Chicago – NHL teams could be back to playing every other club in the league by next season.
The board of governors from the 30 teams met Tuesday and moved closer to ditching the unbalanced schedule put in place after the lockout wiped out the 2004-05 season. Although a vote won’t take place before the group meets again in November, there was a clear indication the oft-criticized schedule would be scrapped.
“We had a preliminary discussion about the schedule, and I think it’s clear that there will be a change,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said after the four-hour meeting. “That’s something that we will work toward effectuating at the (next) meeting.”
Bettman declined to give specific details of how the schedule would be changed, but the discussion in the meeting focused on reducing the number of divisional games to allow each team to play the other 29 clubs at least once. A two-thirds majority is needed to change the schedule, a move that would be effective in the 2008-09 season.
NBA
Clippers’ Brand has cast removed
Los Angeles Clippers forward Elton Brand had the cast removed from his left leg and was fitted for a removable walking boot six weeks after he had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. While no timetable has been set for his return to the court, he is expected to miss at least several months of the season.
Guard Royal Ivey signed a one-year contract with the Bucks a day after Milwaukee backup point guard Charlie Bell signed an offer sheet with the Miami Heat.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Notre Dame gets physical in practice
Winless Notre Dame is getting physical to try to solve its problems with an inept offense and a defense that missed too many tackles in an embarrassing 38-0 loss to Michigan.
On Sunday and Tuesday, coach Charlie Weis had the first-team offense go against the first-team defense and had every play continue until the ball carrier was tackled – an unusual practice even for training camp.
“It obviously brings a whole different tempo to practice,” Weis said.
The Fighting Irish (0-3) are last in the nation in rushing offense (minus-4.67 yards per game), last in total offense (115 ypg), worst in sacks allowed (23) and ninth worst in rushing defense (285 ypg).
Texas freshman running back James Henry has been charged with two felony counts of obstruction and tampering with evidence, making him the sixth Longhorns player arrested since June. Henry, who was arrested Monday, is accused of beating up one of the victims of a July home invasion that allegedly involved two other players, Andre Jones and Robert Joseph. Henry was suspended indefinitely from the team.
Stanford middle linebacker Fred Campbell will stop playing football after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured vertebrae in his neck – an injury suffered in Saturday’s game against San Jose State.
Purdue running back Jaycen Taylor could return from a broken arm in six weeks. Coach Joe Tiller originally thought Taylor might be out for the season after the junior was injured Saturday in a victory over Central Michigan.
FOOTNOTES
Sacramento wins Triple-A title
Former major-leaguer Lou Merloni homered and drove in four runs to lead the Sacramento (Calif.) River Cats to a 7-1 victory over the Richmond (Va.) Braves in the Triple-A championship game in Oklahoma City.
Goaltender Sean Burke officially retired after nearly 20 years in the NHL. Burke spent last season with the Los Angeles Kings, and finishes with 820 games played (12th among goalies), 324 wins (19th) and 38 shutouts – tied with Tom Barrasso for 29th.
Montreal Canadiens prospect Mathieu Carle will be out eight weeks with a sprained ligament in his left knee.
A Boston company that distributed human growth hormone to “well known athletes and entertainers” has agreed to pay a $10.5 million penalty and cooperate with ongoing law enforcement investigations, federal prosecutors said. Under the terms of the agreement, Specialty Distribution Services Inc. will not face prosecution for three years if it complies with terms of the agreement.
