NHL rejects players’ attempt to restart talks
NHL rejects players’ attempt to restart talks
NEW YORK — The little hope that existed for a full NHL season appears to be gone.
Shortly after the players’ reached out to the league on Tuesday night to restart stalled labor negotiations, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly rebuffed the union’s attempt.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said last week, in presenting the league’s most recent offer to the players, that if a new collective bargaining agreement wasn’t reached by this Thursday, it would be impossible for a full regular-season schedule to be played.
No talks have been scheduled, and no last-minute discussions seem to be on tap.
“I don’t anticipate any taking place for the balance of the week,” Daly said in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday night. “The union has rejected the proposal we made last Tuesday and is not offering another one. We see nothing to be gained at this point by meeting just to meet.”
Following a call for the union’s executive board Tuesday night, the players’ association informed the NHL it is willing to meet on Wednesday “or any other date, without preconditions, to try to reach an agreement,” the players’ association said in a statement.
The NHL’s response wasn’t what the union had hoped to hear.
The sides haven’t met since the league turned down three counterproposals from the union on Thursday, two days after the NHL’s offer that included a 50-50 split of hockey-related revenue. Because the players’ association hasn’t shown an inclination to negotiate off of that NHL proposal, a stalemate now exists and could last for a while.
Source: Cavs exercise option on Byron Scott
CLEVELAND — A person familiar with Cleveland’s decision says the Cavaliers have exercised the option on coach Byron Scott’s contract for the 2013-14 season.
The team decided to pick up the option less than a week before Scott begins his third season with the club, said the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Cavs’ policy is to not make player or staff contracts public.
Scott is 40-108 in his two seasons with Cleveland, but the team has been impressed with his development of a young roster that includes point guard Kyrie Irving, the NBA’s reigning rookie of the year.
Scott took over the Cavs in the season following superstar LeBron James’ departure. He signed a three-year deal — with the Cavs holding the fourth-year option — without knowing if James would be back.
Mariners decline 2013 option on Olivo
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners declined to pick up the option for 2013 on catcher Miguel Olivo, which will make him eligible to be a free agent after the World Series.
The Mariners announced the move Wednesday, along with the decision that backup infielder Munenori Kawasaki has been released. Seattle’s 40-man roster stands at 39.
Olivo concluded his second season with the Mariners by hitting .222 with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs in 87 games. But his time behind the plate was severely reduced with young prospect Jesus Montero and John Jaso on the roster. Olivo had just a .239 on-base percentage in 2012.
The club option for Olivo would have been worth $3.25 million for the 2013 season. His buyout was $500,000.
Kawasaki played in 61 games and was known more for his excitable attitude than his play on the field. Kawasaki hit just .192 during limited time in his first major league season after a decade playing in Japan.
Twins decline option on Capps
MINNEAPOLIS —The Minnesota Twins have declined their $6 million contract option for 2013 on right-handed reliever Matt Capps, making him a free agent.
The Twins said Wednesday they told Capps they’ll pay him a $250,000 buyout instead of bringing him back. Capps had 45 saves over 2½ seasons in Minnesota but pitched only four innings after June 15 this year because of shoulder trouble.
The Twins also removed seven players from their 40-man roster: right-handers Jeff Manship, Luis Perdomo, Esmerling Vasquez, Kyle Waldrop and P.J. Walters, and outfielder Matt Carson. Right-hander Carlos Gutierrez was claimed on waivers by the Chicago Cubs. The Twins reinstated right-handers Scott Baker, Cole De Vries and Carl Pavano from the disabled list, which counts against the 40-man roster, leaving five open spots.
Suns waive Ike Diogu, Solomon Jones
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns waived forward Ike Diogu and forward-center Solomon Jones on Wednesday.
Diogu averaged 5.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in three preseason games. The former Arizona State player has played 225 games in six seasons in the NBA with Golden State, Indiana, Portland, Sacramento, the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio, averaging 6.0 points and 3.1 assists.
Jones also appeared in three exhibition games, averaging 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds. He has averaged 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 268 games in six seasons with Atlanta, Indiana, the Clippers and New Orleans.
The Suns have 15 players on their roster.
1984 gold medalist Blatnick dead at 55
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Jeff Blatnick, who overcame cancer to win a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1984 Summer Olympics, has died in New York state at age 55.
Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y., said Wednesday that he died there of heart failure.
Blatnick was a high school state champion in suburban Albany in the mid-1970s and won national titles at Springfield College in Massachusetts.
He qualified for the U.S. Olympic team and was a member of the 1980 squad that didn’t compete because the U.S. boycotted that year’s games in Moscow.
In 1982, he was found to have Hodgkin lymphoma. He was treated and went into remission in time to win gold in Los Angeles in 1984.
He went on to a career as a sports commentator and motivational speaker.
Federer beats Belucci at Swiss Indoors
BASEL, Switzerland — Roger Federer edged Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-5 Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of his hometown Swiss Indoors tournament.
The top-ranked Federer saved four consecutive set points in the second-set tiebreaker before the 34th-ranked Bellucci tied the second-round match.
It was not until match point that Federer, who held serve throughout, had the decisive break-point chance in the decider.
Federer will face either Benoit Paire of France or Lukasz Kubot of Poland in the final eight Friday. Paire beat fifth-seeded Andreas Seppi of Italy, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in a first-round match.
Goffin ousts Isner at Valencia
VALENCIA, Spain — John Isner of the United States lost to David Goffin 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-4 Wednesday in the second round at the Valencia Open.
Isner had 21 aces, but it wasn’t enough against his Belgian opponent, who has improved in the rankings to 45th from No. 175.
Isner has gone 4-5 since winning at Winston-Salem in August. The loss hurts his bid to qualify for the World Tour Finals next month, with only the Paris Masters left to play before the season-ending event.
Seventh-seeded Marin Cilic joined Goffin in reaching the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Fernando Verdasco, with fellow Croatian Ivan Dodig also winning his second-round match, a 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 win over Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt.
Williams tops Li Na at WTA Championships
ISTANBUL — Serena Williams proved Wednesday at the WTA Championships that even when her serve is malfunctioning, she can still beat a top player.
Williams beat 2011 French Open champion Li Na of China 7-6 (1), 6-3 for her second win in round-robin matches to close in on the semifinals at the tournament for the top eight players in the world.
From wire sources