Cycling
Judge refuses Armstrong, wants cyclist’s testimony
AUSTIN, Texas – A Texas judge refused Lance Armstrong’s request to dismiss an insurance company’s lawsuit seeking $3 million in bonuses it paid him from 1999 to 2001, and an attorney for the company said Tuesday he’ll move quickly to question the cyclist under oath.
Nebraska-based Acceptance Insurance Holdings had a contract with Armstrong to pay bonuses for winning the Tour de France and other races. The company sued to recover its money after Armstrong admitted in January that he used performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour every year from 1999 to 2005.
Armstrong’s attorneys had asked Travis County judge Darlene Byrne to dismiss the case, arguing the statute of limitations on any fraud or breach of contract claims expired by 2011. The company argued that the clock didn’t start until Armstrong admitted doping.
Hockey
Avalanche ink their top pick MacKinnon for 3 years
DENVER – Top draft pick Nathan MacKinnon signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche.
Executive vice president Joe Sakic hailed MacKinnon’s signing, saying Tuesday that “his presence will bring additional speed and talent to our team as well as a lot of excitement to our fans.”
MacKinnon was the first overall selection in the NHL draft last month. He’s the first player selected first overall by the Avalanche since the franchise moved from Quebec in 1995.
MacKinnon led the Halifax Mooseheads to their first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League title and their first Memorial Cup championship. He was named MVP of the Memorial Cup after collecting a tournament-best 13 points in just four games.
MacKinnon was just the third 17-year-old drafted No. 1 overall in the last 26 years.
Chelios, Niedermayer and Shanahan get the call
TORONTO – Defensemen Scott Niedermayer and Chris Chelios and forward Brendan Shanahan were picked for the Hockey Hall of Fame.
They’ll be joined in the class of 2013 by Geraldine Heaney, the third woman to be enshrined in the hall, and coach Fred Shero, who led the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup in 1974 and ’75. He was selected posthumously in the builder category.
Chelios and Niedermayer earned hockey’s biggest individual honor in their first year of eligibility.
The official induction ceremony is scheduled for November.
Niedermayer won four Stanley Cups in 17 full NHL seasons to go along with a Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy.
Chelios played 23 full seasons and parts of three more, taking part in his final NHL game at age 48. Among the game’s best U.S.-born players, Chelios won the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman three times.
Shanahan finished his career with 656 goals and 698 assists. He won three Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings, an Olympic gold medal and was the quintessential scoring power winger of his era.
Tennis
Kastles surpass the Lakers for longest win streak
WASHINGTON – The Washington Kastles of World TeamTennis have won their 34th consecutive match, putting them one ahead of the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.
Martina Hingis and the Kastles routed the Boston Lobsters 25-12 on Tuesday night at their D.C. waterfront stadium.
The Kastles claim they now hold the longest winning streak “in major U.S. pro sports history.” That’s a matter of debate, considering that the WTT usually isn’t considered a “major” sports league and that its top players appear only in selected matches.
The streak nevertheless has brought invaluable publicity to a league that packs its entire season into a three-week span in July.
The Kastles are 2-0 this season. They’ve won back-to-back WTT titles, going undefeated both years.
Associated Press
