College Hockey
Carey, Dowd and Gaudreau are Hobey Baker finalists
ST. PAUL, Minn. – St. Lawrence senior forward Greg Carey, St. Cloud State senior forward Nic Dowd and Boston College junior forward Johnny Gaudreau were chosen as finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award given to the top player in college hockey.
The announcement came Wednesday. The winner will be revealed April 11 in Philadelphia, the site of this year’s NCAA Frozen Four.
Carey had 39 assists in 38 games for St. Lawrence, the second-most in the nation.
Dowd had 22 goals in 38 games for St. Cloud State, including the overtime winner in the West Regional semifinals.
Gaudreau has guided Boston College to the national semifinals for the second time in three years. His 77 points in 39 games are the most of any Division I player in 11 seasons.
MLB
Blyleven and Kelly to manage the All-Star Futures game
NEW YORK – Former Minnesota Twins Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven and manager Tom Kelly were picked to manage in the All-Star Futures game July 13 at Target Field, two days before the MLB All-Star game.
Blyleven will manage the world team. Kelly led the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991. The commissioner’s office said Wednesday that he will manage the U.S. team.
NBA/NHL
Seattle is focused on NBA; NHL could come first
SEATTLE – The investment group trying to bring men’s professional basketball back to Seattle remains focused on the NBA, even if landing a hockey franchise could happen sooner.
Even as rumors continue to circulate about the NHL having interest in Seattle as a market sooner rather than later, interested investor Chris Hansen said his job would be to find someone willing to partner with his group and their proposed arena in Seattle. The arena has been approved by both the King County Council and Seattle City Council, pending environmental reviews.
NFL
Giants again tap the Broncos for a third NFL free agent
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The New York Giants signed former Denver Broncos defensive end Robert Ayers.
Ayers’ addition Wednesday makes him the 13th veteran the team has signed since free agency started.
Ayers had a career-high 5.5 sacks last season for the AFC champion Broncos. A 2009 first-round draft choice out of Tennessee and a New Jersey native, he is the fourth participant from February’s Super Bowl, and the third from the Broncos, to join the Giants. The other Broncos are return specialist Trindon Holliday and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Former Seahawks cornerback Walter Thurmond left Seattle to join the Giants.
Ayers played in 72 regular-season games with 27 starts for the Broncos and had 141 tackles (101 solo), 12 sacks and three forced fumbles.
From fired to feted: Jackson signs with the Redskins
WASHINGTON – The contrast couldn’t have been greater for DeSean Jackson.
In a matter of days, he went from unwanted to wanted, from fired to hired, from discarded by the Philadelphia Eagles with his reputation tarnished to rock star treatment and a new fat contract from the Washington Redskins.
Concerns about attitude, work ethic and reports about gang activity seemed miles away when he was being wooed by Robert Griffin III or enjoying his recruiting-style evening out with fellow receiver Pierre Garcon, cornerback DeAngelo Hall and rapper Wale.
On Wednesday, Jackson closed the deal, signing a three-year, $24-million contract that includes $16 million guaranteed. The terms were disclosed by a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Redskins did not announce the financial details.
Associated Press
