Newsmakers
Meeting Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick met with NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith earlier this week, after the player finished serving 23 months in federal custody for a dogfighting conviction. George Atallah, assistant executive director for external affairs of the player’s union, said Vick and Smith met one-on-one on Tuesday. Atallah gave no additional details. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended Vick indefinitely, and said Tuesday that he’ll decide whether to reinstate Vick “in the near future.”
Signed The Detroit Pistons have signed free-agent forward Chris Wilcox to a multiyear contract. The 26-year-old Wilcox has appeared in 448 NBA games since the Los Angeles Clippers drafted him eighth overall in 2002. He also has played for Seattle/Oklahoma City and New York, averaging 9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 21.7 minutes per game in his career. In 62 games with Oklahoma City and New York last season, Wilcox averaged 7.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17 minutes per game.
Cut The Indiana Pacers have waived point guard Jamaal Tinsley, ending an often strained relationship. A Pacers spokesman said the NBA will process the request today, and if Tinsley clears waivers, he will become a free agent. Tinsley has been with Indiana since 2001-02, and was hampered by injuries and legal problems in recent years. The Pacers told him not to report to training camp last season, and did not allow him to play.
Agreed The New York Islanders have agreed to terms with goalie Martin Biron on a one-year deal. Biron was 29-19-5 for the Flyers last season, with a 2.76 goals-against average, and led Philadelphia to the Eastern Conference finals against Pittsburgh.
Hired The Calgary Hitmen have hired Mike Williamson as their new head coach, signing the Western Hockey League veteran to a multi-year deal Wednesday. The 36-year-old Williamson joins the Hitmen after spending 15 years with the Portland Winterhawks as a player and coach. After eight seasons as a player and assistant coach, he took over the head coaching duties midway through the 1999-2000 season. Williams guided the Winterhawks to 219 wins, 248 losses, 33 overtime/shootout losses and 31 ties in more than seven seasons as coach.
Unveiled A group of investors discussed plans to bring a WNBA franchise to Tulsa, Okla., even as the league president warned that there is a Sept. 1 deadline to firm things up for the beginning of the 2010 season. “Tulsa is certainly well down the road in terms of their diligence and exploratory work necessary to bring a franchise,” WNBA President Donna Orender told the Associated Press in a telephone interview.