In brief

OLN will televise NHL games

By wire services
Published August 18, 2005

NEW YORK - NHL games will air on Outdoor Life Network for at least the next two seasons.

The league finalized a two-year deal with Comcast Corp., the owner of OLN, late Wednesday night after ESPN declined to match the agreement that will pay the NHL $65-million this season and $70-million in 2006-07.

The agreement between Comcast and the NHL was approved by the league's board of governors last week.

COYOTES: Curtis Joseph signed a one-year contract, guaranteeing competition for the No. 1 goalie spot on a team that was weak in the net until a few weeks ago. Brian Boucher, who set a modern-day mark with five consecutive shutouts for the Coyotes during the 2003-04 season, didn't sign his contract until Aug. 2. Joseph, 38, who ranks ninth on the career list in wins, went 16-10-3 in 31 games with Detroit in 2003-04, but had to play behind Dominik Hasek after injuring an ankle.

DEVILS: Alexander Mogilny, 36, who earned a Stanley Cup ring with New Jersey in the 1999-2000 season, signed a two-year contract. He spent the last three seasons with Toronto.

Roger Federer hasn't resembled the best player in the world in every game this week, but has produced when it was needed. Federer failed to hold serve four times but beat Nicolas Kiefer 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters at Mason, Ohio. "There's a reason he's No. 1 - he makes the important points," Kiefer said. In the most closely played match of the day, fifth-seeded Andy Roddick outlasted and then overpowered Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. Third-seeded Lleyton Hewitt also needed three sets to win his match, beating Greg Rusedski 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 when Rusedski double-faulted on match point.

ROGERS CUP: Justin Henin-Hardenne made short work of qualifier Mariana Diaz-Oliva, 6-1, 6-3 in Toronto. Henin-Hardenne, the fourth seed, played with a wrapped right hamstring.

Henry Bibby is out as coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks with a 13-15 record. "Henry and I have come to a very cordial and mutually agreed upon understanding to part ways," said Sparks president Johnny Buss. Despite the presence of two-time league MVP Lisa Leslie and newly acquired three-time All-Star Chamique Holdsclaw, the Sparks lost for the 16th time in 29 games Tuesday night.

NBA: Point guard Travis Diener, Orlando's second-round draft pick from Marquette, signed a two-year contract, joining four other point guards on the roster. Doug Christie, waived by the Magic last week, is expected to sign a one-year, $3-million contract with the Mavericks today. ... Center Alonzo Mourning, 35, will return for another season with Miami. ... Forward-center Jerome Williams, 32, retired two days after being waived by the Knicks but said he would remain with the team in a variety of roles.

Sylvia Fowles scored 25 as the U.S. women's basketball team beat Russia 118-67 to reach Friday's final against Serbia-Montenegro in the University Games at Ismir, Turkey. ... Duke forward Shelden Williams scored 16 and had six rebounds as the U.S. men beat the Czech Republic 87-51 to earn a quarterfinal berth against Lithuania today. ... In other events, U.S. swimmers collected three gold medals, three silver and a bronze.

BADMINTON: Americans Tony Gunawan and Howard Bach reached the third round of men's doubles at the world championships in Anaheim, Calif., with a 15-5, 15-3 rout of the Czech Republic's Jan Vondra and Jan Frohlich.

BOXING: Promoter Bob Arum said Vitali Klitschko will defend his WBC heavyweight title against former champion Hasim Rahman in Las Vegas, most likely Nov. 12.

TRACK: Wilson Kipketer, the Kenyan-born Danish runner whose 800-meter world record of 1 minute, 41.11 seconds has stood for eight years, retired at age 34.

[Last modified August 18, 2005, 01:25:02]