PHILADELPHIA -- Lewis Katz, a self-made man who built his fortune in New York parking lots, billboards and cable TV, and went on to buy the NBAs New Jersey Nets, NHLs New Jersey Devils and The Philadelphia Inquirer, died in a weekend plane crash. He was 72. Katz died Saturday night in a Massachusetts crash that claimed six other lives. His death was confirmed Sunday by his son, Drew, and his business partner Harold H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest. Katz grew up in working-class Camden, New Jersey, and worked as a lawyer before earning hundreds of millions of dollars investing in the Kinney Parking empire and the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network in New York. He went on to become a major philanthropist in the Philadelphia region. "Youve got to make money in the world that we live in, in order to accomplish what your ultimate goal is. But along with making money, equally important is preserving, for the community, a community trust," Katz testified at an April hearing on the Inquirers sale. "Thats what this paper represents." Tributes poured in from prominent figures in sports, media, politics, business and education, reflecting the wide range of his interests and charitable endeavours. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called him "a visionary"; the Yankees held a moment of silence before Sundays game. Temple University recalled his recent advice to graduates to "have as much fun as you can conjure up." "He was a visionary businessman who touched the lives of so many with his tireless pursuit of innovation and enterprise, as well as his deep commitment to his family, friends and community," Silver said in a statement. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in a statement called Katz a man of "tremendous influence" and sent condolences to Katzs family and "the many organizations that benefited from his philanthropy." Katz, in his April testimony, said he had lost money on both the Nets and Devils, but made it big through the 2012 sale of the sports cable network. "We lost our shirt in the Devils and the Nets," he testified. "But for the YES network, Id be back in my law office in Cherry Hill, waiting for the clients to come in again." He hoped to be a hands-off owner of the Inquirer, where his longtime companion, Nancy Phillips, was the city editor. "Im spending, hopefully, a lot more time with my grandchildren and Ive opened a school in Camden for approximately 300 children," he testified. "Im not active in business, anymore." Katz had agreed to invest $16 million for a 26 per cent stake in the Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News in 2012 at the behest of former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who wanted to return the newspapers to local ownership after a bankruptcy that left them in the hands of New York hedge funds. But a feud with rival investor George Norcross, an equally powerful business leader, over the direction of the news business forced him to be more a more active owner. Katz filed suit last year to stop Norcross from firing Pulitzer Prize-winning editor Bill Marimow. He succeeded, then joined Lenfest in bidding $88 million to buy out Norcross and his allies at an auction Tuesday. "He was very creative, as a person and as a business partner," Lenfest said. "He thought beyond the edge. He had wonderful, creative ideas." The sale had been set to close June 12, but will now be delayed for 30 days to give Katzs family time to get the estate in order, Lenfest said. "Well lose his expertise, but the paper will continue because we both intended to put a new CEO in charge of the day-to-day operations," Lenfest said. Drew Katz will take his fathers seat on the board of directors, Lenfest said. "My father was my best friend. He taught me everything," Drew Katz, who was often seen at his fathers side at business events, said in a statement on behalf of him and his sister. "He never forgot where and how he grew up, and he worked tirelessly to support his community in countless ways that were seen and unseen." Katz had recently given $25 million to Temple University for its medical school, and had previously given $15 million to another alma mater, Dickinson Law School, where he had graduated first in his class. He also supported the Boys & Girls Clubs in Camden, along with many Jewish charities. Katz recently helped fund a charter school in impoverished Camden. "There are so many organizations that he endowed, many anonymously," Marimow said Sunday. Marimow described Katz as a brilliant man and generous philanthropist who developed a love for journalism from a college stint working for the syndicated columnist Drew Pearson. "That really inspired an appreciation and a love for journalism that lasted his whole life," Marimow said. His wife, Marjorie, died