Bettman heads Hall class
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, pioneering black player Willie O’Ree and Martin Brodeur, the league’s leader in wins among goaltenders, top the latest class for the Hockey Hall of Fame announced on Tuesday.
Bettman has been commissioner since 1993, during which time the NHL has expanded its footprint across North America and increased from 24 to 31 teams. During Bettman’s tenure, the league has gone from a $437 million business to one with almost $5 billion in revenue.
Along with Bettman and O’Ree in the builder category, forward Martin St. Louis, four-time goldmedal-winning Canadian women’s national team star Jayna Hefford and Russian Alexander Yakushev were part of the six-person class of 2018 that will be inducted Nov. 12 in Toronto. BASEBALL
New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson is taking a leave of absence because his cancer has returned, and he does not expect to return to the job.
With the team in a massive tailspin, Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and the 70-year-old Alderson made the announcement before Tuesday night’s game against Pittsburgh.
“My health is an uncertainty going forward,” said Alderson, who agreed to a contract extension in December. “If I were to look at it on the merits, I’m not sure coming back is warranted.”
NFL
A body was found at a New Jersey home where New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins lives.
The Bergen County prosecutor’s office says it is investigating a death at the house in Fair Lawn, about 10 miles north of MetLife Stadium. Property records show Jenkins has lived at the house the last two years.
Authorities have identified the dead man as 25year-old Roosevelt Rene, a family friend of Jenkins. The prosecutor’s office didn’t say where Jenkins was when the death occurred.
NBA
The Washington Wizards agreed to trade center Marcin Gortat to the Los Angeles Clippers for guard Austin Rivers, a source said.
The 34-year-old Gortat is a durable, screen-setting big man who has played 12 years in the National Basketball Association, the past five with Washington. He averaged 8.4 points and 7.6 rebounds last season.
Rivers, who turns 26 in August, averaged a career-best 15.1 points and four assists last season.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The family of the Washington State football player who committed suicide in January said the 21year-old quarterback had extensive brain damage that’s been linked to concussions from playing the sport.
Tyler Hilinski was found dead in his apartment with a gunshot wound and a suicide note on Jan. 16.
His most memorable outing came in the second week of the season, when he led Washington State from a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Boise State 47-44 in triple overtime. Hilinski threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns coming off the bench and was carried off the field after the victory.
He was expected to be the starting quarterback this coming fall during his junior year.
GOLF
John Daly withdrew from the U.S. Senior Open, citing a deteriorating knee condition and blaming the USGA for not allowing him to use a golf cart.
The 52-year-old two-time major champion said the USGA turned down his request to use a golf cart, which could have been allowed under rules that conform with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The USGA responded, saying it offered Daly a chance to provide additional information about his condition. Daly said he never received such a request.