In brief

NHL's Penguins to get new owners

By wire services
Published June 11, 2005

PITTSBURGH - A group of West Coast investors led by a friend of Mario Lemieux is set to become the majority owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

William "Boots" Del Biaggio, a San Jose, Calif., businessman and friend of the Pittsburgh player-owner, and other unidentified investors have negotiated a letter of intent to buy the team. Lemieux, who has owned the team since it emerged from bankruptcy in 1999, would retain a smaller share of the Penguins.

"Even if there is a substantial new investment in the team, Mario Lemieux will continue to be involved in all aspects of the operation," Penguins spokesman Tom McMillan said.

Del Biaggio is one of Lemieux's co-owners of the Omaha Lancers of the U.S. Hockey League and also owns part of San Jose's American Hockey League affiliate, the Cleveland Barons.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer increased his controlling stake in Manchester United on Friday when he bought shares of the world's richest soccer team from two senior club officials.

Chief executive David Gill sold his 11,535 shares to Glazer's Red Football Ltd. at a price more than three times what he paid for them, the London Stock Exchange said. Nick Humby, the club's finance director, also sold his 2,546 shares to Glazer at a profit of about 35 percent.

CHAMPION'S LEAGUE: Liverpool will be allowed to defend its Champions League title, but will have to begin play in the first qualifying round.

European soccer's governing body agreed to make an exception for the five-time European champions.

UEFA decided that, from now on, the champion will have the right to defend the title.

PUNISHMENT: Greece's league and cup champion Olympiakos Piraeus was ordered to play three home games in an empty stadium next season as punishment for fan violence. Olympiakos also was fined the equivalent of nearly $37,000.

DFS CLASSIC: Defending champion Maria Sharapova advanced to the semifinals, beating Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.

Fifth-seeded Tatiana Golovin of France will play Sharapova in the semis.

QUEEN'S TOURNAMENT: Defending champion Andy Roddick reached the semifinals, while top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt lost to Ivo Karlovic.

The second-seeded Roddick edged Sebastien Grosjean of France 6-4, 7-6 (5) and will play fourth-seeded Radek Stepanek today.

BOXING: Undefeated WBO junior welterweight champion Miguel Cotto will defend his title tonight in a 12-round bout at Madison Square Garden against the only man to beat him - Muhammad Abdullaev of Uzbekistan.

Cotto has won all of his 23 pro fights, 19 by KOs. His lone defeat came as an amateur, at the hands of Abdullaev in the opening round of the 2000 Olympics. He lost a 17-10 decision.

U.S.A. SOFTBALL: In her first appearance since the Athens Games, Jennie Finch allowed just one hit and struck out nine in five innings to lead the U.S. national team past Canada 3-1.

CYCLING: Former world keirin champion Jobie Dajka , suspended for four months last year for lying to a doping inquiry, faces a longer ban for assaulting the Australian cycling track team's head coach.

Dajka said Friday that Cycling Australia had recommended a possible four-year suspension.

[Last modified June 11, 2005, 00:26:12]