Bettman says NHL not close on Olympics
CHICAGO — The International Olympic Committee and hockey’s governing body will have to make concessions before the NHL sends the world’s best players to the Winter Games in South Korea next year, commissioner Gary Bettman said Friday.
“As things stand today, you should assume we’re not going,” he said.
Bettman made it clear at a breakfast with Chicago business leaders that league owners don’t want to stop their season for three weeks again and put their stars at risk of injury without what they consider a tangible return. The reluctance is not new, but the NHL has participated in every Winter Olympics since 1998.
“If nothing changes, I don’t see anybody participating,” Bettman said.”
He said the league has no timetable to resolve the dispute. Rene Fasel, the head of the International Ice Hockey Federation, said he needs to know by the end of April.
Asked exactly what the league would need, Bettman said: “I don’t know. It’s something I would have to go back to the clubs on because the clubs are overwhelmingly negative on the subject.”
Besides the three-week layoff and the possible injuries stemming from a condensed schedule, Bettman mentioned the expense of sending players to the Olympics.
Dempsey leads U.S. to 6-0 rout
Clint Dempsey returned from an irregular heartbeat to score his second international hat trick, 18-year-old phenom Christian Pulisic had a one goal and set up three others, and the United States routed Honduras 6-0 at San Jose, Calif., to get right back in contention for an eighth consecutive World Cup berth.
In its first competitive match since Burce Arena replaced Jurgen Klinsmann, the U.S. moved from last to fourth in the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region.
Late in the first half, Romell Quioto, who plays for Honduras, suffered what appeared to be a left shoulder injury.
The injury occurred in the 39th minute after the Dynamo forward got tangled up with the United States’ Alejandro Bedoya and Jozy Altidore. The two Americans muscled Quioto off the ball, and Quioto landed on his left shoulder.
Lloyd has a goal in Man City debut
Carli Lloyd did not need long to make an impact with Manchester City.
The two-time world player of the year scored the only goal in her Women’s Champions League debut as Man City edged Danish side Fortuna Hjorring 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal at Hjorring, Denmark.
Lloyd, 34, joined Manchester City last month on a three-month loan from the Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League.
Tigers’ Martinez to miss opener
Detroit right fielder J.D. Martinez is expected to miss the beginning of the season with a right foot injury.
Martinez sprained his foot last weekend, and manager Brad Ausmus told reporters that he is expected to be out three to four weeks.
Larson on pole for Fontana race
Kyle Larson turned a lap in 38.493 seconds to claim the pole for the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup race at Fontana, Calif.
Denny Hamlin clocked in at 38.507 seconds to earn the fifth front-row start of his career. Brad Keselowski was third, and Martin Truex Jr. was fourth.
Jimmie Johnson will start 37th after deciding not to participate in qualifying. The defending Fontana champion did not have time to prepare his backup car after crashing in practice.
Joey Logan and Trevor Bayne also didn’t make it out for qualifying.
QB Sanchez joins Bears as backup
The Chicago Bears continued their quarterback makeover by signing veteran Mark Sanchez, who is expected to back up Mike Glennon next season.
Chicago cut quarterback Jay Cutler this month after eight seasons and the next day signed Glennon of Tampa Bay to a threeyear deal.
Sanchez, signed to a one-year contract, give the Bears an experienced backup.
Sanchez was released by Denver last year after losing a preseason competition for the starting job to Trevor Siemian .He backed up Dak Prescott at Dallas, playing in two games for the Cowboys. He spent five of his eight seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets before going to Philadelphia.
Ko misses cut at Kia Classic
Top-ranked Lydia Ko missed the cut for just the second time in 91 LPGA Tour starts when she bogeyed two of her final three holes at the Kia Classic in Carlsbad, Calif.
Ko, the defending champion, fell apart on the last three greens. She missed short putts on 16 and 17 for a bogey and par and threeputted No. 18 to finish a par round that left her 2 over for 36 holes. The cut was at 1 over. Cristie Kerr, the 2015 Kia champion, shot a 3-under 69 to take a one-shot lead over Mo Martin and Mirim Lee. In other news: • Former U.S. Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau ran off four consecutive birdies in a stop-and-start round and finished with a 7-under 65 to share the lead with D.A. Points in the rain-delayed Puerto Rico Open. Points (69) and DeChambeau were at 11-under 133 when the second round was suspended by darkness.