Steve McMichael, a star defensive tackle on the Chicago Bears’ famed 1985 Super Bowl championship team whose larger-than-life personality made him a fixture in the Windy City for decades and a natural for professional wrestling, has died following a battle with ALS. He was 67.

McMichael died Wednesday afternoon, his publicist, Betsy Shepherd, told The Associated Press.

An All-Pro in 1985 and 1987, McMichael was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024. He played in a franchise-record 191 consecutive games from 1981 to 1993 and ranks second to Richard Dent on the Bears’ career sacks list with 92 1/2.

Whether he was terrorizing opponents or discussing the Bears on sports talk radio, the man known as “Ming The Merciless” and “Mongo” after the character in “Blazing Saddles” who knocked out a horse remained a prominent presence in Chicago long after his playing days ended. He also spent five years in professional wrestling in the late 1990s.

McMichael revealed in April 2021 that he was battling ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control.

Soccer

Loons near deal to add Gressel from Inter Miami

Minnesota United is closing in on a trade to bring Julian Gressel in from Inter Miami, the Pioneer Press confirmed Wednesday night.

Pieces of the deal, which were first reported by GiveMeSport, still needed to be ironed out as the MLS primary transfer window closed Wednesday night. The deal might not become official until today.

Gressel would be a versatile right-sided player to add to the mix. The Loons have had a strong start to the 2025 season, but right wingback and central midfield are among its roster needs. Bongi Hlongwane has been the starting right wingback under head coach Eric Ramsay for a second straight season, but it has not been the smoothest transitions for the more attack-minded South African.

Gressel would be a more natural fit at that spot. The 31-year-old has yet to play for Miami this season. It does not appear to be injury-related, but rather an apparent decision from coach Javier Mascherano.

A year ago, Gressel was a key piece on a Miami side that won the MLS Supporters Shield, putting up nine assists and one goal in 2,340 MLS minutes.

Gressel would be relatively expensive, with a guaranteed compensation of $1.09 million in 2024, according to the MLS Players Association. He is under contract through 2026, with a club option for 2027.

Gressel has played for five MLS clubs, starting with Atlanta United in 2017, followed by D.C. United, Vancouver Whitecaps and Columbus Crew. He has won MLS Cups in Atlanta and Columbus.

— Andy Greder

College football

Gophers get transfer RB Cardenas from Vanderbilt

The Gophers football program has reportedly added Vanderbilt transfer running back Johann Cardenas through the NCAA transfer portal. The Katy, Texas, native did not play as a true freshman in 2024 and entered the portal on Tuesday.

Cardenas was considered a three-star recruit and a Top 50 running back in the nation in the 2024 recruiting class, according to four recruiting services. The 6-foot, 223-pounder totaled 2,268 rushing yards, 340 receiving yards and 34 total touchdowns in 11 high school games in 2023. He also was on the track and field team at St. Thomas High School.

New Gophers running backs coach Jayden Everett was Vanderbilt’s running backs coach in 2023 before moving to Michigan in 2024 and briefly South Alabama to start in ’25.

One of the Gophers’ running backs in the 2024 class, Jaydon Wright, entered the transfer portal earlier this week.

Cardenas is the third addition via the transfer portal, following Purdue defensive tackle Mo Anomode and Iowa cornerback John Nestor on Tuesday and Sunday, respectively.

Recruiting services 247Sports and On3 first reported the news on Cardenas.

— Andy Greder

College basketball

Gophers add 6-foot-10 center from C. Arkansas

The Gophers men’s basketball program added more front court help in the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday.

Nehemiah Turner, a 6-foot-10, 265-pound center, left Central Arkansas and committed to Minnesota with three years of eligibility remaining.

During his freshman season, he averaged 8.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 18 minutes across 33 games in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

The Auburndale, Florida, native improved as the season ended. In the final 10 games, he averaged 18.5 points and 6.1 rebounds. His best outing was a 37-point, 11-rebound game in a conference tournament win over Stetson on March 2.

The Gophers have added seven players via the portal since Niko Medved was hired in March, including 6-foot-8 center Robert Vaihola from San Jose State on April 9.

Minnesota currently has three vacant scholarship spots for next season.

— Andy Greder

Briefly

Minor league baseball >> The St. Paul Saints split a Wednesday doubleheader against Indianapolis at CHS Field. Mickey Gasper and Mike Ford homered in a 5-1 win in the first game. St. Paul managed just three hits in a 4-2 loss in the nightcap.

PWHL >> The PWHL is heading west by selecting Vancouver as its first expansion franchise on Wednesday. And the addition of a second expansion team — with Seattle a candidate — is on the horizon, vice president of business operations Amy Scheer told The Associated Press.

NBA >> Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks’ star guard, won the NBA’s clutch player of the year award on Wednesday. He got 70 of the 100 first-place votes, easily beating second-place Nikola Jokic of Denver and third-place Anthony Edwards of Minnesota.

NHL >> Cal Clutterbuck, the NHL’s all-time leader in hits, announced he is retiring from hockey after playing more than 1,100 games over 17 seasons, including more than a decade as a fourth-line staple for the New York Islanders.

NHL >> Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog played Wednesday in his first NHL game in nearly three years. It was his first NHL appearance since June 26, 2022, when he and the Avalanche beat Tampa Bay to capture the Stanley Cup. He was sidelined because of a chronically injured right knee.

— From news services