Newsmakers

Designated Leading scorer Fredy Montero became the third designated player of the Seattle Sounders FC after signing an extension with the team Wednesday. Montero, Seattle’s leading goal scorer in each of the first two years of the franchise’s existence, joins Alvaro Fernandez and Blaise Nkufo in Seattle’s trio of designated players.

Scheduled The Seattle Seahawks will unveil the retired No. 71 of former offensive tackle Walter Jones during Sunday’s game against Carolina. Jones retired in April after 13 seasons with the team. Jones was named to nine Pro Bowls.

Sidelined Atlanta Hawks star Joe Johnson will be sidelined four to six weeks with an injured right elbow. Johnson averages 17.1 ppg.

Removed LPGA players voted to allow transgender players to compete on tour in response to a lawsuit filed by a California woman who had her sex changed five years ago. Lana Lawless, a former police officer who had the sex-change operation, filed the federal lawsuit in San Francisco in October claiming the “female at birth” requirement violated California’s civil rights law.

Honored U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters is the WTA’s player of the year. Clijsters won five tournaments, including the season-ending WTA Championships.

Discussed Miami athletic director Kirby Hocutt met with former Tampa Bay Bucs football coach Jon Gruden in Tampa, Fla., but according to several Miami sources, a job offer was not made.

Announced ESPN said Orel Hershiser, Bobby Valentine and Dan Shulman will form the new announcing team for “Sunday Night Baseball.”

Died Former Rockford Peaches pitcher and Eastern Michigan University professor and women’s athletic director Jean Cione died Nov. 22 in Bozeman. She was 82.