Nashville, Tenn. – Nashville Predators owner Craig Leipold thinks he has finally sold his NHL franchise, this time to a group of local businessmen and one California venture capitalist that wants to keep the team in the Music City.
Leipold announced Wednesday he has signed a letter of intent to sell his team to the group. The eight partners put down $10 million as a deposit toward the purchase price of $193 million.
The only partner from outside the Nashville area is William Del Biaggio III, who will have to sell his minority share in the San Jose Sharks as this deal closes. Leipold said he is excited to pass ownership to a group he knows is committed to Nashville.
“I’m thrilled to death the team is staying here,” Leipold said.
NHL
Devils give Parise four-year deal
The New Jersey Devils signed forward Zach Parise to a four-year, $12.5 million deal.
The 23-year-old Parise was New Jersey’s second-leading scorer last season behind Patrik Elias with 31 goals and 31 assists and was third on the team with nine power-play goals. He also had seven goals and three assists in 11 playoff games.
Forward Sean Avery re-signed with the New York Rangers after he was awarded a $1.9 million salary for next season following a lengthy arbitration hearing.
Avery played in 84 games with the Rangers and Los Angeles Kings last season, posting career highs with 18 goals and 30 assists. He also had 174 penalty minutes, far below the previous two seasons when he led the NHL.
The Boston Bruins added two more assistant coaches to round out the staff of new head coach Claude Julien, hiring Craig Ramsay and Geoff Ward.
BOXING
Mayweather-Hatton fight set
Welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. will defend his title against Ricky Hatton on Dec. 8 in Las Vegas.
The site of the fight has not been determined, Golden Boy Promotions said. It’s a matchup of two undefeated fighters, who are a combined 81-0.
Hatton (43-0, 31 KOs), from Manchester, England, has fought once before at 147 pounds, winning the welterweight belt from Luis Collazo in 2006. Hatton moved back to 140 pounds and captured his third world title. His most recent victory came in four rounds against Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas in June.
AUTO RACING
Biffle fined for skipping interview
Greg Biffle was fined $5,000 and put on probation until Dec. 31 for skipping a press box interview after his second-place finish in the Kroger 200 Busch Series race last week.
Biffle said he talked to reporters on pit road after the race Saturday night but avoided the press box because of the huge crowd.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has begun a reconfiguration of its road course to accommodate a MotoGP Series motorcycle race next year.
The 2.6-mile layout will be altered slightly from the configuration used the past eight years in the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix, which will not return in 2008.
TENNIS
Chakvetadze advances at Acura
Anna Chakvetadze began her pursuit of a third straight WTA tournament title with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Meghann Shaughnessy at the Acura Classic in Carlsbad, Calif.
The victory extended Chakvetadze’s winning streak to 10 matches. The No. 3 seed has won 21 of 23 matches since the beginning of May.
No. 1 seed Maria Sharapova looked sharp in her first action, a 6-1, 6-3 second-round win over Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand in the featured night match.
Sixth-seeded Mardy Fish was knocked out in the second round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, beaten 7-6 (4), 6-4 by Michael Berrer.
SOCCER
U.S.-Mexico exhibition scheduled
The U.S. national soccer team will play Mexico for the third time this year, a Sept. 9 exhibition game at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
The U.S. team is 0-22-1 against Mexico in Mexico but is 9-2-1 against El Tri overall since 2000, including 8-0-1 on U.S. soil.
Brian Ching scored in the 50th minute as the Houston Dynamo beat visiting D.C. United 1-0 to advance to the SuperLiga semifinals.
