Coach of the Year Nolan Rejects Sabres’ Offer

Ted Nolan needed only a few seconds to consider the contract offer from the Buffalo Sabres before realizing he would be looking for a new job.

Nolan, named the NHL’s coach of the year after guiding the Sabres to their first division title in 16 years, rejected a one-year deal Thursday.

“I don’t need any time to analyze this,” Nolan said. “I wasn’t satisfied with it. I wasn’t thrilled with it.”

Nolan met several times with General Manager Darcy Regier the last two weeks. Nolan sought a longer contract.

Regier, who replaced John Muckler two weeks ago, said he made only a one-year offer because he wanted to build a relationship with Nolan, who had problems with the front office last year.

*

Denis Savard of the Chicago Blackhawks retired after 17 NHL seasons and more than 1,300 points.

The Blackhawks will retire his jersey, No. 18, lifting it to the rafters of the United Center. Savard announced his retirement at an emotional news conference with family and friends looking on.

“I hope every young player can have a career like mine. Every minute--I love it,” he said.

*

Boston Bruin forward Sheldon Kennedy got more bad news as he recuperated from a broken hip suffered in an all-terrain vehicle accident. He has been cut from the team.

The Bruins sent out a letter of intent informing Kennedy that they would not issue a qualifying offer to the 28-year-old right winger, who admitted to being sexually abused as a youth.

NCAA

Division I athletes who entered college in 1990 graduated at slightly higher rates than did students in general, with only football players showing a decline, the NCAA says.

Athletes who entered college in 1990, the fifth year under the freshman standards, graduated at a rate of 58% compared with 56% for all students.

At UCLA and USC, 57% of incoming athletes graduated.

Jurisprudence

The Franklin Mint, sued by Tiger Woods, has agreed to temporarily stop advertising and shipping a medal commemorating the Masters champion.

The sterling silver medal, advertised in newspapers for $37.50, is described in court papers as “low-end merchandise of the type which Tiger Woods does not wish to associate himself.”

The Franklin Mint agreed to stop further advertising and shipping the medal until a court hearing is scheduled.

Former Wright State men’s basketball coach Ralph Underhill filed a $15.1-million federal lawsuit against Meijer Inc. in Dayton, Ohio, accusing the retailer of having him falsely arrested on charges of shoplifting vitamins.

Underhill denied any wrongdoing. He said he put the vitamins in his pocket because he couldn’t carry them all and forgot about them at the checkout counter.

Underhill, who coached at Wright State for 18 years, was fired four days after he was charged with misdemeanor petty theft. In March, a judge declared a mistrial after a jury was unable to agree on a verdict.

Vanderbilt won its lawsuit against Gerry DiNardo, forcing its former football coach to pay more than $280,000.

DiNardo left Vanderbilt for Louisiana State in 1994 with three years remaining on his contract.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert L. Echols ruled that the contract was binding.

The agent for Portland Trail Blazer guard Marcus Brown said Brown will return to Kentucky today to face misdemeanor charges that he provided alcohol to five underage girls. . . . Heavyweight boxer Herbie Hide appeared in court in London on accusations of soliciting a prostitute. Hide pleaded innocent to propositioning a woman from his car in north London on April 9. The case was adjourned until Aug. 27 and Hide was released on his own recognizance. . . . St. Louis Ram running back Lawrence Phillips was fined $50 after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge in Omaha.

Miscellany

Brazil, looking every bit the world champion again, routed Peru, 7-0, in the semifinals of Copa America at Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Romario and Leonardo scored twice in leading Brazil into Sunday’s final against host Bolivia in South America’s most prestigious soccer tournament.

Gov. Gary Locke of Washington signed a proclamation making it official that voters approved a financing plan for a $425-million stadium complex for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. . . . Japan beat the United States, 8-3, and assured itself of winning the best-of-five Collegiate Baseball Championship at Iwaki, Japan. USC’s Eric Munson homered for the U.S. in the ninth inning, his second of the series.