Laettner and friends buy Grizzlies

An investment group that includes Christian Laettner and his former Duke teammate Brian Davis has reached an agreement to buy 70 percent of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Laettner is also interested in returning to the NBA to play for the Grizzlies, according to Davis.

“We’ll try to make that happen as soon as possible,” Davis said at a news conference Monday.

Laettner, who was with the league for 13 years, left the NBA after the 2004-05 season with Miami.

Davis said an agreement was reached with billionaire Michael Heisley to buy his majority 70 percent interest in the team for about $360 million. Davis and Laettner are putting a total of $40 million of their own money into the project. The remainder will come from investors that were not identified but Davis said he has lined up the money for the purchase.

•Vin Baker, a former All-Star who has struggled with injuries and alcohol problems, has signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves after playing eight games last season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Hockey

Players file lawsuit

Detroit Red Wings star Chris Chelios and other members of the NHL Players’ Association asked a federal court to help them oust the union’s executive director and award them millions of dollars in damages.

The lawsuit filed in Chicago said executive director Ted Saskin and others “flouted the constitution and governing law to maintain their control” over the union.

Besides seeking a court order allowing them to remove Saskin, the unhappy members asked for unspecified millions of dollars in damages and punitive damages.

•The NHL suspended Toronto defenseman Pavel Kubina for one game a day after he cross-checked Detroit’s Jiri Hudler in the exhibition finale.

•The Phoenix Coyotes have waived veteran right wing Tyson Nash, whose energetic play made him a fan favorite.

•Bob Green has been named general manager of Edmonton’s new Western Hockey League franchise that will join the league for the 2007-08 season. Green was assistant general manager of the Medicine Hat Tigers the past seven years. Edmonton’s major junior franchise, owned and operated by the NHL’s Oilers, will be the WHL’s 22nd team.

Tennis

McEnroe gets contract

Patrick McEnroe received a two-year contract extension to stay on as captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, charged with ending the country’s longest title drought since the competition began in 1900.

If McEnroe does remain in the job through 2008, he would tie Tom Gorman (1986-93) for the longest tenure as U.S. captain.

Miscellany

Doping agencies unite

Interpol and the World Anti-Doping Agency will work together to crack down on the use of performance- enhancing drugs in sports. The officials, meeting in Paris, floated the idea of a worldwide conference on the fight against doping to bring together experts and encourage cooperation between agencies.

•University of Montana women’s golf coach Joanne Steele, who underwent heart transplant surgery Sept. 17, has been released from the University of Washington Medical Center and is staying at a nearby hotel.

•American fencer Rebecca Ward won the women’s sabre title, leading a 1-2-3 U.S. finish at the world championships in Turin, Italy.

•The United States beat South Africa 3-1 for its first victory at the women’s field hockey World Cup in Madrid, Spain.