The Pittsburgh Penguins signed a lease Thursday, committing the NHL team to its yet-to-be built $290 million arena until 2040. The lease terms were in accordance with a March memorandum between the team and government officials, Gov. Ed Rendell said Thursday. The city-Allegheny County Sports and Exhibition Authority committed Wednesday to construction financing, and the deal should close in the…
Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen had successful open heart surgery Thursday to repair a faulty valve and hopes to be back on the ice within three months. “There were no complications,” Sabres doctor William Hartrich said after speaking to the surgeon at The Cleveland Clinic. “Teppo is resting comfortably and will remain in the hospital for the next several days.” Numminen learned he required…
The underachieving Philadelphia Eagles could be undermanned against Detroit. Tight end L.J. Smith had surgery Friday for an injured groin and won’t play when the Lions (2-0) visit Sunday. All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins missed practice again with a neck stinger and will be a game-time decision, while Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard likely will miss his second straight game with a knee injury.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair will start Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals and offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden will be out for the second consecutive week. McNair missed last week’s win over the New York Jets with a groin pull. “Steve seems to have gotten through the week OK, so hopefully it will show up that way on Sunday,” Ravens coach Brian Billick said Friday.
The NFL has received and destroyed all materials it requested from the New England Patriots concerning videotaping of opponents’ sidelines, and a league spokesman said the team was unlikely to face any further sanctions. An NFL statement Thursday said the team was in compliance with a request for tapes and other documents.
Buyers paid $8.3 million for 289 horses at Friday’s session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, up 47.4 percent from the same period last year. Overall sales remained down from 2006, 5 percent lower after Friday’s figures were added. A colt by Orientate consigned by Gainesway as agent paced Friday’s sales, bringing $235,000 from Timothy Ritchey as agent.
Junior is getting a head start at Hendrick Motorsports.
The Minnesota Timberwolves hired Ed Pinckney as an assistant coach Friday. Pinckney, who has been an assistant at Villanova, his alma mater, since 2003, will join head coach Randy Wittman on the Timberwolves bench. He will work primarily with Minnesota’s post players, including Al Jefferson, who was acquired from Boston in a trade for Kevin Garnett in July.
Disgruntled forward Andrei Kirilenko is apparently willing to accept any option that will get him away from Utah. Whether he really has any choices will be up to the Jazz. Kirilenko repeated his trade request to a Russian newspaper, saying he is unhappy playing the structured style Utah coach Jerry Sloan demands.
Mets outfielder Lastings Milledge was suspended three games by Major League Baseball on Friday, a day after arguing his ejection during a game against the Marlins. Milledge appealed and will continue playing as the Mets try to hold off Philadelphia in the NL East. “I think the three games are a little harsh,” Milledge said.
