College Basketball
Alford and UNM finally reach a $625K buyout agreement
ALBUQUERQUE – The University of New Mexico said it has reached an agreement in principal with former men’s basketball coach Steve Alford over his buyout.
Alford said in April he was willing to pay a $200,000 buyout for leaving the Albuquerque school to take a job at UCLA, but he wouldn’t pay the $1-million payment that New Mexico wanted.
The dispute stemmed from the timing of his announcement and a term sheet he had signed just weeks before agreeing to a new 10-year contract with New Mexico that included a $1-million buyout.
Under the agreement announced Friday, the net benefit of the buyout for UNM will be $625,000.
Cycling
Nibali keeps the Giro lead while two rivals drop out
CHERASCO, Italy – Britain’s Mark Cavendish sprinted to victory in the 13th and longest stage of the Giro d’Italia on Friday, and Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali kept the overall lead, boosting his chances of winning his home country’s biggest cycling race for the first time.
Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and defending champion Ryder Hesjedal withdrew before the stage. Wiggins’s team cited a “worsening chest infection.” Hesjedal is more than 32 minutes behind, and his team said he pulled out because of a “deteriorating physical condition.”
With sun shining most of the way, Cavendish won in 6 hours, 9 minutes, 55 seconds. It was his second consecutive stage victory, his fourth in this year’s Giro and the 101st of his career.
MLB
Nolan Ryan’s oldest son, Reid, named Astros’ president
HOUSTON – Reid Ryan was introduced as the new president of the Houston Astros.
Ryan, the eldest son of Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, was the chief executive officer of Ryan-Sanders Baseball, which owns the Triple-A Round Rock Express and Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks.
The 41-year-old Reid Ryan helped create the Express, an affiliate of the Texas Rangers, and the Hooks, an Astros’ affiliate. He takes over the position that was left vacant when George Postolos resigned Monday.
NBA
Signed, sealed and delivered to remain in Sacramento
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said Friday the deal to sell the Kings to a group led by software tycoon Vivek Ranadive was signed.
Johnson helped assemble the new ownership group in a bid to keep the Kings in California’s capital city, a feat accomplished earlier in the week when NBA owners rejected a bid to move the franchise to Seattle.
The NBA is expected to officially approve the sale next week.
A person familiar with the deal had previously told The Associated Press that the Maloof family had reached an agreement to sell a 65-percent controlling interest in the Kings at a total franchise valuation of $535 million.
SOCCER
Atletico wins Copa del Rey as Ronaldo ejected
MADRID – Atletico Madrid ended a 25-game, 14-year winless streak against rival Real Madrid, getting a 98th-minute goal from Miranda for a 2-1 victory in the Copa del Rey final Friday night after the ejections of Real star Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Jose Mourinho.
Ronaldo put Madrid ahead in the 14th minute with a header, his 54th goal of the season, but Atletico tied the score in the 35th minute when Radamel Falcao set up Diego Costa.
Real Madrid hit the goal frame three times, and Atletico went ahead when Miranda, a Brazilian defender, headed in a cross from Jorge “Koke” Resurrecion.
Mourinho was sent off for protesting in the 76th minute, and Ronaldo received a straight red card in the 114th for kicking Gabi Fernandez in the face.
Associated Press
