The NHL violated antitrust laws and is acting like “an illegal cartel” by monopolizing control of team promotions, Madison Square Garden claimed in a lawsuit Friday. MSG, which owns the New York Rangers, said it filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan because the NHL would begin fining the organization $100,000 per day starting Friday if the company did not give the league complete…
Oakland Raiders quarterback Josh McCown will miss Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins with a broken toe on his left foot, giving Daunte Culpepper the start against his former team. McCown has not practiced all week but coach Lane Kiffin waited until Friday to officially declare that he would not be able to play Sunday.
By Bruce Martin PA SportsTicker Contributing Editor
Gilbert Arenas swears he is as healthy as ever. He’s certainly as talkative as ever. The Washington Wizards’ All-Star guard promised Friday he’s prepared to go “full speed ahead” on his surgically repaired left knee when training camp opens next week and when the regular season opens next month. “I’ve got to prove myself coming back from this injury.
The time has come for Kobe Bryant to end months of silence regarding the Los Angeles Lakers. That’s assuming he joins his teammates Monday at media day in suburban El Segundo and then on the flight to Hawaii for the start of training camp Tuesday. Although Bryant is expected, his spokesperson Catherine Sebring declined comment when asked about his plans, lending a bit of intrigue.
Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer could miss the start of training camp next week while his son recovers from a bone-marrow transplant in Miami. Camp starts Tuesday and runs through Oct. 6 in Boise, Idaho. “As soon as my son is home from the hospital and stable, I will join my teammates,” Boozer said in a statement released by the team Thursday.
Jimmy Rollins was reminded of his bold preseason prediction countless times, especially when it seemed the Philadelphia Phillies were going nowhere. Many snickered. Others criticized. Few outside the locker room believed. Hey, J-Roll, it took 160 games, but the Phillies finally are the team to beat in the NL East.
St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said he would take a few days after the season to decide whether or not to return to the team he has managed for the past 12 seasons. La Russa, third all-time in managerial victories with 2,372 heading into Friday night’s game in Pittsburgh, is finishing out the final season of his contract with the Cardinals.
With Bud Selig’s blessing, the Houston Astros picked Cecil Cooper as their full-time manager. The 57-year-old Cooper received a guaranteed contract through the 2009 season on Friday, a month after he was chosen as interim manager to replace the fired Phil Garner. Owner Drayton McLane, new general manager Ed Wade and Cooper spoke with the commissioner on a conference call after Cooper was promoted.
If the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings needed another reason to get physical, playing each other in London may be the perfect excuse. With the NHL making its regular-season debut Saturday and Sunday in the British capital, fans await a firsthand look of one of the league’s trademarks — rink-rattling hits and at least a couple of fights.
