AP source: Harris could own Devils in 24 hours AP source: Harris could own Devils in 24 hours ADVERTISING NEWARK, N.J. — A person familiar with the negotiations says Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris will add the NHL’s New Jersey
AP source: Harris could own Devils in 24 hours
NEWARK, N.J. — A person familiar with the negotiations says Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris will add the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and the lease to their arena to his portfolio today.
Attorneys for both sides were putting the final touches on the deal Wednesday that would allow Jeff Vanderbeek to sell his majority ownership to Harris, said the person, who asked not to be identified because neither party had announced the deal.
The Devils announced early Wednesday evening that they planned to hold a major news conference today at 11 a.m.
Under NHL rules, the sale of the team could not be announced unless it had been approved by the league’s board of governors.
Bartoli retires, top seeds advance in Cincy
MASON, Ohio — The day’s only noteworthy upset prompted an unexpected announcement. Just like that, Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli is finished with tennis.
The eight-seeded French player got knocked out of the Western & Southern Open Wednesday in three excruciating sets that left her Achilles, shoulder, hips and back aching. While the tournament’s other top seeds moved on, she pulled out.
Bartoli’s 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 loss to Simona Halep overshadowed a day when most other second-round matches turned out as expected, even if they didn’t necessarily start that way.
Top-seeded Serena Williams overcame what she described as one of her worst sets before beating qualifier Eugenie Bouchard of Canada 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in her opening match.
Sloppy starts were a common theme for the top-seeded players on Wednesday. No. 1 Novak Djokovic had a ragged first set while beating Juan Monaco 7-5, 6-2, leaving him 8-0 career against the Argentine.
Bromberg leads 10M qualifying at US meet
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Murphy Bromberg was the leading qualifier going into the women’s 10-meter platform final at the U.S. national diving championships Wednesday.
She set a pool record with 373.20 points at the University of Iowa. That bettered the mark of 357.70 set by Olympian Brittany Viola in 2011.
Cardinals OF prospect Taveras out for season
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Oscar Taveras will undergo surgery after a high right ankle sprain did not respond to treatment.
The Cardinals had anticipated the 21-year-old Taveras would make his major league debut this season. He was the Texas League player of year last season at Double-A Springfield, batting .321 with 23 home runs, 94 RBIs and 10 steals.
Alouettes sign quarterback Troy Smith
MONTREAL — The Montreal Alouettes signed quarterback Troy Smith to a two-year deal Wednesday.
The 29-year-old Smith won the Heisman Trophy with Ohio State in 2006, leading the Buckeyes to a spot in the BCS national championship game. Smith spent three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, and was with the San Francisco 49ers in 2010. He played for Omaha in the UFL in 2011.
Pekovic, Timberwolves agree on new deal
MINNEAPOLIS — Nikola Pekovic didn’t want to leave Minnesota, and the Timberwolves weren’t about to let him go.
After weeks of negotiations, waiting and watching, the two sides came to agreement on Wednesday on a new five-year contract worth $60 million that includes an additional $8 million in incentives.
After posting a career-high 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game last season, the 27-year-old Pekovic was a restricted free agent when the NBA’s fiscal year opened on July 1. That meant the Timberwolves had the right to match any offer he received from another team, and Saunders made it clear from the start that they would do whatever it took to keep him in Minnesota.
By wire sources
