Former rugby league player JOHN ATKINSON died, aged 71. Atkinson "played more than 500 times for Leeds Rhinos and clocked up dozens of games for Great Britain" during the '60s and '70s. The former winger developed Alzheimer's five years ago (BBC, 12/23). ... DARREN LEHMANN will reportedly "step down as Australia coach" after the '19 Ashes series in England. The 47-year-old, who took the job in '13, will lead Australia’s World Cup defense in England before the team attempts to "win an away Ashes series for the first time" since '01 (REUTERS, 12/25). ... Liberty Media Chair JOHN MALONE owns more private land than anyone in the U.S. The de facto owner of Formula 1 has 2.2 million acres across the country, "spread across several states from coast to coast," according to a list compiled by Forbes (AUTOWEEK, 12/22). ... Former Australian Football League side Carlton player KEN HANDS died, aged 91. The Blues' dual premiership player, official Carlton legend and member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame had been the "last surviving member" of the club's '45 and '47 premiership teams (THE AGE, 12/23).
