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Sports Briefs: Outlaw to have surgery on foot
By The Associated Press
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | No comments posted.
PORTLAND — Portland Trail Blazers forward Travis Outlaw will have surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.
Outlaw will have the procedure today. It is not known yet when he might return.
Outlaw fractured the foot last Saturday during the first quarter of the Trail Blazers’ game against Charlotte.
Playing off the bench, Outlaw averages 10.9 points per game.
Mutombo to be NBA global ambassador
NEW YORK — Dikembe Mutombo is joining the NBA as a global ambassador.
The league announced Mutombo’s hiring to the newly created position, with commissioner David Stern calling the eight-time All-Star “one of sports’ outstanding humanitarians.”
Besides being a four-time defensive player of the year, Mutombo is known for his charitable work. He opened a hospital and research center in his native Democratic Republic of Congo and is the only two-time winner of the league’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, given for “outstanding service and dedication to the community.”
Mutombo, who retired last season after 18 years in the league, will work on numerous international events and programs, including the Basketball without Borders camps.
PRO FOOTBALL
Johnson signs with Bengals as backup
CINCINNATI — Running back Larry Johnson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in a backup role eight days after the Kansas City Chiefs let him go as he was set to return from his second suspension in the last 12 months.
Coach Marvin Lewis first spoke with Johnson last Thursday and told him he would be last on the depth chart. Lewis said he told the former Pro Bowler he will be an insurance policy in case Cedric Benson, one of the NFL’s leading rushers this season, or another back gets hurt.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
BCS appoints executive director for postseason
GREENSBORO, N.C. — BCS officials have selected Bill Hancock to become the first executive director of the postseason system.
Hancock will replace the BCS coordinator, a position which has rotated on a two-year basis between conference commissioners since the Bowl Championship Series was implemented in 1998.
Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford’s two-year term as coordinator will end Jan. 7. At that point Hancock, who has been working as an administrator and spokesman for the BCS since 2005, will assume most of the coordinator’s duties.
HOCKEY
Shanahan to retire after 21 seasons
NEW YORK — Brendan Shanahan is retiring from the NHL after 21 seasons and an almost certain Hall of Fame career.
The 40-year-old forward scored 656 career goals and decided to leave the Devils in October after he was told there was no spot for him on New Jersey’s top three lines.
Shanahan ranks 11th on the league’s career goals list and is the only player with 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes. The eight-time All-Star also played for St. Louis, Hartford, Detroit and the New York Rangers. He won three Stanley Cup titles with Detroit.
BASEBALL
Alomar Jr. hired as Indians first base coach
CLEVELAND — Sandy Alomar Jr.’s baseball career has brought him back home.
The Indians’ popular former All-Star catcher has been hired by new Cleveland manager Manny Acta as the team’s first-base coach. Alomar had spent the past two seasons as a catching instructor for the New York Mets. He will also mentor Cleveland’s catchers.
“He’s going to be huge overall for us,” Acta said.
Alomar played 20 seasons in the majors — 11 in Cleveland — before retiring in 2007. While in New York, he served on the same coaching staff as his father, Sandy Alomar Sr., who was the team’s bench coach.
The 43-year-old Alomar was a six-time All-Star with the Indians, who enshrined him in their Hall of Fame last season. He was the AL’s rookie of the year in 1990.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Suspensions handed out for girls soccer brawl
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Nine members of two high school girls’ soccer teams have been suspended for their roles in a fight that sparked a brawl in the bleachers.
The suspensions were announced by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League. They range from two games to one year. Coaches from both Woonsocket and Tolman high schools also were issued unspecified sanctions.
The fight broke out after two players collided during a Nov. 8 game. A television news camera recorded the girls throwing punches and pulling hair, and fans fought in the bleachers during an awards ceremony.
The Interscholastic League says the punishments show that fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct won’t be tolerated.
Outlaw will have the procedure today. It is not known yet when he might return.
Outlaw fractured the foot last Saturday during the first quarter of the Trail Blazers’ game against Charlotte.
Playing off the bench, Outlaw averages 10.9 points per game.
Mutombo to be NBA global ambassador
NEW YORK — Dikembe Mutombo is joining the NBA as a global ambassador.
The league announced Mutombo’s hiring to the newly created position, with commissioner David Stern calling the eight-time All-Star “one of sports’ outstanding humanitarians.”
Besides being a four-time defensive player of the year, Mutombo is known for his charitable work. He opened a hospital and research center in his native Democratic Republic of Congo and is the only two-time winner of the league’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, given for “outstanding service and dedication to the community.”
Mutombo, who retired last season after 18 years in the league, will work on numerous international events and programs, including the Basketball without Borders camps.
PRO FOOTBALL
Johnson signs with Bengals as backup
CINCINNATI — Running back Larry Johnson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in a backup role eight days after the Kansas City Chiefs let him go as he was set to return from his second suspension in the last 12 months.
Coach Marvin Lewis first spoke with Johnson last Thursday and told him he would be last on the depth chart. Lewis said he told the former Pro Bowler he will be an insurance policy in case Cedric Benson, one of the NFL’s leading rushers this season, or another back gets hurt.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
BCS appoints executive director for postseason
GREENSBORO, N.C. — BCS officials have selected Bill Hancock to become the first executive director of the postseason system.
Hancock will replace the BCS coordinator, a position which has rotated on a two-year basis between conference commissioners since the Bowl Championship Series was implemented in 1998.
Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford’s two-year term as coordinator will end Jan. 7. At that point Hancock, who has been working as an administrator and spokesman for the BCS since 2005, will assume most of the coordinator’s duties.
HOCKEY
Shanahan to retire after 21 seasons
NEW YORK — Brendan Shanahan is retiring from the NHL after 21 seasons and an almost certain Hall of Fame career.
The 40-year-old forward scored 656 career goals and decided to leave the Devils in October after he was told there was no spot for him on New Jersey’s top three lines.
Shanahan ranks 11th on the league’s career goals list and is the only player with 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes. The eight-time All-Star also played for St. Louis, Hartford, Detroit and the New York Rangers. He won three Stanley Cup titles with Detroit.
BASEBALL
Alomar Jr. hired as Indians first base coach
CLEVELAND — Sandy Alomar Jr.’s baseball career has brought him back home.
The Indians’ popular former All-Star catcher has been hired by new Cleveland manager Manny Acta as the team’s first-base coach. Alomar had spent the past two seasons as a catching instructor for the New York Mets. He will also mentor Cleveland’s catchers.
“He’s going to be huge overall for us,” Acta said.
Alomar played 20 seasons in the majors — 11 in Cleveland — before retiring in 2007. While in New York, he served on the same coaching staff as his father, Sandy Alomar Sr., who was the team’s bench coach.
The 43-year-old Alomar was a six-time All-Star with the Indians, who enshrined him in their Hall of Fame last season. He was the AL’s rookie of the year in 1990.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Suspensions handed out for girls soccer brawl
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Nine members of two high school girls’ soccer teams have been suspended for their roles in a fight that sparked a brawl in the bleachers.
The suspensions were announced by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League. They range from two games to one year. Coaches from both Woonsocket and Tolman high schools also were issued unspecified sanctions.
The fight broke out after two players collided during a Nov. 8 game. A television news camera recorded the girls throwing punches and pulling hair, and fans fought in the bleachers during an awards ceremony.
The Interscholastic League says the punishments show that fighting and unsportsmanlike conduct won’t be tolerated.
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