Off the wire

FOOTBALL SEC coaches discuss schedule

Commissioner Mike Slive emerged from the first day of the SEC spring meetings on Tuesday in Destin, Fla., and said he expects the conference will retain its eigh tgame league schedule in the 6-1-1 format for 2014 and most likely for 2015. Future conference scheduling is perhaps the hottest topic at the meetings, with the possibility of a nine-game league schedule under debate. The 6-1-1 format means teams will play all six members of their own division, one permanent opponent from the other division and one rotating crossover opponent. Arkansas is wrapping up its 22-year run with South Carolina as its permanent opponent from the East Division after next season, with Missouri taking that role in 2014. The Razorbacks play at Florida for its rotating opponent next season and its rotating opponent for 2014 has not been determined.Alabama Coach Nick Saban said Tuesday that he would like to see the SEC expand from eight to nine games, but he was the only league coach to publicly call for increasing the number of conference games. SEC presidents and chancellors could vote on the issue Friday. “I’m absolutely in the minority, no question about it,” Saban said. “But everybody has their reasons.” Others, including Georgia’s Mark Richt, Vanderbilt’s James Franklin and Mississippi’s Hugh Freeze, want to keep the current format. The SEC’s 14 coaches spent Tuesday discussing the pros and cons of eight- and nine-game schedules. While most want to remain at eight games, some would like to see the 6-1-1 model switched to a 6-2 version that would eliminate cross-division fixed opponents. That would mean the end of annual rivalries like Alabama-Tennessee, which have playedall but one season since 1928, or Auburn-Georgia, which have played 116 times in the past 120 years. Coaches will vote and take the result to athletic directors today. The ADs will make a final suggestion to presidents and chancellors later in the week. The league is likely tomake a decision on the 2014 schedule Friday, but might not reach a final resolution regarding future schedules until later.

BASKETBALL Kings sale approved

The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale of the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday to a group led by TIBCO Software Chairman Vivek Ranadive. The league said in a statement that the “transaction is expected to close shortly.” After owners blocked the relocation of the franchise to Seattle earlier this month, the Maloof family reached an agreement to sell a 65 percent controlling interest in the Kings to Ranadive’s group at a total franchise valuation of $535 million. Ranadive, who will have to sell hisminority stake in the Golden State Warriors, becomes the NBA’s first Indian-born majority owner. The Sacramento group also includes 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov, former Facebook senior executive Chris Kelly and the Jacobs family that owns communications giant Qualcomm. Moments after the league announced the sale was approved, Ranadive thanked owners in a tweet and wrote it was an honor and a privilege “to be part of such an amazing community.” He also updated his Twitter profile to show he is the owner of the Kings. The vote, which had been expected since owners blocked the move to Seattle on May 15, officially ended an emotional saga that has dragged on since January. The next steps for Ranadive will be figuring out the basketball operations andfinalizing the deal for a new arena. He already has been busy helping staff sell season tickets and increase sponsorships.

The Atlanta Hawks have named longtime San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer as head coach. Hawks General Manager Danny Ferry called on his past experience with the Spurs to select Budenholzer on Tuesday to replace Larry Drew as coach. Drew’s contract expires in June following three seasons as coach. Budenholzer spent the past 17 seasons as an assistant with the Spurs, including the past six years as the top assistant for Coach Gregg Popovich.

FOOTBALL

Brown back with Cleveland

Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown is rejoining the Cleveland Browns in an official capacity. The former star running back will have an unspecified job with the Browns, the NFL team he played for in 1957-1965. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is scheduled to introduce Brown during a news conference today at FirstEnergy Stadium. Brown previously worked as a senior adviser with the Browns. His role was eliminated by former team President Mike Holmgren. Brown had been estranged from the team for a few years, but returned to play in an alumni golf outing last summer and met with Haslam, who had just bought the team from Randy Lerner. Brown spoke then about his desire to work again with the team. He is the Browns’ career rushing leader with 12,312 yards and 106 touchdowns.

Jeff Backus has rejoined the Detroit Lions in a new capacity. The team announced Tuesday the retired tackle will be a part-time coaching intern that will assist the offensive line this season. Backus retired in March after missing only one game in his 12-year career. Detroit selected him from Michigan in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He started his first 186 games - plus one playoff game - before a hamstring injury forced him to miss last year’s Thanksgiving game against Houston.FRENCH OPEN Djokovic overcomes Goffin, rain

Novak Djokovic spent the better part of a rainy Tuesday at the French Open wondering when he would wind up playing his first-round match at the only Grand Slam tournament he’s yet to win.

Unlike Wimbledon and the Australian Open, Roland Garros does not have a roof at any court.

Unlike the U.S. Open, though, at least there is a definitive timeline to build one. Djokovic is thrilled about that forthcoming addition in Paris, even if it won’t come until 2018. He also can’t wait for them to install artificial lights at the French Open, which is supposed to happen sooner.

Both of those improvements would have contributed to a more stress-free evening for the man ranked and seeded No. 1, who slipped and slid his way along the red clay to a 7-6 (5), 6-4, 7-5 victory over David Goffin in the first round.

“It was a difficult day because we have been waiting for hours and hours. I think I warmed up five or six times today,” Djokovic said. “In these conditions … youneed to adjust your game and tactics because it’s quite different than comparing to the conditions when it’s dry and sunny.”

Even though his match against the 58th-ranked Goffin, a Belgian who was one of the revelations at Roland Garros a year ago, was the second to be played on Court Philippe Chatrier, they did not begin until after 6:30 p.m. They finished as light was fading shortly before 9 p.m.

“It was a long day,” Djokovic said.

At least he got to play.

Because of showers that began in the morning, there was a delay of more than 2½ hours at the start. Then, after only 1½ hours of action, there was another delay of more than an hour. All told, only 26 of 40 scheduled singles matches were completed, three were suspended in progress, andorganizers wound up postponing 11 others entirely. That means players such as Victoria Azarenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, will be scheduled for first-round action today, the fourth day of the tournament.

Sports, Pages 18 on 05/29/2013

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