Thursday's Sports in Brief
By The Associated Press
May 09, 2008 - 11:07:13 CDT
Thursday's sports in brief around the country.
PRO BASKETBALL
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Kiki Vandeweghe became the New Jersey Nets’ general manager Thursday, less than six months after being hired as a special assistant to president Rod Thorn.
Vandeweghe replaces Ed Stefanski, who left in midseason to become the GM of the 76ers.
The general manager’s job is the second for Vandeweghe. He held the same position with the Denver Nuggets from August 2001 until the end of the 2005-06 season.
Neither Vandeweghe nor the Nets disclosed terms of his new contract.
SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge ruled documents subpoenaed from a group that attempted to buy the Seattle SuperSonics from their Oklahoma-based owners can remain sealed.
U.S. District Judge Martha Pechman ruled Thursday that documents from Seattle developer Matt Griffin’s group that were labeled for “attorney’s eyes only” can remain confidential.
Attorneys for SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett had accused the potential owners and the city of Seattle of duplicity in an effort to force him to sell the team.
PRO FOOTBALL
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal judge ordered imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick to repay more than $2.4 million to a Canadian bank for defaulting on a loan.
The Royal Bank of Canada sued Vick in September, arguing his guilty plea to a federal dogfighting charge — and the impact on his career — prevented him from repaying the loan.
According to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Newport News, the loan’s terms specify that any employment change negatively impacting Vick’s income constitutes a default on the loan.
Vick is serving a 23-month prison sentence at the U.S. penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., after pleading guilty last year to bankrolling a dogfighting ring.
OLYMPICS
BEIJING (AP) — Passengers riding the subway and major bus routes in Beijing will undergo strict security checks starting at the end of June ahead of the Olympics, police said Friday.
All subway lines and major bus stations will be equipped with security checkpoints, a spokesman for the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Public Transportation Division said.
High-traffic subway and bus stations will be equipped with police dog units and handheld metal detectors at each security checkpoint, the People’s Daily reported Friday. Explosives and flammable substances are already prohibited on subway lines.
BEIJING (AP) — A human rights activist is urging Chinese leaders to pardon long-jailed prisoners in a gesture that could help dispel the rancor surrounding the Beijing Olympics.
The pardon, requested in a letter by American activist John Kamm to a senior Chinese leader, could potentially see the release of scores — and perhaps several hundred — people jailed for political acts, including taking part in the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy movement.
PRO HOCKEY
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Former Sabres enforcer Rob Ray is suing the NHL Players’ Association for a second time over money owed him during the NHL lockout, accusing the union of deceiving him into settling his initial suit two years ago.
Ray is seeking $2 million in punitive damages and back pay in a suit filed in State Supreme Court in Buffalo in January. The lawsuit first became public Thursday in a report published in The Toronto Star.
DETROIT (AP) — The Dallas Stars beat Detroit in a competition before the first puck dropped Thursday night in the Western Conference finals: They signed Swedish prospect Fabian Brunnstrom over the Red Wings and other NHL suitors.
The 23-year-old forward starred in the Swedish Elite League last season and was regarded as one of the top free agents available.
BASEBALL
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Doug Davis said he has been pronounced cancer free after a sophisticated test showed no spread of the disease.
The news came from Dr. Bob Evani, who removed the pitcher’s thyroid gland on April 10.
Davis is scheduled for two rehab starts for Triple-A Tucson, on Saturday and next Thursday. He is to have another CT scan in six months.
HORSE RACING
NEW YORK (AP) — The Jockey Club has formed a committee to study equine health, including track safety and the rules of racing, five days after the death of the filly Eight Belles.
Ogden Mills Phipps, chairman of The Jockey Club, said Thursday that the committee would be asked to review every facet of equine health, ranging from breeding practices to medication, and to recommend actions to be taken by the horse industry to improve the safety of thoroughbreds.
The move by the 114-year-old Jockey Club, the breed registry for North America, was praised by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
BOXING
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anschutz Entertainment Group acquired a significant ownership stake in Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions on Thursday, creating a partnership between one of the world’s largest sports conglomerates and the boxing star’s burgeoning promotions company.
AEG, which owns or operates dozens of sports and entertainment venues, becomes the second-largest shareholder in Golden Boy behind De La Hoya. The former Olympic champion founded the company in 2001 to guide the careers of top fighters including Sugar Shane Mosley, Ricky Hatton, Bernard Hopkins, Winky Wright and Juan Diaz.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sugar Shane Mosley’s fight with Zab Judah on May 31 was canceled Thursday after Judah seriously injured his arm in an accidental fall.
Judah (36-5, 25 KOs), the former undisputed welterweight champion, severely cut his right forearm and needed 50 stitches to close the wounds, which will keep him out of training.
