Saints owner Benson buys Hornets from NBA Saints owner Benson buys Hornets from NBA ADVERTISING NEW YORK — Tom Benson brought stability to the Saints nearly three decades ago and now plans to do the same for the Hornets in
Saints owner Benson buys Hornets from NBA
NEW YORK — Tom Benson brought stability to the Saints nearly three decades ago and now plans to do the same for the Hornets in small-market New Orleans.
The Saints’ owner agreed Friday to purchase the Hornets from the NBA.
“We expect this club to be one of the most outstanding clubs in the league, otherwise I don’t want to get involved,” Benson said. “This is just a good thing and I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
A person familiar with the deal says the purchase price is $338 million. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the financial terms have not been announced.
The NBA has been trying to sell the Hornets since buying the club from founder George Shinn in December 2010. While preparing the team for sale the league negotiated a new lease for the Hornets to remain in the state-owned New Orleans Arena through 2024.
Syracuse coach accuser now says he made it all up
LEWISTON, Maine — A Maine man says he lied when he accused former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine of molesting him.
Zachary Tomaselli of Lewiston said Friday that he fabricated the allegations and took pride in his ability to convince people his claims were true. He told The Associated Press he’s a “habitual liar and sociopath” who lacks feelings for others.
Two other men made accusations against Fine but prosecutors say too much time had passed to consider charges related to their allegations. Federal prosecutors examining Tomaselli’s claim did not comment. A district attorney said in December that evidence undercut Tomaselli’s credibility.
Fine has not been charged and has denied the abuse claims. His attorney declined comment Friday.
Tomaselli begins serving a prison sentence next week for molesting a boy in Maine.
A-Rod hits
milestone homer
NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez hit his 630th home run and tied Ken Griffey Jr. for fifth place on the career list during the New York Yankees’ 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Rodriguez came in hitting just .174 (4 for 23) without a homer or RBI in the first six games, but he got three hits Friday.
Rodriguez singled in the first and lined the first pitch of the third into the netting over monument park in straightaway center field, tying him with Griffey, his former teammate in Seattle. Rodriguez trails Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Willie Mays (660) on the career list.
Wozniacki advances to semifinals in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki breezed into the semifinals of the e-boks Open on Friday, defeating Alize Cornet of France 6-0, 6-3.
Wozniacki, the two-time defending champion from Denmark, won in just more than an hour at Copenhagen’s Farum Arena.
She will next face Croatia’s Petra Martic, who beat Serbia’s Bojana Jovanovski 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
Third-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia defeated Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 to set up a semifinal against second-seeded Angeligue Kerber. Kerber rallied past sixth-seed Mona Barthel 6-2, 0-6, 7-5 in an all-German quarterfinal.
Monaco, Russell advance in Houston
HOUSTON —Juan Monaco beat Kevin Anderson 7-6 (4), 7-5 to advance to the semifinals of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship.
In the second afternoon quarterfinal on Friday at River Oaks Country Club, Houston resident Michael Russell beat 19-year-old Ryan Harrison 6-1, 5-7, 6-3.
By wire sources
