Kings and UCLA basketball player Tyler Honeycutt says he had grown increasingly concerned about the young man before he was found dead following a standoff with Los Angeles Police. Bort Escoto, who coached Honeycutt in high school, told the Los Angeles Times that Honeycutt’s mother called him early Saturday to say her son had killed himself. Escoto told the Los Angeles Daily News that Honeycutt had “been going through some things.” The day of his death, Escoto said he was planning on going to Honeycutt’s home after the 27-year-old called him. “I planned on going to his house to talk, but his mom called me 45 minutes later saying, ‘He had a gun and was talking crazy,’” Escoto said. “I told her to call 911.” Los Angeles police said they responded to a call reporting a man with a gun. They were talking with Honeycutt when they say he fired his weapon. Officers returned fire and a standoff ensued. When police went into the home hours later, they found Honeycutt dead. The department said on Twitter that his injuries were consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Extreme sports

Travis Pastrana successfully re-creates iconic jumps — Honoring the man who paved the way for dozens of daredevils, Travis Pastrana succeeded in making three of Evel Knievel’s iconic motorcycle jumps Sunday night in Las Vegas. Donning his own Knievel-like costume, Pastrana used an Indian Scout FTR750 to jump 143 feet to clear 52 crushed cars, 192 feet over 16 Greyhound buses and concluded the “Evel Live” event on the History Channel by jumping 149 feet to clear the fountains at Caesars Palace. “It’s just such an honor to live a day in Evel’s footsteps, and literally his boots,” Pastrana said. “To be here in Las Vegas, so much of my history has been here. I proposed to my wife here, I had (the) first Nitro Circus show here. This was definitely the coolest thing I’ve ever done.” Pastrana, who is nearing the end of an impressive career as a stunt showman and professional motorsports competitor, admitted he was nervous leading up to the event, which began in an empty lot behind Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Paris Las Vegas and Bally’s Las Vegas. “This is all about Evel, and the coolest thing about this whole thing, all of Evel’s family is out here,” said Pastrana, whose outfit included a white jumpsuit with the blue V and white stars, a cape and high heel dress boots. “This is the home of the most iconic jump, one of the most iconic events that has ever gone down. And to end at Caesars Palace, to have a chance to jump the fountain. It’s not the longest jump but it’s definitely the hardest.”

— From wire reports