Newswire : Former Olympic Hockey Coach Herb Brooks Fired by Rangers

Herb Brooks, who was called a coaching genius after the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team won the gold medal at Lake Placid, was fired Monday as coach of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League.

Brooks, 47, whose record was 131-113-41 since he became the Rangers’ coach in 1981, was replaced by Craig Patrick, the club’s vice president and general manager.

“I had seen enough of how the team had been going and I realized yesterday something had to be done,” said Patrick, who had assisted Brooks at the 1980 Olympics and hired him for the Rangers. “There are only 35 games left, and I’ve been waiting for the club to turn around.”

The Rangers have a 15-22-8 record, placing them fifth in the Patrick Division. They had been expected to challenge for the division title.

Doug Flutie, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, may sign a contract with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League by the end of the week. He said the failure of the National Football League to make him an offer is making his decision easy.

Flutie, his attorney, Bob Woolf, and Boston College teammate Gerald Phelan had a get-acquainted lunch with Generals’ owner Donald Trump in New York.

The Buffalo Bills of the NFL have the top selection in the league’s April 30 draft, but Woolf said they have not talked contract with Flutie.

The Kansas City Kings of the National Basketball Assn. have petitioned the league for permission to move to Sacramento in time for next season. Under NBA procedure, a committee of owners will be appointed to determine if Sacramento can support a team, then will make a recommendation to the league’s board of governors, which will vote on the transfer within 120 days. A majority of 12 owners is needed to approve the move.

Tim Wrightman, former UCLA and Arizona Wranglers tight end, has gone to court in Phoenix for confirmation of an arbitration award giving him $115,000 in back pay and another $120,000 over the next five years. Wrightman was signed by the USFL’s Chicago Blitz in 1983 and suffered a knee injury in his first season. He reinjured his knee in the Wrangler training camp last year in a pickup basketball game.

John Paul Jr., part of a father-son race car driving team, surrendered to federal officials to face a four-count indictment charging racketeering and conspiracy in an alleged marijuana smuggling ring.

Paul, 24, and his father, John L. Paul Sr., 45, both originally from Lawrenceville, Ga., are charged with four others in the marijuana smuggling operation, which reportedly imported some 200,000 pounds into the United States between 1975 and 1981.

Paul Jr., who surrendered at 3 p.m. Monday, is charged specifically with crimes in 1979 and 1981, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Morris said.

Names in the News

Bud Carson, former defensive coordinator with the Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers, was named defensive coordinatorand backfield coach of the New York Jets.

Ron Wilde, a two-time All-American volleyball player at Pepperdine in the 1970s, will succeed Marv Dunphy as the school’s head coach at the end of the 1985 season. Dunphy is leaving to direct the U.S. men’s team in its preparation for the 1988 Olympic Games.