Flyers sign MacDonald to six-year extension
The Philadelphia Flyers signed defenseman Andrew MacDonald to a six-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.
Financial terms of the contract were not released but multiple media reports placed the total value at $30 million.
“We kind of hashed it out a couple different ways,” MacDonald told NHL.com. “Ended up finishing on six (years), and I felt like a good, long-term commitment was great for me and they agreed with it.”
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound MacDonald was acquired by the Flyers from the New York Islanders on March 4 in exchange for forward Matt Mangene, a third-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, and a second-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
MacDonald, 27, appeared in 19 games for the Flyers, recording four assists, while averaging 22:00 in ice time per game. MacDonald led the NHL this season with 242 blocked shots, which was 41 more than his closest competition. In 82 total games with the Flyers and Islanders this season, MacDonald recorded four goals and 24 assists for 28 points.
Warriors’ Bogut out with fractured rib
A fractured right rib will sideline Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut for the start of the playoffs and possibly deep into the postseason.
Bogut is out indefinitely, coach Mark Jackson said, following X-rays Monday night. Bogut gave a more definitive picture of his situation, and it is gloomy for Golden State.
“I have got to be careful, because if it cracks I’m looking at a punctured lung. You’ll see me in the hospital with a tube coming out of me,” said Bogut, who said he experiences sharp, intense pain when he coughs and sneezes.
Bogut was injured Thursday against the Denver Nuggets. He was on the receiving end of a Kenneth Faried elbow, but played Friday against the Lakers before receiving a pain-killing injection and playing Sunday.
Without Bogut, the Warriors are using veteran Jermaine O’Neal in the starting lineup.
40th bowl game added for 2015
Including the College Football Playoff to crown a national champion, a record 40 bowl games will be on the postseason schedule in 2015.
A new game featuring the Atlantic Athletic Conference and Sun Belt to be played in the Citrus Bowl was to kick off in 2014 but did not find a television network.
The additional game is pending NCAA approval at a meeting in May.
There were 35 bowl games in 2013 and 39 are approved for 2014, including the semifinal and championship in the inaugural College Football Playoff. With the additional game in Orlando, 78 teams will play in the postseason.
Rockies’ Anderson set for finger surgery
SAN DIEGO — A seemingly innocent incident will cost Colorado Rockies left-hander Brett Anderson at least a month and cause him to undergo surgery.
To speed up the healing process, Anderson will have an operation Thursday to have a pin inserted into his fractured left index finger.
Anderson suffered the injury Saturday night while batting against the Giants in San Francisco. The fracture apparently occurred when Anderson grounded out to short on a ball hit off the end of the bat.
His rehab is expected to take at least four weeks and possibly as long as six weeks.
Tennessee’s Martin accepts Cal job
Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin has agreed to become the next head coach at California, the schools confirmed Tuesday.
Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart confirmed the news in a press conference, saying “It was a surprise to us all.”
Cal athletics director Sandy Barbour also confirmed Martin’s hiring and said in a Twitter post that an official introduction would be made later Tuesday.
Martin just finished his third season at Tennessee. He led the Volunteers to 24 wins and a trip to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Mike Montgomery, 67, announced his retirement at Cal on April 1.
Martin has a 63-41 record, including two NIT berths and the 2014 NCAA Tournament appearance. The Vols lost to Michigan 73-71 in a regional semifinal.