in December. His survivors include his son, daughter Melissa, and several grandchildren. Katz, a classmate of Bill Cosby in Temples 1963 graduating class, had spoken at the schools commencement last month, and received an honorary doctorate. "Life in my view is meant to be enjoyed," he told the graduates. "Its meant to have as much fun as you can conjure up" Don Larsen Jersey . -- Jake Peavy arrived at Bostons spring training complex on Monday with a large white bandage covering his left index finger, the result of a weekend accident. Billy Martin Jersey . If Vettel wins at Suzuka on Sunday, and his nearest rival Fernando Alonso finishes worse than eighth, the German driver will join his compatriot Michael Schumacher and Argentine Juan-Manuel Fangio as the only men to win four consecutive titles. http://www.customyankeesjersey.com/custom-mike-ford-jersey-large-1684i.html . Anderson is scheduled to have neck surgery April 8 to repair the injury, which occurred when he collided with the Celtics Gerald Wallace during a game in Boston on Jan. 3. The 6-foot-10 Pelicans forward, who had been averaging 19. Jonathan Loaisiga Jersey . -- Nick Bjugstad snapped out of his scoring slump and spoiled Drew MacIntyres first NHL start. Joba Chamberlain Jersey .This one was bigger than most.Ben Roethlisberger and LeVeon Bell came up big in a game that Pittsburgh had to win Sunday, leading the Steelers to a 42-21 drubbing of the Cincinnati Bengals that left the AFC North race wide open.ALAMEDA, Calif. - Oakland Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr returned to practice three days after being knocked out of a preseason game with a concussion and sore ribs. Carr practiced on a limited basis Monday and his status for the upcoming exhibition game in Green Bay on Friday night remains a question. Carr got hurt in the fourth quarter last Friday against Detroit when he was hit from behind by Larry Webster. Carr got up and immediately pointed at his ribs but later said the concussion was more of a concern. Carr has never had a concussion previously in his career. "I never had one ever so its a little scary to me," he said. "Obviously, Im feeling a lot better now than I was. Im just looking forward to taking it day by day. Obviously, its a slow process. Just progressing as the week goes on." Carr played well before the injury and even got one drive with the starting offensive line and receivers after starter Matt Schaub left the game. "It was exciting," he said. "I was screaming out plays. I was way too loud, they told me to calm down a little bit. It was great. It was good experience to be in with them. Its only the second game. I have a long way to get better." Carr lamented one throw in particular, when he overthrew Brian Leonhardt on a seam pattern on his first pass attempt of the game. Carr said he might have been too excited on that throw and his mechanics got out of whack. But Carr recovered to complete 9 of 16 passes for 109 yards and he threw a TD pass to Jake Murphy. Playing mostly against second-teamers, Carr fared better than Schaub did against the Lions first-string defence. Schaub has led the Raiders to one score in seven drives over the firstt two exhibition games as Oaklands first-team offence has struggled to find any consistency.dddddddddddd Schaub has completed 11 of 20 passes for 108 yards, one interception and no touchdowns for a passer rating of 49.6. "How our offence goes is how the quarterback goes," Schaub said. "Just be more consistent in what were doing." Schaub has faced an unusual amount of blitzing for the preseason with defences bringing extra rushers on more than half of his dropbacks so far, according to Pro Football Focus. That has forced Schaub to get rid of the ball quickly, with only three of his passes — and none of his completions — going more than 10 yards downfield. Neither Schaub nor coach Dennis Allen is too concerned about the play of the first-team offence in the first two preseason games. But they expect a better performance in the dress rehearsal Friday against Green Bay. "Do I think we need to be able to go out and execute and make some plays? I think thats something that wed all like to see," Allen said. "A little bit more consistency would probably be the right term for what Im looking for offensively. Weve gone out and made some plays and done some nice things. We just havent been as consistent as we need to be and this would be a good week to get better at that." NOTES: FB Marcel Reese (right foot) was scheduled to have an MRI. ... TE Scott Simonson (concussion) was back at practice while WR Brice Butler, DT Justin Ellis and OL Matt McCants remain sidelined by concussions. ... CB DJ Hayden, who has been out with a stress fracture in his foot since May, worked out on the side. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '
