THE SIDELINES : Michaels to Coach Helsinki Team

Walt Michaels, former coach of the NFL New York Jets, will be coach and general manager of the Helsinki, Finland, franchise in the International League of American Football, which begins play in April.

Michaels, who spent seven years as the Jets’ head coach and two more with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL, will be on the sidelines when Helsinki plays its first game at Barcelona on April 14. The game will be played in Montjuic Olympic Stadium, site of the 1992 Olympics.