Newsmakers

Scheduled St. John’s men’s basketball coach Steve Lavin will undergo surgery today to treat prostate cancer. The 47-year-old Lavin, who is starting his second season with the Red Storm, announced in early April that he had been diagnosed the previous September with an early stage of the disease. After continuing his normal coaching duties while pursuing a physician- recommended course of active surveillance, Lavin changed his treatment path to surgery. He is expected to resume his coaching responsibilities after a recovery period.

Announced Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who lost his starting job after two games and then had season-ending shoulder surgery, plans to transfer. Gilbert was given an unconditional release from his scholarship to find another school. In a statement released Wednesday, Gilbert did not say where he planned to go, but indicated he has visited several schools and will visit more while finishing this semester at Texas.

• Tiger Woods has his first major endorsement since his downfall two years ago, announcing a deal with Rolex to be one of its ambassadors. Woods had lost five major endorsements in the two years since he was exposed for serial adultery and eventually divorced. He previously had a watch deal with Tag Heuer, which dropped him two months ago.

Reported Researchers studying the brain of seven-time All-Star Rick Martin found damage consistent with the trauma they found in other former NHL players. The difference is Martin wasn’t a fighter. Martin is the first non-enforcer who has been diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy by researchers at a Boston University brain bank. Martin died of a heart attack at 59 in March.

Agreed New Jersey agreed with Petr Sykora to terms of a one-year deal, completing the former Devil’s bid to return to the NHL after an 18-month absence. The 34-year-old forward last played for the Minnesota Wild in 2009-10.