Mosley (44-5, 37 KOs) had been scheduled to fight Judah at the Mandalay Bay Event Center.
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PRO BASKETBALL
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Kiki Vandeweghe became the New Jersey Nets’ general manager Thursday, less than six months after being hired as a special assistant to president Rod Thorn.
Vandeweghe replaces Ed Stefanski, who left in midseason to become the GM of the 76ers.
The general manager’s job is the second for Vandeweghe. He held the same position with the Denver Nuggets from August 2001 until the end of the 2005-06 season.
Neither Vandeweghe nor the Nets disclosed terms of his new contract.
SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge ruled documents subpoenaed from a group that attempted to buy the Seattle SuperSonics from their Oklahoma-based owners can remain sealed.
U.S. District Judge Martha Pechman ruled Thursday that documents from Seattle developer Matt Griffin’s group that were labeled for “attorney’s eyes only” can remain confidential.
Attorneys for SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett had accused the potential owners and the city of Seattle of duplicity in an effort to force him to sell the team.
PRO FOOTBALL
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal judge ordered imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick to repay more than $2.4 million to a Canadian bank for defaulting on a loan.
The Royal Bank of Canada sued Vick in September, arguing his guilty plea to a federal dogfighting charge — and the impact on his career — prevented him from repaying the loan.
According to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Newport News, the loan’s terms specify that any employment change negatively impacting Vick’s income constitutes a default on the loan.
Vick is serving a 23-month prison sentence at the U.S. penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., after pleading guilty last year to bankrolling a dogfighting ring.
OLYMPICS
BEIJING (AP) — Passengers riding the subway and major bus routes in Beijing will undergo strict security checks starting at the end of June ahead of the Olympics, police said Friday.
All subway lines and major bus stations will be equipped with security checkpoints, a spokesman for the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Public Transportation Division said.
High-traffic subway and bus stations will be equipped with police dog units and handheld metal detectors at each security checkpoint, the People’s Daily reported Friday. Explosives and flammable substances are already prohibited on subway lines.
BEIJING (AP) — A human rights activist is urging Chinese leaders to pardon long-jailed prisoners in a gesture that could help dispel the rancor surrounding the Beijing Olympics.
The pardon, requested in a letter by American activist John Kamm to a senior Chinese leader, could potentially see the release of scores — and perhaps several hundred — people jailed for political acts, including taking part in the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy movement.
PRO HOCKEY
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Former Sabres enforcer Rob Ray is suing the NHL Players’ Association for a second time over money owed him during the NHL lockout, accusing the union of deceiving him into settling his initial suit two years ago.
Ray is seeking $2 million in punitive damages and back pay in a suit filed in State Supreme Court in Buffalo in January. The lawsuit first became public Thursday in a report published in The Toronto Star.
DETROIT (AP) — The Dallas Stars beat Detroit in a competition before the first puck dropped Thursday night in the Western Conference finals: They signed Swedish prospect Fabian Brunnstrom over the Red Wings and other NHL suitors.
The 23-year-old forward starred in the Swedish Elite League last season and was regarded as one of the top free agents available.
BASEBALL
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Doug Davis said he has been pronounced cancer free after a sophisticated test showed no spread of the disease.
The news came from Dr. Bob Evani, who removed the pitcher’s thyroid gland on April 10.
Davis is scheduled for two rehab starts for Triple-A Tucson, on Saturday and next Thursday. He is to have another CT scan in six months.
HORSE RACING
NEW YORK (AP) — The Jockey Club has formed a committee to study equine health, including track safety and the rules of racing, five days after the death of the filly Eight Belles.
Ogden Mills Phipps, chairman of The Jockey Club, said Thursday that the committee would be asked to review every facet of equine health, ranging from breeding practices to medication, and to recommend actions to be taken by the horse industry to improve the safety of thoroughbreds.
The move by the 114-year-old Jockey Club, the breed registry for North America, was praised by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
BOXING
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anschutz Entertainment Group acquired a significant ownership stake in Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions on Thursday, creating a partnership between one of the world’s largest sports conglomerates and the boxing star’s burgeoning promotions company.
AEG, which owns or operates dozens of sports and entertainment venues, becomes the second-largest shareholder in Golden Boy behind De La Hoya. The former Olympic champion founded the company in 2001 to guide the careers of top fighters including Sugar Shane Mosley, Ricky Hatton, Bernard Hopkins, Winky Wright and Juan Diaz.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sugar Shane Mosley’s fight with Zab Judah on May 31 was canceled Thursday after Judah seriously injured his arm in an accidental fall.
Judah (36-5, 25 KOs), the former undisputed welterweight champion, severely cut his right forearm and needed 50 stitches to close the wounds, which will keep him out of training.
Mosley (44-5, 37 KOs) had been scheduled to fight Judah at the Mandalay Bay Event Center.