In brief: Arbour returns to N.Y. to coach 1,500th game

Al Arbour has one more milestone to reach behind the New York Islanders bench.

Already with 739 Islanders wins – the most for a coach with one team in NHL history – and four straight Stanley Cup championships from 1980-83, Arbour will return to Long Island for one night to lead the club for a record 1,500th time.

The Islanders announced Thursday that Arbour will coach the team Nov. 3 – two days after his 75th birthday – at home against Pittsburgh.

Arbour will sign a one-day contract on Nov. 2 – taking over for coach Ted Nolan – and then extend his mark for the most games coached with one team.

“The Pittsburgh Penguins signed veteran goalie Ty Conklin. Conklin, 31, split last season between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Buffalo Sabres.

Tennis

Past champs in field

Maria Sharapova and Venus and Serena Williams are among six past U.S. Open champions in the women’s field announced for this year’s tournament.

Defending champion Sharapova, 2000-01 champion Venus Williams and 1999 and 2002 champion Serena Williams are joined by Martina Hingis (1997), Justine Henin (2003) and Svetlana Kuznetsova (2004).

“Serena Williams, still hampered by a thumb injury, withdrew from the Bank of the West Classic (Stanford, Calif.). Williams has withdrawn from three tournaments since injuring her left thumb and calf at Wimbledon.

Basketball

Francis a Rocket again

Steve Francis has agreed to a deal with the Houston Rockets, his agent Jeff Fried said.

Before the 30-year-old guard was traded to Orlando in 2004 as part of a multiplayer deal that brought Tracy McGrady to the Rockets, Francis spent his first five NBA seasons with the Rockets.

“Travis Diener has agreed to a three-year deal with the Indiana Pacers and the former Marquette star is expected to sign early next week.

“Derek Fisher is coming back to Los Angeles and will rejoin Kobe Bryant in the Lakers backcourt.

Fisher cleared waivers Thursday, and the Lakers scheduled a news conference for today to announce his signing.

Miscellany

Armstrong the activist

Lance Armstrong is pushing his cancer fight into presidential politics.

The cancer survivor and seven-time winner of the Tour de France announced he will host presidential candidate forums on cancer next month in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The forums are scheduled for Aug. 27 for Democrats with the Republicans the next day.

“Notre Dame will play football games at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., in 2011 and 2014. No opponents have been announced.