Newsmakers

Re-signed NBA veteran Steve Nash thought about leaving the Phoenix Suns after this season. But after mulling other options, Nash realized there were no guarantees of winning an NBA championship elsewhere. So he agreed to a two-year, $22 million contract extension that will keep the two-time MVP point guard under contract with the Suns through the 2011-2012 season. The 35-year-old Nash, entering his 13th NBA season, had one year left on a contract that will pay him $13 million next season. Under the new agreement, $6 million of the final two years of the contract will be deferred, with $3 million being paid in each of the two years following the expiration of the contract, said Bill Duffy, Nash’s agent.

Injured Spurs guard Tony Parker has a sprained ankle and injured thigh after colliding with an Austrian player during a recent basketball game. Parker is unlikely to be available to play for France in Thursday’s game in Paris against Hungary in Eurobasketball 2009, according to sports daily L’Equipe. The Spurs star hurt his right thigh and ankle in a collision with Stjepan Stazic in a game Friday. Parker issued a statement saying he was hit in his thigh and turned his ankle.

Sidelined Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo will be sidelined at least a month after breaking his hand in a league match over the weekend. Doctors said that Ronaldo broke two bones in his left hand after a fall 20 minutes into Corinthians’ 3-0 loss to rival Palmeiras on Sunday. Corinthians doctor Paulo de Faria says Ronaldo will miss four to five weeks because of the injury, and further exams would determine whether surgery was needed.

Died Former defensive end Rick Bryan, an All-American at Oklahoma who played his entire NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons, has died. He was 47. Bryan died Saturday night at his home in Coweta, Okla., the Wright Funeral Home in Coweta said. Former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer says Bryan suffered congestive heart failure. Bryan was a three-time All-Big Eight selection and a two-time All-American. He holds the OU record for tackles by a lineman with 365. Bryan is survived by his wife and three children. Two of his brothers, Mitch and Steve, also played for Oklahoma.