National Sports Briefs
Published 12:00 am Friday, December 30, 2011
Associated Press
NEW YORK ó The NBA said Miami’s Dwyane Wade didn’t travel before his shot that beat Charlotte on Wednesday night.
Wade banked in a short jumper with 2.9 seconds left, and the Heat held on for a 96-95 victory. Because he appeared to make an extra move forward between stopping and releasing the ball, there was speculation he should have been called for a traveling violation.
PHOENIX ó The Phoenix Suns signed All-Star guard Michael Redd to a one-year contract for the veteran’s minimum of about $1.3 million.
MJ ENGAGED
CHARLOTTE ó Michael Jordan is engaged to longtime girlfriend Yvette Prieto, a Cuban-American model he has been dating for three years.
Publicist Estee Portnoy confirmed the news, first reported by WCNC in Charlotte.
The Bobcats’ owner got engaged over the Christmas weekend. No wedding date has been set.
This will be Jordan’s second marriage. He married Juanita Vanoy in September 1989, and they divorced in 2006. They have two sons, Jeffrey Michael and Marcus James, and a daughter, Jasmine.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
CORAL GABLES, Fla. ó The University of Miami is giving back $83,000 it says it received “directly and indirectly” from Nevin Shapiro, the former booster and convicted Ponzi scheme architect whose claims of giving athletes and recruits extra benefits for nearly a decade sparked an NCAA investigation.
The NCAA said in August that eight football players would be suspended for either one, four or six games ó most got only one-game bans ó and that they and four others would have to pay back what they received from Shapiro, who claimed to give extra benefits to 72 players and football recruits during his time as a booster, along with contributions to the university’s athletic department.
ORLANDO, Fla.ó Florida State extended football coach Jimbo Fisher’s contract a season through 2016 before the Seminoles’ 18-14 victory over Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl.
Fisher signed a five-year, $13.75 million contract in February after going 10-4 during the 2010 season, his first as head coach. Florida finished this season 9-4.
GOLF
HOUSTON ó Luke Donald was the overwhelming choice as male player of the year by the Golf Writers Association of America.
Donald, who won four times around the world and became the first player to win the money title on the PGA Tour and the European Tour in the same season, won 88 percent of the vote to easily beat Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson and Rory McIlroy.
BASEBALL
CHICAGO ó Chicago White Sox pitcher John Danks agreed to a five-year, $65 million contract.
The 26-year-old left-hander will earn $8 million next season, and $14.25 million in each of the final four years of the contract. A 15-game winner in 2010, Danks slumped last season and was 8-12 with a 4.33 ERA.
TENNIS
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates ó Top-ranked Novak Djokovic began his preparations for next season with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 victory over No. 16 Gael Monfils in the World Tennis Championship exhibition event.
Djokovic will face Roger Federer in the semifinals Friday, and Rafael Nadal will meet fellow Spaniard David Ferrer. Ferrer beat Jo Wilfried Tsonga 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
NHL
SUNRISE, Fla. ó Carl Hagelin had a goal and an assist, Henrik Lundqvist stopped 27 shots, and the New York Rangers earned a 4-1 victory against the Florida Panthers on Friday night.
Brad Richards, Michael Del Zotto, and Brandon Dubinsky also scored for the Rangers, who have won six of seven and will play the Philadelphia Flyers in the Winter Classic on Monday in Citizens Bank Park.
Predators 2, Blues 1, SO
ST. LOUIS ó Martin Erat scored in the fifth round of the shootout to give the Nashville Predators a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues.
Senators 4, Flames 3, OT
OTTAWA ó Daniel Alfredsson scored his 400th career goal at 3:31 of overtime to give the Ottawa Senators a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames.
Capitals 3, Sabres 1
WASHINGTON ó Alex Ovechkin scored early and late, Tomas Vokoun made 25 saves, and the Washington Capitals got one back against one of their worst nemesis of the season, beating the Buffalo Sabres 3-1.
Blackhawks 3, Red Wings 2
CHICAGO ó Brent Seabrook scored a goal to break a tie early in the third period, and the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2.