Basketball
The Naismith Hall of Fame opens doors to 10 more
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Gary Williams will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday in Springfield, Massachusetts.
To be elected, finalists required 18-of-24 votes from the Honors Committee. Joining Williams for induction in the Class of 2014 are: Nat Clifton, Immaculata University’s AIAW national championship teams of the early 1970s, Bob Leonard, Sarunas Marciulionis, Alonzo Mourning, Nolan Richardson, Mitch Richmond, Guy Rodgers and David Stern.
Cycling
Hofland wins second stage in three days in Utah
TOOELE, Utah – Moreno Hofland won his second stage in three days at the Tour of Utah, out-sprinting a host of rivals after a flat, windy stage Wednesday at Miller Motorsports Park.
Andrea Palini of Lampre-Merida was second and Eric Young of Optum third.
SmartStop’s Jure Kocjan finished safely in the peloton, keeping the overall leader’s jersey.
Golf
Ryder Cup captain Watson adds Stricker to his staff
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Steve Stricker will be one of Tom Watson’s assistants at the Ryder Cup.
Watson made the announcement Wednesday on the eve of the PGA Championship. Stricker will be one of three United States assistant captains working under Watson, who previously announced Raymond Floyd and Andy North.
Stricker has played five times at the Presidents Cup and three times in the Ryder Cup. He quickly accepted Watson’s offer as the U.S. will try to reclaim the Ryder Cup from Europe on Sept. 26-28 at Gleneagles in Scotland.
Hockey
The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame announces Class of 2014
COLORADO SPRINGS – Former Wisconsin head coach Jeff Sauer and one of his old players, Brian Rafalski, will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
USA Hockey announced Wednesday the class for this year that also includes two-time Olympian Karyn Bye Dietz and longtime coach Lou Vairo.
Sauer coached the Badgers for 20 seasons, winning NCAA championships in 1983 and 1990. He coached Colorado College for 11 years.
Kings and Sharks will play outdoors by the bay
SAN FRANCISCO – The Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks are going to take their rivalry outdoors next season.
The NHL announced Wednesday the Pacific Division foes will meet Feb. 21 at the 49ers’ new $1.2-billion Levi’s Stadium home in Santa Clara. This will be the second consecutive year the NHL has staged an outdoor game in California. The Anaheim Ducks beat the Kings 3-0 at Dodger Stadium in front of an announced crowd of 54,099 on Jan. 25.
The NHL previously announced the Washington Capitals would host the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2015 Winter Classic on Jan. 1 at a site to be determined. The league has averaged 56,942 fans at each of those contests.
MLB
Selig’s successor trimmed to Brosnan, Manfred, Werner
GRAPEVINE, Texas – MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said he expects baseball owners to vote next week from a list of three candidates for his successor.
Selig said Wednesday that the seven-member panel appointed earlier this year has worked independently and came up with the list on its own. The panel is headed by St. Louis Cardinals’ chairman Bill DeWitt Jr.
Owners will meet in Baltimore next week. Selig is retiring in January.
There have been several reports that the three finalists are Tim Brosnan, MLB’s executive vice president for business; Rob Manfred, MLB’s chief operating officer; and Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner.
Associated Press
