Newsmakers

Departing Los Angeles Dodgers team president Dennis Mannion is out, and owner Frank McCourt is set to resume handling the day-to-day operations of the team. No reason was given for Mannion’s departure. In a written statement, the team said McCourt would take “a more direct and active role” in managing the Dodgers.

Arrested Three-time NBA All-Star Steve Francis was arrested for public drunkenness, according to Los Angeles International Airport police. Airport spokesman Albert Rodriguez said Francis was arrested at 11:30 p.m. Thursday because he was intoxicated, unable to care for himself and combative toward staff. Francis posted $10,000 bail and was released. Francis is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 5.

Scheduled Flyers goalie Michael Leighton will undergo back surgery and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. Leighton has a bulging disc in his back and it was originally thought he could return by the end of the month. General manager Paul Holmgren said Leighton will have surgery in Philadelphia on Monday. Flyers rookie Sergei Bobrovsky will mind the net for Philadelphia while Leighton recovers.

Exercised The Houston Astros exercised the 2012 option on the contract of manager Brad Mills and added a club option for 2013. The Astros went 76-86 in Mills’ first year as manager. Houston went 59-52 after June 1.

Sidelined New Jersey Nets power forward Troy Murphy will be sidelined indefinitely with a lower back injury. The Nets said an MRI confirmed a low back strain and inflammation. Murphy will not accompany the Nets on their upcoming trip to Russia and China. He will be reevaluated when the team returns.

Jailed A University of New Hampshire defensive back is in jail in Durham, N.H., and facing a charge of aggravated felonious sexual assault. Nineteen- year-old JeRome Wilkins of Baltimore was arrested Thursday after a two- month investigation. He is accused of raping a woman who graduated from the university in May and had returned to attend a party on June 30. Prosecutors say witnesses found the woman partially dressed, injured and crying outside a house shared by numerous football players. Wilkins was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail or surety.