Four Seattle fans buy Storm from Bennett
A group of Storm season-ticket holders, with the financial means to be taken seriously, are making sure the WNBA team isn’t leaving Seattle.
Led by former Seattle Deputy Mayor Anne Levinson and Microsoft Corp. executive Lisa Brummel, Force 10 Hoops LLC, a group of four women, secured a purchase option for the franchise from SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett for $10 million.
Two Seattle newspapers also reported that the team’s new coach will be Brian Agler, assistant coach with the San Antonio Silver Stars.
•The wife of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson, 73, filed a court challenge in Tucson, Ariz., to his attempt to divorce her.
The petition said Christine Olson seeks marital counseling.
•The NCAA penalized Prairie View (Texas) A&M’s women’s basketball team for violations attributed to unfamiliarity with rules by coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, a former Houston Comets star.
The NCAA reduced Prairie View A&M’s scholarships from 15 to 12 for the next three years, and the program also was placed on four years’ probation.
Football
Hawaii fires Frazier
The University of Hawaii fired athletics director Herman Frazier after he failed to re-sign coach June Jones.
In a brief statement, the university said the move was made “in the best interest of the athletics program.” It came a day after Jones accepted a five-year deal worth about $2 million a year to coach at SMU.
•Center Alex Mack will return for his senior season at California after being chosen the Pac-10’s top offensive lineman this past season.
•The president of the University of Georgia proposed an eight-team playoff system to determine the NCAA’s national football champion.
Michael Adams, chairman of the NCAA executive committee, has opposed a playoff for 20 years but said the current BCS system is “undercutting the sportsmanship and integrity of the game.”
•Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez filled out most of his coaching staff, bringing six assistants from West Virginia. Fred Jackson, an assistant under former coach Lloyd Carr, will remain as running backs coach.
•Auburn defensive tackle Pat Sims said he will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft.
•Rutgers running back Ray Rice will skip his senior year to enter the NFL draft.
•This year’s LSU-Ohio State matchup in the BCS title game couldn’t draw as many television viewers as last season’s Florida-Ohio State game.
The Tigers’ 38-24 win Monday night on Fox earned a 14.4 rating and a 22 share, down 17 percent from the 17.4/27 in 2007.
Miscellany
Solo back on roster
Goalkeeper Hope Solo is back on the U.S. women’s roster and headed back to China.
Solo was dropped from the team after last year’s World Cup semifinal, a 4-0 loss to Brazil.
•David Nalbandian injured his back today while practicing with Marat Safin at Melbourne Park and said he is doubtful to compete in next week’s Australian Open.