ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic extended the contracts of coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Otis Smith, the Orlando Sentinel reported Monday.
The Magic picked up options that extend Van Gundy through the 2010-11 season and Smith through 2011-12. The duo led the Magic to its second NBA Finals last season and first since 1995.
• Lamell McMorris, the lead negotiator for the locked-out NBA referees, removed himself from the talks in hopes of resolving a dispute that threatens to have replacements on the floor this week.
Negotiations with the NBA will be handled by general counsel Brian Lam and the executive board of the National Basketball Referees Association. The contract between the league and its officials expired Sept. 1. The NBA held referees training camp with replacements over the weekend, and those officials could be on the court when preseason play begins Thursday with Denver’s game at Utah.
Querrey hurts arm in freak accident
NEW YORK — Sam Querrey cut his right forearm in a freak accident after practicing for the Thailand Open in Bangkok and will be out at least four to six weeks, the U.S. Tennis Association said.
USTA spokesman Tim Curry said the 21-year-old Querrey, a right-hander, sat on a glass table after practice and fell through, injuring his arm.
• Defending champion Dinara Safina and Venus Williams were knocked out of the second round by qualifiers at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
Chang Kai-chen, an 18-year-old from Taiwan, upset the top-ranked Safina 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-5. Russian teenager Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova ousted Williams 7-6 (6), 7-5 to reach the third round.
Churchill Downs to add lights
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Churchill Downs will install permanent lights at the home of the Kentucky Derby in time for the 2010 spring meet.
Spokesman Kevin Flanery said the overwhelming success of night racing at the track last summer led to the decision. The track averaged more than 29,000 fans during three special night racing events in June and July.
There are no plans to move post time for the 2010 Kentucky Derby, scheduled for May 1. Flanery said the track will talk with fans and horsemen to determine the proper mix of day and night racing at the venue for the rest of the meet.
Footnotes.
NBC Sports said the Tour Championship on Sunday earned a 3.3 overnight rating, an 83 percent increase from a year ago when Tiger Woods wasn’t playing and the FedEx Cup had already been decided.
• New England Revolution captain Steve Ralston, the team’s second-leading scorer with seven goals, will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury.
• D.C. United goalkeeper Josh Wicks will be out four to six weeks with a dislocated shoulder and a sprained knee.
• Officials from what will be known as Arena Football 1 said they will have at least 16 teams ready to play in 2010 and will use a rule book identical to those used by the Arena Football League and af2.
Denver Post wire services
