In brief: NHL board approves sale of Lightning, Oilers
The NHL board of governors unanimously approved the purchase of the Tampa Bay Lightning by a group of investors led by Hollywood producer Oren Koules and former player Len Barrie.
Koules’ OK Hockey group reached a deal in February to buy the Lightning for $206 million and existing debt from by Michigan-based Palace Sports & Entertainment.
Koules played hockey for nine different minor league franchises, including Spokane, from 1979 to 1983. He played 67 games for Spokane Flyers in the 1980-81 season, collecting 28 goals, 45 assists and 112 penalty minutes.
The governors also approved the sale of the Edmonton Oilers to Canadian billionaire Daryl Katz.
Katz, the owner of the Rexall Drug Store chain, agreed in February to buy 100 percent of shares owned by the 34-member Edmonton Investors Group for nearly $200 million.
Horse racing
Safety hearings set
Big Brown’s trainer appears to be a late scratch for today’s House hearing on the safety of thoroughbred racing, removing the most anticipated witness from Congress’ latest look at sports and steroids.
Rick Dutrow said he has had a virus for several days and did not feel well enough to travel.
The hearing will go on, with much to discuss. An Associated Press survey last week found that thoroughbred racetracks reported more than three horse deaths a day in 2007 and 5,000 since 2003. The impetus for the hearing came when Eight Belles broke down at the Kentucky Derby and was euthanized on the track.
Basketball
SE Missouri penalized
Southeast Missouri’s women’s team was ordered to forfeit 44 victories and the NCAA placed both the women’s and men’s programs on two years of probation for major and secondary violations.
“Lawyers for Stacy Johnson-Klein, a former Fresno State women’s coach who sued the university claiming sexual discrimination say they’ve reached a $9 million settlement with the university.
Miscellany
Kuznetsova upset
Top-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova was upset 6-2, 6-2 by Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki in the second round of the Eastbourne (England) International Women’s Open.
Amelie Mauresmo retired with a thigh strain while leading Samantha Stosur 2-1.
“Russia dominated a 2-0 victory over Sweden at Innsbruck, Austria, in a Group D men’s soccer elimination game, sending the Russians to the European Championship quarterfinals.
Spain also defeated Greece 2-1 in Salzburg, Austria.
“London’s mayor told organizers of the 2012 Olympics to keep the budget under control after a study indicated building costs increased by $207 million in the last seven months.
“Jimmy Jackson, a former Olympic wrestler and three-time NCAA heavyweight champion at Oklahoma State, died Tuesday in East Lansing, Mich. He was 51.