Newsmakers
Hired The Tampa Bay Lightning hired Guy Boucher, 38, as the team’s new coach. Boucher has only one year of professional coaching experience, none in the NHL. The former coach of the American Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs agreed to a contract after turning down a chance to coach the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier this week.
Signed Running back Ahman Green signed to play for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. Green played 12 seasons in the NFL, and is the Green Bay Packers’ career rushing leader with 8,322 yards in eight years with the club. The former Nebraska great also played for Seattle and Houston. The UFL begins its second season in September.
Returning Former West Virginia quarterback Oliver Luck is returning to his alma mater as the school’s new athletic director.
Retiring Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins will retire next year, ending a highly successful but sometimes-stormy 43-year career in sports administration. The 65-year-old Perkins made the announcement one day after he was cleared of accepting free use of gym equipment in exchange for favors.
Out Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who has played only nine games this season because of broken ribs, will be sidelined several more weeks. Ellsbury, who broke four ribs in a collision with teammate Adrian Beltre on April 11, was examined again and a new injury to the area was discovered.
Quitting Pro Bowl receiver Muhsin Muhammad announced his retirement. Carolina’s career leader in catches and yards receiving walked away from the game after 14 seasons, 11 of which were spent in Charlotte, where he made a transformation on and off the field. Muhammad, 37, had said after the 2009 season he wanted to continue playing. But the Panthers began a youth movement and chose not to re-sign him.
Healing American sprinter Tyson Gay is taking some time off because of tightness in his hamstring. The three-time world champion said he felt discomfort after setting the 200-meter record for a straight track in Manchester, England, last month. Tests showed a disk out of line in his back that he believes caused the problem.