Newsmakers
Fired The Florida Panthers fired coach Kevin Dineen. The team made the announcement Friday, one day after their losing streak reached seven with a 4-1 loss at Boston. Also fired were assistants Gord Murphy and Craig Ramsay. Peter Horachek is the Panthers’ interim head coach. He has been the coach of the team’s AHL affiliate in San Antonio. The Panthers have also hired former players Brian Skrudland and John Madden as assistant coaches.
• Eastern Michigan fired football coach Ron English with three games left in a losing season also marred by tragedy. The Eagles are 1-8. Demarius Reed, a receiver from Chicago, was found fatally shot at an apartment building on Oct. 18. English had an overall record of 11-46 at the Mid-American Conference school. Stan Parrish will be the head coach for the rest of the season.
Suspended Dallas Mavericks forward Vince Carter has been suspended one game without pay by the NBA for a flagrant foul. The NBA announced the penalty two days after Carter threw an elbow and made contact with the head of Oklahoma City center Steven Adams.
Fined Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers was fined $15,000 by the NBA for hitting Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin in the throat with a forearm during a game Thursday night.
Filed New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez wants his lawsuit against Major League Baseball and commissioner Bud Selig sent back to state court, and the sport said it will move to dismiss the case. A day after an initial conference in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the feuding sides filed paperwork Friday explaining their intended motions.
Supported Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz is apparently so popular in the city that some residents think he should be mayor. Ortiz, fresh off his third World Series championship with the team, received several write-in votes in Tuesday’s election. City elections officials say 560 write-in votes were cast altogether, but they don’t count those not cast for declared write-in candidates. Therefore, the exact number of votes the World Series MVP received is unclear.
Quit Sophomore guard Kahlil Johnson left the California men’s basketball team, a decision the school says is to turn his attention on academics. Johnson will remain enrolled at Cal, where his playing time might have been limited this season on coach Mike Montgomery’s deep team.