Best Fort Worth sports commentary this week: A shocking death and more

Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Mac Engel covered a wide range of sports storylines this week, from a historic Indianapolis 500 finish to the tragic death of a former NHL player. His commentary also addressed the Texas Rangers’ early-season struggles and the missing star power at a marquee Fort Worth golf event.

Here are key takeaways:

— Felix Rosenqvist, the IndyCar driver sponsored by Texas A&M, won the closest Indianapolis 500 in the event’s 110-year history by two-one-hundredths of a second on Sunday, delivering massive exposure for the university on Memorial Day weekend. Rosenqvist passed David Malukas on the final lap under green flag conditions, marking the race’s record 70th lead change.

— Texas Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young is facing scrutiny after the team was swept by the Anaheim Angels and no-hit by the Houston Astros, leaving the club five games under .500 after 53 games. Although Young helped assemble the 2023 World Series championship team, the competitive window for that title team lasted only one season instead of the expected four to five years owner Ray Davis envisioned.

— The Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth is missing major star power this year, with the absence of Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth tied to the PGA Tour’s crowded schedule sandwiched between the PGA Championship and other major events. Brooks Koepka, who rejoined the PGA Tour from LIV Golf in January, withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge at the last minute despite being originally scheduled to play, further weakening the field.

— Former NHL player Claude Lemieux, 60, died this week of an apparent suicide after a 21-season career that included four Stanley Cups, one season with the Dallas Stars and a reputation as one of the dirtiest players in league history. Just three days before his death, Lemieux served as torch bearer for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Hurricanes and Canadiens in Montreal, where he played from 1983 to 1990.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.