Oklahoma City – Chased from their home by Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Hornets have found a temporary refuge and a fresh start. The Hornets announced plans Wednesday to play 35 home games in Oklahoma City and six others in Baton Rouge, La., after a relocation agreement was approved by the city council.
The New Orleans Arena sustained extensive water damage from the hurricane and will take months to repair. But even if New Orleans is ready to welcome back the team before the 2005-06 season ends, the Hornets are locked into their 35 dates at the 19,675-seat Ford Center.
The team will alter its home jerseys so they read “Hornets” on the front. The road jerseys will feature the words “New Orleans,” but a patch on the shoulder will recognize Oklahoma City. In standings and statistics, the NBA plans to call the team the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. Playoff games also would be played in Oklahoma City, and the Hornets will have the option to stay for an extra year.
NBA
Bulls re-sign center Chandler
Restricted free-agent center Tyson Chandler re-signed with the Chicago Bulls, receiving a long-term contract. The team would not disclose financial details. Chandler played in a career-high 80 games last season and averaged 8.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots.
Vladimir Radmanovic signed a one-year qualifying offer to stay with the Seattle SuperSonics.
HORSE RACING
NYRA officials indicted for cheating
Two key New York Racing Association officials were charged with falsely reporting the weight of several prominent jockeys at NYRA’s three thoroughbred tracks and defrauding the betting public and the horses’ trainers and owners, state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said. An indictment unsealed in Saratoga County Court charges NYRA clerk of the scales Mario Sclafani and assistant clerk of the scales Braulio Baeza, 65, with 291 criminal counts, including scheme to defraud, conspiracy, falsifying business records, tampering with a sports contest and grand larceny. Sclafani, 48, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. Baeza, a Hall of Fame jockey who won the 1963 Kentucky Derby, is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 6.
The two are accused of allowing jockeys Jose Santos, who rode Funny Cide to victory in the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Robby Albarado, Herbert Castillo Jr., Ariel Smith and Cornelio Velasquez to ride 67 times at Belmont, Saratoga and Aqueduct from June 23 to Dec. 15, 2004, even though they were 7 to 15 pounds over their announced weight.
CYCLING
Report: Leaders demand ban of lab
Two prominent sports leaders have asked the World Anti-Doping Agency to suspend a French laboratory and investigate who leaked documents leading to a report that Lance Armstrong used banned substances during the 1999 Tour de France. Denis Oswald, president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, and Sergei Bubka, IOC athlete’s commission chief, made the request in a joint letter, the French sports daily L’Equipe reported.
In the letter to WADA’s executive committee in Montreal, they accused the Chatenay-Malabry laboratory of violating “confidentiality regulations” and called for an investigation to identify who handed over the documents.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Boston College gives Skinner extension
Boston College coach Al Skinner, who led the Eagles to four NCAA Tournament appearances in the past five seasons, received a one-year contract extension through 2011. Skinner has a 147-100 record in eight years with the Eagles.
FOOTNOTES
De Rosario leads Earthquakes to win
Dwayne De Rosario scored early in each half, and the San Jose Earthquakes closed in on home-field advantage throughout the MLS playoffs with their sixth consecutive victory, 2-0 over the Chicago Fire.
New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman scored in second-half stoppage time in a 1-1 tie with the Columbus Crew.
Roberto Mina scored two goals to lead FC Dallas to a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle crashed during a test session at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., the second round of accidents for the championship contenders. Neither driver was injured seriously.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials announced the track will host the U.S. Grand Prix for a seventh consecutive year July 2, 2006. The race was in jeopardy because only six drivers competed in the June 19 race after seven teams boycotted the event because of safety concerns.
Guy Baker has replaced Heather Moody as coach of the U.S. women’s water polo team, leaving his positions as national team director and head coach of the U.S. men.
