KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Big 12 Conference said Friday that its men’s basketball tournament will remain in Kansas City’s Sprint Center through 2014 and the football championship game will probably be played at the new Cowboys Stadium in the Dallas area for five years in a row.
Of course, those dates are all subject to the Big 12 remaining intact, something that remained unclear Friday after commissioner Dan Beebe failed to get a solid commitment from all 12 schools during spring meetings this week.
Nevertheless, Beebe said he had been authorized by league presidents to put the Big 12 championship football game in the new $1 billion Cowboys Stadium in 2012, 2013 and 2014. It was played in the lush new facility in Arlington, Texas, this past season and is also scheduled to be there in 2010.
Wittels hits in 55th straight
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — With a sixth-inning double, Florida International sophomore Garrett Wittels extended his hitting streak to 55 games, moving within three of matching Robin Ventura‘s Division I record set 23 years ago. Wittels finished 1-for-4, and the Golden Panthers fell to Texas A&M 17-3 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Wittels will try for a 56th straight game with a hit today, when FIU (36-24) meets Dartmouth (26-18).
Armstrong remains third
DIFFERDANGE, Luxembourgh — Lance Armstrong remained third overall in the Tour of Luxembourg after Frank Schleck won a two- man sprint to edge Matteo Carrara in the second leg of the five-day race.
Carrara took the overall lead following the 126-mile trek between Schifflange and Differdange. He leads Schleck by 1 second. Armstrong is 30 seconds behind Carrara after crossing the line sixth.
Holmstrom returning to Wings
DETROIT — Tomas Holmstrom has agreed to terms on a two-year deal that will bring the forward back to the Detroit Red Wings. Holmstrom, 37, had 25 goals and 20 assists in 68 games with the Wings this season, his 13th with the team.
• The Boston Bruins signed forward Shawn Thornton to a two-year contract extension.
• Ice Edge Holdings has exclusive rights, with some conditions, to negotiate a lease agreement for the Phoenix Coyotes with the city of Glendale under a memorandum of understanding to be presented to the city council next week.
Footnotes.
Sylvia Fowles had 19 points and nine rebounds and the visiting Chicago Sky defeated the Atlanta Dream 80-70 for its third straight WNBA victory.
• Tangela Smith scored on a layup with 15.8 seconds left and the Phoenix Mercury held off two last- second chances by the Los Angeles Sparks for a 90-89 home victory.
• Tan White scored 18 points and the Connecticut Sun defeated the New York Liberty 75-68 in Uncasville, Conn.
• Sholanda Robinson scored 20 points and the host Tulsa Shock topped the Minnesota Lynx 92-79.
• The International Ski Federation is proposing ski halfpipe be added to the program for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Associated Press
