New York – Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mark Bell was suspended by the NHL for 15 games without pay Wednesday after his plea last month of no contest to drunken driving and hit-and-run charges.
“Playing in the National Hockey League is a privilege, and with that privilege comes a corresponding responsibility for exemplary conduct off the ice as well as on it,” commissioner Gary Bettman said.
Bell is in Stage 2 of the NHL’s substance-abuse program. He was suspended indefinitely Sept. 4, and the suspension will start once he’s cleared to return by the program’s doctors. The doctors also will determine what, if any, activities Bell can participate in when Toronto opens training camp today.
BASKETBALL
Russell, Smith enter FIBA’s Hall
Boston Celtics great Bill Russell and former North Carolina coach Dean Smith were among 20 former players, coaches and technical officials inducted into
FIBA’s Hall of Fame in Madrid, Spain.
Russell, winner of 11 NBA titles and an Olympic gold medal, led a list of 12 players from 10 different countries, while Smith headlined the four coaches.
Dirk Nowitzki had 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead Germany over Italy 67-58 and into the quarterfinals of the European Basketball Championship in Madrid.
New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury testified in the case of a fired team executive who has accused coach Isiah Thomas of sexual harassment, calling the lawsuit absurd.
Chad Lavin, who has coached University of South Dakota women’s basketball for 13 seasons and has 240 wins – so far – said he will retire at the end of the 2007-08 season.
Gonzaga center Josh Heytvelt could return to the team after being indefinitely suspended for a Feb. 9 arrest for possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms.
MOTORSPORTS
McLaren team facing sanctions
Just days after its 1-2 finish at the Italian Grand Prix, the McLaren team faces possible heavy sanctions today in the spy scandal that has rocked Formula One.
McLaren will go before a hearing of the World Motor Sports Council to face new evidence in the investigation into the team’s alleged use of secret technical documents belonging to F1 rival Ferrari.
If found guilty, McLaren could face stiff punishment, ranging from expulsion from the championship this season and next to deduction of points from the team or drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
FOOTNOTES
Hincapie leads Tour of Missouri
George Hincapie emerged from a group of 12 riders with a late surge to win the second stage and move into the lead of the Tour of Missouri.
Hincapie, who rides for the Discovery Channel team and has 11 Tour de France finishes – the most by any American – won the 125.6-mile road race from Clinton to Springfield in 4 hours, 35 minutes, 26 seconds.
Frank Pipp was second and Dominique Rollin of Canada was third in the same time as Hincapie.
Italian cyclist Alessandro Petacchi won the 11th stage of the Spanish Vuelta in a sprint finish and Denis Menchov retained his overall lead.
Former winner Menchov of Rabobank came in 22nd with the same time to retain the overall leader’s gold jersey with a time of 44:27:25, leading countryman Vladimir Efimkin of Caisse d’Epargn by 2:01.
The United States lost for the second time in five days at the Rugby World Cup in Paris, a 25-15 defeat to Tonga that left the Americans with little chance of reaching the quarterfinals.
Michael Owen scored twice and Rio Ferdinand added a late goal, leading England over visiting Russia 3-0 in a critical qualifier for next year’s European Championship.
Maria Sharapova practiced with Russia’s Fed Cup tennis team, but she won’t play when her country takes on defending champion Italy in this weekend’s final.
Christian Gomez scored off a cross-field header in the 73rd minute in D.C. United’s 2-1 victory over visiting Real Salt Lake in MLS play.
