MONTREAL — Former NHL coach Pat Burns is facing a third fight with cancer.
Burns, 56, told Montreal La Presse he has lung cancer. Burns had colon cancer in 2004 and liver cancer in 2005.
“I know what you people are like in Montreal,” Burns told La Presse. “You’re capable of dramatizing everything, if it suits you. The truth is simple: The cancer has returned. But never fear: I’m still alive. I’m not in great shape, but I wake up every morning, I play golf, I ride my motorcycle and I work, despite the illness.”
Burns was 501-350-161-14 in 14 seasons as an NHL coach with Montreal, Toronto, Boston and New Jersey. He led New Jersey to the 2002-03 Stanley Cup title and is the only three-time Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL’s top coach.
• Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said he expects to play in Sunday’s NHL All-Star Game despite having a sore left knee.
• Philadelphia Flyers center Danny Briere will miss another two weeks because of lingering discomfort in his groin and stomach area. He will have exploratory surgery today.
Ballesteros test results “quite good”
MADRID, Spain — Seve Ballesteros said test results after his first course of chemotherapy came back “quite good,” an encouraging sign for the 51-year-old golf great. The five-time major winner underwent four surgeries to remove a cancerous brain tumor after being admitted to a hospital Oct. 6, when he fainted at Madrid’s international airport.
“Fortunately, the results were quite good,” Ballesteros said. “This Friday I shall begin my second chemotherapy course, which I hope and wish will be as effective as the first one.”
• Pat Perez shot an 11-under-par 61 for a one-stroke lead over Mike Weir and Bubba Watson after the first round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in La Quinta, Calif.
Perez shot a first-round 60 in the tournament three years ago only to wind up 73rd.
• Ryo Ishikawa, a 17-year-old sensation who has risen to No. 60 in the world, accepted a sponsor’s exemption to play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 23-26.
Footnotes.
North Carolina State women’s basketball coach Kay Yow is continuing her cancer treatments in a hospital on the advice of her oncologist.
• Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby said he expects a “large number” of cuts coming at the school to deal with a projected $5 million in lost revenue over the next three years.
• Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut is sidelined because of back spasms.
• Austrian cyclist Bernhard Kohl accepted a two-year ban for using the blood booster CERA at last year’s Tour de France.
• Meryl Davis and Charlie White waltzed to the early lead in the ice dance competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Cleveland.
• Lance Armstrong avoided a crash that forced six riders, including defending champion Andre Greipel, to withdraw during the third stage of the Tour Down Under. Australian Graeme Brown won the stage.
The Associated Press
