Brooks Calls It Quits as New Jersey Devil Coach

Herb Brooks, who coached the New Jersey Devils to a franchise-record 40 victories but failed to win the team’s respect, quit after less than a year with the club.

In a statement highly critical of Brooks, team president Lou Lamoriello said Monday the coach had indicated his desire to resign, but a formal announcement was not to be made for a week.

“It was Herb’s specific request that this change was to be effective as of June 6,” said Lamoriello, also the general manager.

In a statement released by his agent, Brooks praised Lamoriello but said: “I feel it is important that I move on and explore possible opportunities in and out of hockey.”

Soccer

The Italian SuperCup, in which the league champion plays the Italian Cup winner, will move to United States for the first time and be played in Washington’s Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on Aug. 21. The Italian League, which decided the unusual site over the weekend, said the move was aimed at boosting interest of U.S. soccer fans before the 1994 World Cup.

Names in the News

Tan Shuping won the one-meter springboard for her second gold medal and the fifth in five tries for China at the Diving World Cup at Beijing. . . . Arturo Barrios of Mexico won his fourth Bolder Boulder, Colo., 10K race in a time of 29 minutes 3 seconds. Uta Pippig of Germany won the women’s race in 33:36.

Juan Manuel Fangio II won the Lime Rock Grand Prix at Lakeville, Conn., extending his winning streak to four and Toyota’s record winning streak to 12. . . . Winston Cup driver Ted Musgrave was released from a hospital where he was treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. Musgrave was hospitalized Sunday night after the Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

John Ellis of Stockton defeated seventh-seeded Michael Bronfeld of Sacramento, 15-6, 15-13, in the open final of the National Singles Racquetball championships in Houston. Michelle Gould of Boise, Ida., won her fifth consecutive women’s title with a 15-6, 15-9 victory over Malia Bailey of Norfolk, Va.

Ted Oh of Torrance rallied from one stroke behind with four holes to play and shot a two-over-par 74 to win the CCA Junior Championship at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. . . . Derek Ho of Hawaii defeated Rob Machado of Cardiff to win the Bud surfing tour contest at Imperial Beach, Calif.