National sports
Senators sign free-agent Hasek to one-year contract
Dominik Hasek is thinking Stanley Cup again, and that’s exactly why the Ottawa Senators signed one of the game’s top goaltenders.
“I wanted to play for a team that I believe can win the Cup,” Hasek said at a news conference Tuesday. “And I believe that with my help, all together, we can do it.”
Hasek, who won his first Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2002, signed a one-year, $2 million deal with an option year at $3 million. Should Ottawa win the Stanley Cup, Hasek would earn $4 million in bonuses, the Canadian Press reported.
“We’ve gotten a goaltender who’s one of the best,” Senators general manager John Muckler said. “This is an exciting time for the hockey team.”
The move was not a surprise. Ottawa received permission from Detroit to speak with Hasek even before the Czech star became an unrestricted free agent last Thursday.
The 39-year-old Hasek played just 14 games last season for Detroit because of a groin injury.
“Unrestricted free agent Craig Conroy, who helped the Calgary Flames reach the Stanley Cup finals this spring, agreed to a four-year, $12.6 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings.
“The Phoenix Coyotes signed free-agent defenseman Sean O’Donnell to a $6 million, three-year contract.
“The Coyotes also sent defenseman Radoslav Suchy and a sixth-round pick in next year’s amateur draft to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2005 draft.
“Tom Renney was named head coach of the New York Rangers after serving as interim coach since February. Renney went 5-11-0-4 after taking over from Glen Sather on Feb. 25.
“The St. Louis Blues re-signed 16-year veteran defenseman Eric Weinrich to a two-year contract Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
College football
Vick’s brother suspended
Virginia Tech sophomore quarterback Marcus Vick was suspended indefinitely from the team after he was charged with reckless driving and possession of marijuana.
The younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was charged after an early morning traffic stop on Saturday. He was convicted in May of three misdemeanors stemming from a drinking party with three underage girls.
The school said the latest charge prompted the indefinite suspension.
“Top Miami football recruit Willie Williams was placed on probation in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for the second time in two weeks.
Williams must perform 250 hours of community service while on probation for three years for violating probation for a store burglary and is banned from drinking alcohol and taking any unprescribed drugs. He’ll be subject to random testing.
Miami athletic director Paul Dee said now that the 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker’s sentence is known, the school will determine whether to admit him.
“A Florida International football player pistol whipped another student during an on-campus robbery attempt, and when the victims tried to drive away, a player shot out a window of their car, according to a police report.
Everett Baker, 20, was charged with attempted murder for firing into an occupied car. He also was charged with two counts of armed robbery, possession of a weapon on school grounds and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, all felonies.
Two other football players, Randy Arnold, 20, and Diamos DeMerritt, 21, were also charged with six felonies for the weekend attempted robbery. Two other suspects remained at large.
“Two suspended Air Force football players are facing steroid charges and a possible court-martial.
The school announced the charges against running back Matthew Ward and linebacker Overton Spence Jr., along with two other cadets.
The charges are the result of a campus-wide probe.
Spence, who faces up to 25 years in prison if found guilty, was charged June 28 with using methandrostenolone as well as distributing and possessing 67 pills of the steroid. Ward, who faces a maximum 10-year sentence, was charged June 1 with using the same kind of steroid and possessing 30 pills.
Pro football
Bettis tied to gambling project
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis acknowledged limited partnership in a company seeking to build a $500 million horse racing track and slots parlor.
Last week, the NFL said it wanted to talk to Bettis about his ties to the project.
Bettis, in a statement, said he appeared in Harrisburg, Pa., last week with developer C.J. Betters as lawmakers were considering legalizing slot machines. He’s a partner in Betters’ Pittsburgh Development Group II, and sees the proposed track and parlor in Hays as a good business opportunity.
“As the Hays development project continues, my advisers and I will monitor the activities of PDG II, and should my involvement present a conflict with the NFL rules, I will take whatever actions are appropriate to assure compliance with those rules,” Bettis said in the statement reported on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Web site.
Track and field
El Guerrouj wins 1,500 run
Hicham El Guerrouj rebounded from his startling loss in Rome last week, winning the 1,500 meters in 3 minutes, 32.30 seconds at the Athletissima Super Grand Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland.
American Allen Johnson won the 110-meter hurdles in a world season’s best time of 13.05 seconds. Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic upped his two-year unbeaten streak in the 400 hurdles, winning in 47.86 for another season’s world best.