Minnesota scores twice in free agency
NHL: The Minnesota Wild were a starless team in need of a big-time jolt to get the franchise back to the point of being worthy of playing in “The State of Hockey.”
The Wild landed not one but both of the NHL’s top prizes in free agency, signing forward Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter on Wednesday. Each deal is for 13 years and $98 million.
Parise, the former New Jersey Devils playmaker, and Suter, who paired with Shea Weber on the Nashville blue line, were regarded the cream of what was a thin free-agent crop.
Parise was the best forward on the market. He scored 31 goals and had 69 points last season in his first year as the Devils’ captain. .
Suter, also 27, was the top defenseman available this summer. He spent all seven of his seasons in the NHL with the Predators after being selected with the seventh pick in the 2005 draft.
Two-time MVP Nash traded to Lakers
NBA: Steve Nash’s agent Bill Duffy says the two-time MVP point guard is going to the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal with the Phoenix Suns.
The 38-year-old Nash, who spent the past eight seasons with the Suns, was a free agent, but a sign-and-trade agreement was necessary for the Lakers to afford him. He agreed to a three-year, $27 million contract. The Suns get four draft picks – first-rounders in 2013 and 2015 and second-rounders in 2013-14.
• Suns, Beasley agree: A person familiar with the situation said free-agent forward Michael Beasley agreed to a three-year, $18 million deal with the Phoenix Suns.
Beasley’s best season was 2010-2011, when he averaged 19.2 points with the Timberwolves.
• Magic will interview at least four coaches: The Orlando Magic plan to interview Michael Malone, Brian Shaw, Quin Snyder and Jacque Vaughn for their head-coaching vacancy, the Orlando Sentinel has learned from league sources.
Snyder, 45, from Mercer Island, Wash., played at Duke. He’s an assistant coach with the Lakers and previously worked as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers.
• 76ers plan on keeping Hawes, Williams: Before NBA free agency began on Sunday, Philadelphia 76ers president and general manager Rod Thorn said that the team’s first order of business would be to re-sign unrestricted free agents Spencer Hawes and Lou Williams.
The 76ers agreed in principle on a two-year, $13 million deal with Hawes, a center. The Sixers have had conversations with Williams, the team’s leading scorer last season.
• Injured Noah out of Olympics: Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah will not play for France at the London Olympics because of a left ankle injury.
Noah added he would need more time and work to recover completely from the injury that occurred during the playoffs.
Luxembourg takes Haye-Chisora action
Miscellany: The Luxembourg Boxing Federation says it has started legal action to prevent the British boxing authority from “intimidating” its members over involvement in the David Haye-Dereck Chisora heavyweight fight.
The Luxembourg body issued legal proceedings after the British Boxing Board of Control threatened to rescind the licenses of members involved in the bout scheduled for July 14 in east London. The LBF said it was left with “no option.”
• South African woman accuses Bob Hewitt: The man she accuses of raping her when she was his 9-year-old protege has no place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, a South African woman said.
Suellen Sheehan, now 43 and a businesswoman in Johannesburg, said it took years to overcome feelings of shame, guilt and fear she would not be believed. She and other accusers came forward last year to ask the Hall of Fame to remove Bob Hewitt from its ranks.
The Newport, R.I.-based Hall said on Tuesday it had hired an attorney to investigate the allegations against Hewitt. The investigation could result in the first expulsion from the Hall.
• Test driver De Villota loses eye in crash: Formula One test driver Maria de Villota lost her right eye in a crash during a testing session and remains hospitalized in Britain, with teammates describing her condition as critical but stable.
The Spaniard, 32, sustained serious injuries to her head and face after colliding with a team vehicle at the end of a straight-line test run at Duxford Airfield, north of London.