In brief: Ex-UCLA coach new Grizzlies president
Gene Bartow, a former coach at Memphis State and UCLA, was hired Thursday as president of Hoops LP, the company that operates the Memphis Grizzlies and their arena, the FedExForum.
Bartow was chosen NCAA coach of the year in 1973 after leading the Tigers to the NCAA finals against powerhouse UCLA.
After a one-season stint at Illinois, Bartow succeeded John Wooden at UCLA, going 52-9 in two seasons and leading the Bruins to the Final Four in 1976.
He has been a special adviser to the Grizzlies since they relocated from Vancouver in 2001. He has helped the team scout and worked in the community to promote the team and sell tickets and sponsorships.
“The Detroit Pistons signed free-agent guard/forward Jarvis Hayes. The 6-foot-8 Hayes appeared in 81 games last season for the Washington Wizards, averaging 7.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 20.1 minutes.
“O.J. Mayo will be getting some early season national exposure when Southern California and seven other teams play in the new Anaheim Classic over Thanksgiving weekend. Mayo, one of the nation’s most highly touted recruits, will be three games into his college basketball career when the Trojans play San Diego on Thanksgiving night on ESPN2.
Golf
Wie 10 strokes back
Laura Diaz shot a bogey-free 6-under 65 to take the first-round lead in the Canadian Women’s Open in Edmonton, Alberta, while 17-year-old Michelle Wie opened with a 75 to finish 10 strokes back.
Diaz, coming off a second-place tie Sunday in Sweden in the European tour’s Scandinavian TPC, made a long birdie putt on the par-4 first hole — her 10th hole of the day on the Royal Mayfair course.
Wie, making her first appearance in the event, closed her late afternoon round with a double bogey on the par-4 ninth.
“Will Mackenzie shot an 8-under-64 to take a one-shot lead over Lucas Glover, Steve Marino, Brian Davis and Jeff Overton after the first round of the PGA Wyndham Championship.
“Mike Reid and Mark McNulty shot 6-under-66s to share the first-round lead in The Tradition, the Champion Tour’s fourth major of the year, in Sunriver, Ore.
Auto racing
Indy keeps Iowa race
The Indy Racing League has extended its agreement with the Iowa Corn Indy 250 through 2009, Iowa Speedway officials said.
The inaugural Iowa 250, won by Dario Franchitti, was held on June 24 before an overflow crowd of 35,838.
“I watched Dario Franchitti follow his victory in the Indy 500 with a win here in Iowa before a standing-room-only crowd and knew we had a real winner on our hands,” former NASCAR star and track co-owner Rusty Wallace said.
The first major auto race in Iowa was not without its faults. Heavy rains left many of the fields designated as temporary parking lots unusable, creating heavy traffic outside the track. Fan response, though, was overwhelming. Track officials sold more than 5,000 standing room-only tickets.
Miscellany
Japan takes down U.S.
Japan beat the United States 9-1 in softball, ending the Americans’ chances of winning a medal at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand.
Canada will play in the softball gold medal final today against the winner between Taiwan and Japan.
“The New Jersey Devils kept a major piece of their defense together, signing Paul Martin to a three-year, $11.5 million contract.
Martin will earn $3 million this season.
“Emmanuel Moody, the second-leading rusher for Southern California last season as a freshman who is caught in a glut of highly regarded tailbacks, has decided to transfer.