Benson keeps control of Saints, Pelicans
Tom Benson, the 87-year-old owner of the NFL New Orleans Saints and NBA Pelicans, was ruled to be mentally competent on Thursday and will maintain control of his teams and $1.7 billion fortune.
An eight-day trial concluded last week, and the ruling was issued Thursday by Orleans Civil District Judge Kern Reese.
Reese ruled that Benson “is able to make reasoned decisions as to his person and his property and therefore this court will not order an interdiction of any kind in these proceedings.”
Benson’s daughter, Renee Benson, and grandchildren Rita and Ryan LeBlanc had filed a lawsuit in January after Benson cut ties with them and announced he would leave ownership of the teams to his wife of 10 years, Gayle.
Cavs’ Marion to call it quits
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Shawn Marion plans to retire after 16 seasons in the NBA, according to an ESPN report Thursday.
The 37-year-old Marion, a four-time All-Star, did not see action in the NBA Finals for the Cavaliers in their 4-2 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Marion signed with the Cavs before last season after a long and successful career with the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks, with whom he won an NBA title in 2011. He contemplated retirement in 2014 but joined the Cavs with the hope of winning a second championship.
In 57 games for the Cavs during the regular season, Marion averaged 4.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 19.3 minutes. He played in six postseason games.
Marion will end his career with 1,163 regular-season games played and averages of 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
Senators’ Cameron gets two-year contract extension
Senators coach Dave Cameron signed a two-year extension to remain in Ottawa, general manager Bryan Murray said Thursday.
Cameron had agreed to the deal two weeks ago.
Cameron replaced Paul MacLean on Dec. 8 and guided the Senators to the playoffs.
Ottawa’s wild 23-4-4 finish helped the Senators overcome a 14-point deficit and earn the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Ottawa lost to the Montreal Canadiens in six games in the opening-round best-of-seven series.
Cameron, 56, joined the team in 2011 as an assistant to MacLean.
Bruins sign two
The Boston Bruins signed defenseman Tommy Cross and forward Tyler Randell to one-year, two-way contracts.
Cross, a second-round pick of the Bruins in 2007, scored four goals and tallied 18 assists in 54 games for the Providence Bruins last season. Since the 2011-12 season, he has played in 153 games for Providence and notched eight goals and 32 assists.
Randell, a sixth-round pick by Boston in 2009, tallied career highs in goals (11) and assists (nine) in 74 games for Providence last season. In 170 games for Providence, he has 17 goals and 16 assists.