The New York Islanders hired Scott Gordon, the American Hockey League coach of the year, to replace dismissed head coach Ted Nolan.
The 45-year-old Gordon, who guided the Providence (R.I.) Bruins to the second round of the playoffs last season and the AHL’s best record, got the job over established NHL coaches such as Joel Quenne-ville, Bob Hartley, John Tortorella, Paul Maurice and Mike Sullivan, who all interviewed for the post.
Gordon, a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic hockey team, played in 23 NHL games over two seasons with the Quebec Nordiques as a goalie. His career mark was 2-16 with a 5.60 goals-against average.
Oden upbeat after workout
Greg Oden can still dunk. That much was clear when the top pick in last year’s NBA draft worked out in front of the media for the first time since right knee surgery wiped out his rookie season with the Portland Trail Blazers.
The 7-footer from Ohio State showed no signs of problems in two-on-two workouts.
“I’m feeling good,” Oden said. “I do not have any pain or soreness in my knee.”
• The Philadelphia 76ers and their restricted free agent Andre Iguodala are close to reaching an agreement that could be worth about $80 million over six years, according to a report on .
Injuries piling up for Gators
Two more Florida players will miss the season after tearing knee ligaments.
Gators sophomore offensive lineman Jim Barrie and freshman linebacker Brendan Beal are the fourth and fifth players to tear their ACLs. They join tight end Cornelius Ingram and safeties Dorian Munroe and John Curtis on the sideline.
• Missouri tight end Chase Coffman is expected to miss the next two weeks of practice with a broken pinkie finger.
• Georgia lost starting left tackle Trinton Sturdivant for the season with a severe knee injury.
• Pittsburgh lost starting defensive end Doug Fulmer for the season with a torn knee ligament.
• The NCAA has cleared West Virginia defensive lineman Pat Liebig to play. Liebig did not play last season in order to run his family’s business and care for his ailing father.
Footnotes.
Tiger Woods, who underwent reconstructive knee surgery after winning the U.S. Open in June, said he isn’t going to be physically able to swing a club until 2009. • Luke Donald has undergone surgery on his left wrist and will miss the rest of the season, officially ending any hopes of playing on the Ryder Cup team for Europe.
• Popular filly Eight Belles will be interred at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville on Sept. 7.
• Mike Skinner will take over Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 00 Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, replacing rookie Michael McDowell for the next three races.
• The Detroit Shock acquired six-time all-star Taj McWilliams-Franklin from the Washington Mystics for forwards Tasha Humphrey and Shay Murphy and a 2009 second-round draft pick.
Denver Post wire services
