C12

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

Hockey

Dallas forward gets two games

TORONTO - Dallas Stars forward James Neal has been suspended two games for hitting Derek Dorsett of the Columbus Blue Jackets from behind. The NHL handed down the ban on Friday. Neal was assessed a major penalty for boarding and given a game misconduct Thursday after slamming into Dorsett, who crumpled to the ice and appeared dazed. The 22-year-old Neal will will forfeit US$8,515 in salary and is eligible to return Nov. 26 at Colorado. It's the first suspension of his NHL career.

Television

Rock star records hockey theme

TORONTO - Rush's Neil Peart is recording another version of "The Hockey Theme" for TSN. The legendary drummer will be following Simple Plan and the Barenaked Ladies, who also recorded reinterpretations of the iconic song. The theme, originally composed by Dolores Claman in 1968, was best known as the music that opened CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada" for 40 years. But CTV nabbed the rights to the tune in 2008 and it now accompanies hockey broadcasts on its TSN and RDS channels. Peart's version of the song, which promises to be percussion heavy, will be played on NHL broadcasts later this season.

Racing

Fund established for injured jockey

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A fund has been set up to help Canadian jockey Julia Brimo with her expenses during rehabilitation after she suffered serious head and back injuries at a race last month in Kentucky. Brimo, from Mississauga, Ont., was hospitalized Oct. 30 when her mount, Golden Stride, clipped heels and fell at Keeneland. On Nov. 28, jockeys across North America will be asked to contribute one mount fee to the Julia Brimo Fund. A minimum mount fee is usually about $50. Riders are also being asked to wear patches on their boots that day to raise awareness of the plight of seriously injured jockeys. Brimo is expected to be transferred from hospital to a spinal cord rehabilitation facility next week. The 33-year-old jockey rode atop 75 winners in 2003 to win the Sovereign Award as Canada's top apprentice rider.

Olympics

Reasons given for dismissal

VANCOUVER - British Columbia's highest court says Vancouver Olympic officials have no power to include women's ski jumping in the 2010 Olympics, so they can't be found to be violating the athletes' rights. The B.C. Appeal Court dismissed the jumpers' case last week, but the reasons for the unanimous decision weren't released until Friday. In the ruling, the three-member appeal panel agree that the decision about which events are included in the Olympics rests solely with the International Olympic Committee. The ruling says the local organizing committee, known as VANOC, has no legal or practical power to add events to the Games, and can't be held accountable. The appeal judges disagreed with a lower court finding that the exclusion of women's ski jumpers is discriminatory.

Baseball

Nationals hire former Mariner

WASHINGTON - Former Seattle Mariners manager John McLaren was hired Friday as bench coach for the Washington Nationals, who rounded out manager Jim Riggleman's staff by also adding Jim Lett as bullpen coach and Dan Radison as first-base coach. McLaren replaces Pat Corrales, Lett takes over for Randy Knorr, and Radison replaces Marquis Grissom. Hitting coach Rick Eckstein, pitching coach Steve McCatty and third-base coach Pat Listach will keep their jobs with the Nationals in 2010. Riggleman was McLaren's bench coach with Seattle at the start of 2008, then replaced him as the team's manager when McLaren was fired during that season.

Basketball

Charter team folds in WNBA

SAN FRANCISCO - The Sacramento Monarchs folded Friday, a shocking development for the WNBA and one of its original franchises. The decision was largely based on the Maloof family's desire to focus more on the NBA's Sacramento Kings. Maloof Sports&Entertainment had owned both teams. Now, the WNBA must try to find a new owner for the organization.

and a suitable market: with the most logical place being the Bay Area.