Communication has ceased between NHL, players’ association
NEW YORK — The NHL and the locked- out players’ association aren’t even talking by phone.
With the lockout about to enter its third month, communications between the fighting sides have come to a halt with no clear sign of what the next step will be or when it will be taken.
“No, we have not communicated today,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Associated Press Wednesday in an email. “No meetings scheduled, and no plans to meet.”
After four straight days of negotiations in New York last week, talks broke off angrily Friday night. Discussions resumed Sunday, solely regarding player contract terms, but that meeting ended after only 90 minutes.
The union contends that the NHL doesn’t want to get back together yet.
“The players remain prepared to re- sume negotiations at any time,” NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr said.
At this point, no decisions have been made to call off any more games, Daly said. So far, 327 games — all those scheduled through Nov. 30 and the New Year’s Day outdoor Winter Classic — have been canceled by the NHL.
More could be coming soon if a deal isn’t reached. It is believed that an agreement would need to be in place by the end of next week for the season to get under way Dec. 1.
Vonn released from hospital
Lindsey Vonn has been released from a hospital in Vail, Colo., Wednesday, two days after being admitted for intestinal pain.
Vonn’s publicist Lewis Kay says in an email that she’s “feeling much better and “resting comfortably at home.” He’s not sure when the four- time overall World Cup champion will return to skiing.
Kay says doctors were still trying to determine what caused her illness, but she’s responded well to treatment. Kay says it’s not clear “when she will be able to return to the mountain” but will “update as her health improves.”
Vonn’s ski technician Heinz Haemmerle said Tuesday that Vonn hadn’t trained in more than two weeks. She was in Colorado to prepare for the upcoming World Cup races in Aspen Nov. 24.
Memmel retires from gymnastics
Chellsie Memmel is done with competitive gymnastics, this time for good.
The three- time world champion and Olympic silver medalist announced her retirement Wednesday. Her career had been hampered by a series of injuries, and her latest comeback ended in May when she failed to qualify for the U. S. championships.
“It’s sad to be officially be done competing and done doing gymnastics,” Memmel said. “I’m proud of everything that I was able to accomplish. I had some untimely injuries, obviously. I’m just thrilled with everything I was able to do and how much I was able to compete for the U. S.”
DC United’s Hamid, Pajoy fined
NEW YORK — D. C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid and forward Lionard Pajoy were fined by MLS Wednesday for their actions in a playoff game last week against the New York Red Bulls.
Hamid was fined an undisclosed amount for failing to leave the field in an orderly manner after receiving a red card, and Pajoy was fined an undisclosed amount for “putting the game in disrepute by deliberately marring the penalty mark” in United’s 1- 0 victory Nov. 8.