Timberwolves waive Josh Howard after he tears ACL
Timberwolves waive Josh Howard after he tears ACL
MINNEAPOLIS — Just when Josh Howard appeared to be carving an important niche in the NBA for himself again after battling back from a torn ACL in his left knee, the 32-year-old forward is right back where he started.
The Timberwolves waived him Thursday after an MRI revealed a torn ACL in Howard’s right knee. He was injured Friday at New Orleans. The team initially hoped he would be able to return this season, but as usual for these hard-luck Wolves, the news could not have been worse.
“I feel really bad for him,” coach Rick Adelman said before the Wolves hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder. “He worked so hard to bring himself back. It’s just a shock.”
Howard was brought in last month after Chase Budinger tore the meniscus in his left knee. He averaged 6.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11 games this season, emerging as a valuable defender on the perimeter against bigger guards and small forwards.
With Howard out, Andrei Kirilenko is Adelman’s only real option to guard the aggressive small forwards and shooting guards that are too big for Luke Ridnour and JJ Barea to handle. Adelman said the Wolves are looking for someone to bring in. Free agent Michael Redd, who has suffered through his own series of knee injuries in the last few years, could be an option.
“We need someone like Josh,” an exasperated Adelman said. “That’s really what we need, especially a backup (small forward) that can guard perimeter people. We better get somebody, but I don’t know who that is at this point.”
It’s the latest in a long line of injuries for the Wolves. Budinger, Brandon Roy and Malcolm Lee all are out with knee injuries. Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, JJ Barea and Andrei Kirilenko have also missed time with various injuries.
NYC Marathon runners can get entry fee refunds
NEW YORK — New York City Marathon runners can receive a refund of their entry fee after this year’s race was canceled because of Superstorm Sandy.
When the event was called off last month, officials said they had a no-refund policy and hadn’t decided whether to make an exception. The race organizer, New York Road Runners, informed entrants Thursday that they had three options to choose from — one of them a refund.
If runners do not reclaim their money, they can have a guaranteed spot in the 2013, 2014 or 2015 marathon. They would have to pay the entry fee again, but at the 2012 rate. Getting into the race is extremely competitive, making a guaranteed spot very valuable to runners.
Or they can accept a spot in March’s NYC Half, paying the entry fee for the 13.1-mile race — though availability is limited.
NYRR President Mary Wittenberg said “nirvana” would have been to offer both a refund and free entry into a future marathon, but that wasn’t affordable. The race had cancellation insurance, and Wittenberg said that once the payout was determined, the first priority was offering a refund.
“We appreciate that people came here trying to support the city, and we appreciate the investment people made,” she said. “We never allowed ourselves an option that didn’t include a refund.”
Suzy Favor Hamilton says she worked as an escort
Three-time Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton says she coped with depression and a troubled marriage by turning to a life of prostitution.
In a series of posts to her Twitter account, Favor Hamilton acknowledged working as an escort following a report Thursday on The Smoking Gun website about her double life.
“I do not expect people to understand,” Favor Hamilton tweeted. “But the reasons for doing this made sense to me at the time and were very much related to depression.”
The Smoking Gun said the 44-year-old athlete has been working for the last year for a Las Vegas escort service that booked her for dates there, as well as in Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago. The website said she charged $600 an hour for her services.
One of the country’s best-ever middle-distance runners, Favor Hamilton competed for the U.S. at the Olympics in 1992, 1996 and 2000 but did not win a medal. She won seven U.S. national titles. She lives in Madison, Wis., where, The Smoking Gun reported, she and her husband, Mark, live in a $600,000 home and appear to be in no financial distress based on the website’s review of court and municipal records.
Report: Maradona top candidate for Iraq national team coach
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — An Argentine representing Diego Maradona says the legendary star is a leading candidate to take over as coach of Iraq’s national team.
Hernan Tofoni was quoted by Argentina’s state-run news agency Telam as saying the leadership of the Iraq football association was expected to meet Friday and complete an offer to Maradona.
Tofoni told Telam that Iraq had wanted to hire an Argentine coach and Maradona’s name surfaced as a candidate.
Tofoni is the general manager of World Eleven, which organizes international friendly matches for Argentina’s national team.
The Iraqi federation could not be reached for comment by The Associated Press.
Tofoni confirmed on Twitter that the Iraqi federation was dealing with World Eleven over the possibility of signing Maradona.
Source: Cubs reach deal with Edwin Jackson
CHICAGO — A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract with right-hander Edwin Jackson.
The person spoke Thursday on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. Several outlets had previously reported the agreement.
The Cubs will be the eighth team in 11 years for the 29-year-old Jackson, who also pitched for the White Sox. He is 70-71 lifetime with a 4.40 ERA. He was 10-11 with a 4.03 ERA for Washington last season.
The Cubs also were trying to reach a deal with pitcher Carlos Villanueva. That would give them seven experienced starters, including newcomers Scott Baker and Scott Feldman and holdovers Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija and Travis Wood.
Polanco agrees to $2.75M deal with Marlins
Former All-Star third baseman Placido Polanco agreed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract Thursday with the Miami Marlins, plugging the final hole in the team’s projected lineup following a payroll purge.
The 37-year-old, who can earn an additional $250,000 in performance bonuses, battled injuries this year and hit .257 with two home runs and 19 RBIs in 90 games with the Philadelphia Phillies. The 15-year veteran is a career .299 hitter with 103 homers.
Other projected starters include Logan Morrison at first base, Donovan Solano at second, Adeiny Hechavarria at shortstop, Jeff Brantly at catcher, Giancarlo Stanton in right field, Justin Ruggiano in center field and Juan Pierre in left field.
From wire sources