Sports in brief: Grizzlies set to sign Iverson

NBA: Allen Iverson will be a fan attraction for the Memphis Grizzlies – from the beginning.

The Grizzlies confirmed Wednesday they have agreed in principle to a contract with Iverson, hours after the guard tweeted he was heading to Memphis. And the team scheduled a news conference today at FedExForum.

Iverson would become the highest- profile player in the Grizzlies’ history.

“We anticipate signing him to a contract very soon,” general manager Chris Wallace said.

Iverson, a 34-year-old free agent, was the first overall draft pick in 1996 and the league MVP in 2001.

He can provide valuable minutes and scoring off the bench – something needed by a team that went 24-58 and tied for the fifth-worst record in the NBA last season.

“I feel that they are committed to developing a winner and I know that I can help them to accomplish that. I feel that I can trust them,” Iverson tweeted.

Associated Press

Big names coming to town

Rodeo: Some of the top cowboys and cowgirls in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association national standings, almost all the best from the Columbia River Circuit and all the defending champions are entered in the Spokane Interstate Fair rodeo that runs Friday through Sunday with 7 p.m. performances.

Jesse Kruse of Great Falls, Mont., who leads the national standings, highlights Friday’s opening performance, which includes the leading team roping combination – Chad Masters of Clarksville, Tenn., and Jade Corkill of Fallon, Nev.

By Sunday attention turns to bareback riding, when the traveling partners known as “The Pride” are up. That’s Ryan Gray of Cheney, Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., and Jason Havens of Prineville, Ore. They are fourth, second and 15th, respectively, in the current PRCA standings. Mote, a two-time national champion, is the defending Spokane champion and sits second in the CRC, which Gray is leading with Havens third.

Corey and Horst Rodeo Company out of Moses Lake is the stock contractor.

Dave Trimmer

Fish, Wildlife boss imminent

Outdoors: The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission plans to select a director for the Department of Fish and Wildlife during its meeting, which runs Friday and Saturday in Olympia.

The commission interviewed six applicants and narrowed the field to two finalists last month.

Phil Anderson has served as interim director since former director Jeff Koenings resigned in December.