BANKRUPTCY JUDGE ORDERS COYOTES, NHL INTO MEDIATION
PHOENIX — A bankruptcy judge has ordered the NHL and Phoenix Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes to mediation in an attempt to resolve their fight over who is in control of a franchise that both sides agree is insolvent.
Judge Redfield Baum made the ruling after hearing arguments from attorneys on both sides in U.S. bankruptcy court Tuesday over the NHL’s contention that Moyes had no authority to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy this month.
The league and Moyes are to report their progress at a status hearing May 27. Meanwhile, Baum said the question of whether the team could relocate must be decided before the franchise is sold. The judge scheduled a June 22 hearing for arguments on whether he should approve relocation of the team.
Henry officially a Jayhawk
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Guard C.J. Henry officially enrolled at Kansas and will be eligible to play next season. The move reunites Henry with his brother, Xavier, and completes one of the most talented incoming classes Kansas ever had.
Kansas coach Bill Self said the 6-foot-4 Henry will be an immediate contributor despite not having played organized basketball for four years.
• John Wall, one of the nation’s most sought-after high school recruits, has decided to play for John Calipari and Kentucky. The point guard from Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, N.C., had been pursued by numerous schools including Duke, Kansas and Miami.
• Duke’s Gerald Henderson has signed with an agent and will remain in the NBA draft.
• Suspended Florida forward Allan Chaney has transferred to Virginia Tech, where he must sit out the 2009-10 season and would have three years of eligibility remaining.
Di Luca extends Giro lead
PINEROLO, Italy — Danilo Di Luca attacked on a steep downhill stretch, then left behind his final challengers when the road tilted upward to win the 10th stage of the Giro d’Italia and pad his overall lead.
Lance Armstrong finished 13th, 29 seconds back, and moved up from 25th to 18th overall, although his gap behind Di Luca increased to 5 minutes, 28 seconds.
As riders crossed the line, they learned of the death hours earlier of Fabio Saccani, a 69-year-old motorcycle driver in his 32nd Giro. He died in a crash heading toward the start of the stage.
Di Luca was timed in 6 hours, 30 minutes, 43 seconds over the 163-mile route from Cuneo to Pinerolo. He leads Denis Menchov by 1:20 in the overall standings.
Footnotes.
Jeff Gordon had an injection in his back to help ease the pain he’s had for more than a year, and the four-time NASCAR champion said he will be able to drive this weekend in the longest race of the season — the Coca-Cola 600.
• A judge ordered 2008 U.S. Olympic judo team member Adler Volmar to stand trial on allegations he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl at a Colorado Springs hotel last Sept. 28.
• Southern California defeated Ohio State 4-1, and Duke beat California 4-0 to win the men’s and women’s NCAA tennis titles, respectively. The Associated Press
