Newsmakers

Honored Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao accepted his third Fighter of the Year award Friday night at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York, while his trainer Freddie Roach was honored for the fourth time by the Boxing Writers Association of America. The reigning welterweight champion was also given a special award as Fighter of the Decade.

Agreed Free agent Tomas Holmstrom agreed to terms on a two-year deal that will bring the gritty, veteran forward back to the Detroit Red Wings. The 37-year-old Swede has been with the Wings since 1996, helping them win four Stanley Cups with his hard-nosed play in front of the net.

Signed The Boston Bruins signed forward Shawn Thornton to a two-year contract extension. Thornton had a career-high 141 penalty minutes in 2009-10, and his 21 fighting majors led the team and tied for fifth in the NHL.

•Fourth-round draft pick Mike Williams signed a four-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Williams finished his college career with 20 TD receptions, tied with Marvin Harrison for second on Syracuse’s all-time list.

•The New York Jets signed fullback John Conner, the team’s fifth-round draft pick, to a four-year contract. Conner, nicknamed “The Terminator,” played in a school-record 53 games at Kentucky.

•The Denver Broncos signed right guard Chris Kuper to a six-year deal. The 6-foot-4, 303-pound Kuper started 15 games for the Broncos last season. According to Stats Inc., Kuper has surrendered just five sacks in 42 career starts.

Returning Former women’s No. 1 Lindsay Davenport is coming out of retirement to play doubles at a WTA Tour event near San Diego. Tournament officials said that Davenport accepted a wild card to play with fellow American Liezel Huber at the Mercury Insurance Open from July 31-Aug. 8.

Died Co-founder of the John R. Wooden Award, Richard “Duke” Llewellyn, has died. He was 93. Llewellyn’s longtime companion, Nancy Tew, said that he died of congestive heart failure at his Los Angeles retirement home.