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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Knicks to sign Stoudemire

The Spokesman-Review

NBA: Amare Stoudemire is headed to the New York Knicks, and both sides are hoping he’s not coming alone.

The Knicks said Monday they intend to sign Stoudemire (pictured) to a contract later this week when the free agent moratorium period ends. The agent for the former Phoenix Suns star, Happy Walters, said the deal is for the maximum allowed, which would be nearly $100 million over five years.

Stoudemire said he looked forward to rebuilding a franchise and bringing the Knicks back to the top – maybe with a player such as LeBron James, Chris Bosh or Dwyane Wade with him.

“I feel great about being a pioneer and showing my leadership,” Stoudemire said.

The deal can’t be signed until Thursday, after the salary cap for next season has been set.

Associated Press

Rangers plan to hold auction

Baseball: The Texas Rangers plan to hold an auction next month for the team’s sale in hopes of getting a bankruptcy plan approved, according to a court motion filed Monday.

The team, which had a pending sale to a group led by Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg and Hall of Fame pitcher and team president Nolan Ryan, set an Aug. 16 auction for bidders who meet MLB requirements.

Selling the team to the Greenberg-Ryan group and paying creditors $75 million was part of the Rangers’ bankruptcy plan, but creditors have opposed it.

They have argued the team doesn’t just owe $75 million, but is obligated to pay more than $525 million in loans that were defaulted on last year and that the Greenberg-Ryan bid was not the highest.

Associated Press

Nigerian

threat dropped

Soccer: Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has dropped a threat to suspend the national team from playing for two years because of its poor World Cup showing and corruption allegations.

Jonathan’s office said the decision came after a meeting with the Nigeria Football Federation, whose executive committee fired the group’s president and vice president Sunday in an effort to appease the government.

The federation “assured the president of their commitment” to building a positive national program.

FIFA had set a deadline Monday for the government to drop its suspension plans or face even harsher international sanctions than those Jonathan threatened.

(More World Cup coverage, Page B3)

Associated Press