In brief: Spurgeon lands NHL contract

Hockey: Former Spokane Chiefs defenseman Jared Spurgeon has landed an entry-level NHL contract with the Minnesota Wild.

He was invited to the Wild’s prospect’s camp as a free agent and earned an invitation to the Wild’s main camp.

In his fifth and final campaign with the Chiefs last season, he scored eight goals and 51 points in 54 games.

Ali at debut of new 5th St. Gym

Boxing: Just like old times, Angelo Dundee and Muhammad Ali were together again at the gym they made famous.

Nearly six decades after it first opened, the famed 5th Street Gym in Miami Beach, Fla., was brought back to life Thursday night, a gala unveiling that brought out plenty of former fighters and trainers – most of whom were there with hopes of grabbing a glimpse of Ali, who trained at the South Florida facility under Dundee’s watch for years.

“It’s a beautiful thing, really,” the 89-year-old Dundee said. “But you know, you can’t live on nostalgia. You’ve got to live on the present. Right now, we’re going to create some good fighters for the Americans. We need it.”

On this night, though, all eyes were on the 68-year-old former champion who arrived amid chants of “Ali! Ali! Ali!” and took a seat next to Dundee at a table set up next to the new ring.

Ali appeared to be slightly taken aback by the reception.

Ali and Dundee visited recently at the trainer’s home. Dundee said the effects of Parkinson’s disease continue taking a toll on Ali, but that the fighter is still fighting.

Dundee’s brother, Chris Dundee, opened the original gym in 1951, and it eventually hosted Ali, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Robinson and countless others. It was torn down 17 years ago, five years before Chris Dundee’s death.

Associated Press

Chat with Bone on SportsLink

Basketball: With Washington State’s basketball practices starting in less than a month, Vince Grippi sat down with head coach Ken Bone and talked about the summer that was and the approaching season.

“Personally, I’m anxious for the season to begin,” Bone said. “(I’ve) been sitting on this 6-12, last-place finish, and being the head coach of that, for too many months.”

Check out Grippi’s Q & A with Bone on SportsLink at spokesman.com/sports.