Kings, Brown agree to eight-year extension
Kings, Brown agree to eight-year extension
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to an eight-year contract extension with Dustin Brown that will keep the team captain around through the 2021-22 season.
Brown had one year left on his current deal. He joins nine other Kings who have been signed to long-term deals, including Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Quick, Mike Richards and Jarret Stoll.
The Kings also announced Thursday that Rob Blake has been hired as an assistant general manager for the team with which he starred for 14 seasons as its career leader in goals, assists and points by a defenseman.
Brown has played his entire nine-year NHL career with the Kings, helping them win their first Stanley Cup in 2012. He is the team’s only American-born captain, a position he’s held since October 2008.
Brown has 181 goals, 207 assists and 452 penalty minutes in 641 regular-season games. He was an All-Star in 2009.
Blake replaces Ron Hextall, who is leaving to become assistant GM and director of hockey operations for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Magic sign free agent big man Jason Maxiell
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic have signed free agent big man Jason Maxiell, adding a veteran presence to an injury-depleted front court.
General manager Rob Hennigan announced the signing Thursday.
The 30-year-old Maxiell comes from Detroit, where he appeared in 72 games last season. He was drafted in 2005 and has spent his entire eight-year NBA career with the Pistons.
The 6-foot-7 Maxiell joins a Magic roster that was thin behind center Nikola Vucevic, with Glen Davis recovering from foot surgery. Maxiell can play power forward or center.
Maxiell averaged 6.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks last season.
Getz, Herrera to likely join Royals soon
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals placed infielder Chris Getz and reliever Kelvin Herrera on the taxi squad Thursday in anticipation of recalling them Friday, and optioned infielder Johnny Giavotella and reliever Everett Teaford to Triple-A Omaha.
The club also assigned infielder Pedro Ciriaco, claimed off waivers Tuesday from San Diego, to Omaha.
Getz opened the season as the Royals’ starting second baseman, but was optioned to Omaha on June 22. He has a .214 average in 47 games for Kansas City this season with five doubles, a homer and four stolen bases.
Herrera was optioned to Omaha on June 25. The right-hander is 3-5 with a 5.20 ERA in 29 appearances with the Royals this season.
Wimbledon champ Marion Bartoli withdraws
STANFORD, Calif. — Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli withdrew from the Bank of the West Classic on Thursday because of a hamstring strain.
“During Wimbledon I developed a strain in my hamstring which has not healed over the past two weeks,” said Bartoli, the 2009 tournament winner. “I have been receiving therapy and was optimistic that I would be able to participate. … It is one of my favorite tournaments on the circuit. Unfortunately, the injury has not completely healed and I will be unable to participate.”
Bartoli is the second prominent player to pull out of the tournament this week. Maria Sharapova withdrew because of a left hip injury suffered during Wimbledon.
Federer, Haas reach Hamburg quarterfinals
HAMBURG, Germany — Top-seeded Roger Federer cruised past Czech qualifier Jan Hajek 6-4, 6-3 Thursday to reach the German Tennis Championships quarterfinals.
The four-time Hamburg champion is playing his first tournament since losing in the second round of Wimbledon. He will play Florian Mayer of Germany, who beat 11th-seeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain 7-6 (1), 6-2. Second-seeded Tommy Haas also advanced after beating Carlos Berlocq of Argentina 6-2, 6-4.
Juan Monaco, the fifth-seeded Argentine who beat Haas for the Hamburg title last year, defeated ninth-seeded Benoit Paire of France 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.
Haas will play Fabio Fognini of Italy, who beat Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-2, 6-4. Fognini won his first title last week in Stuttgart and beat Haas in the quarterfinals.
Monaco plays third-seeded Nicolas Almagro, who beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2, 6-3.
Fourth-seeded Wimbledon semifinalist Jerzy Janowicz of Poland was forced to retire with a right arm injury, allowing 14th-seeded Fernando Verdasco to advance. The Spaniard, who was leading 7-5, 4-0, will play Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis, who beat Dmitry Tursunov of Russia 6-4, 6-3.
Serena Williams cruises into quarters in Sweden
BASTAD, Sweden — Serena Williams cruised into the quarterfinals of the Swedish Open by beating Anna Tatishvili of Georgia 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday.
The 16-time Grand Slam champion broke four times in the first set and twice in the second at the clay-court tournament. She had seven aces, while her opponent served nine double-faults. Williams ousted Tatishvili in the first round of the French Open in May.
The top-seeded Williams will face Lourdes Dominguez Lino on Friday.
Flavia Pennetta advanced when second-seeded Simona Halep of Romania retired with an undisclosed injury. The Italian was leading 4-6, 7-5, 2-0 at the time.
Also in the second round, Richel Hogenkamp beat Lesia Tsurenko 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.
Beck, Meusburger reach Gastein Ladies quarters
BAD GASTEIN, Austria — Annika Beck of Germany rallied to beat Mandy Minella of Luxembourg 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 Thursday and reach her fifth quarterfinal of the season at the Gastein Ladies.
The second-seeded Beck double-faulted five times in the opening set and saved 12 break points in total. She will play eighth-seeded Karin Knapp of Italy.
Also, 2007 finalist Yvonne Meusburger of Austria defeated third-seeded Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania 6-3, 6-3. Meusburger, who reached the final in Budapast last week, converted seven of 10 break points.
Meusburger will play Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands, who rallied from a set and a break down to beat Estrella Cabeza Candela of Spain 5-7, 7-5, 6-3.
Kings sign guard Ray McCallum
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings have signed second-round draft pick Ray McCallum.
General manager Pete D’Alessandro announced the move Thursday.
McCallum was drafted 36th overall last month out of the University of Detroit. The guard averaged 15.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists over three college seasons. He was a three-time All-Horizon league selection and the conference’s player of the year last season.
Italy’s Viola advances in Claro Open Colombia
BOGOTA, Colombia — Italy’s Matteo Viola beat fourth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday in the Claro Open Colombia.
Viola will face Vasek Pospisil in the third round of the hard-court tournament. Pospisil beat Australia’s James Duckworth 7-5, 3-6, 7-5.
From wire sources