Ewing ‘Shocked’ by Trade From Knicks to SuperSonics

Patrick Ewing knew it was time to start over. But when the trade from the New York Knicks to the Seattle SuperSonics was finalized, he was jolted.

“I was shocked it happened,” he said on “The John Thompson Show” on WTEM radio in Washington. “I’ve been stunned for two days walking around.”

Ewing, who spent 15 years with the Knicks, was traded to the SuperSonics last week in a four-team deal that also involved the Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

“I never thought I’d end my career somewhere else,” Ewing said.

Ewing said he understood the Knicks were going in a new direction, trying to become a more fluid team with Latrell Sprewell, Allan Houston and Marcus Camby.

“I didn’t feel as wanted as I did before,” Ewing said. “It was time for me to go. Seattle showed a lot of interest. They wanted me.”

Hockey

Minnesota Wild defenseman Sean O’Donnell was suspended indefinitely by the NHL, pending a hearing, for his fight with Antti Aalto of the Mighty Ducks on Wednesday.

O’Donnell and Aalto fought during the third period of the Ducks’ 3-0 exhibition victory. O’Donnell received a major penalty for fighting, a game misconduct, and a match penalty for attempting to injure.

O’Donnell was suspended until a hearing is conducted. No date for the hearing has been set.

The Edmonton Oilers came to terms with their last remaining restricted free agent, signing winger Ryan Smyth to a three-year deal.

Smyth, 24, led the Oilers last season with 28 goals. He sat out missed two weeks of training camp during the negotiations, but worked out with the University of Alberta team.

Auto Racing

Matt Kenseth, tuning up for his regular ride today, drove to an easy victory in the NASCAR Busch Series at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Del.

Kenseth goes for his second Winston Cup victory today in the MBNA.com 400.

Mike Price of San Pedro took the lead from Yagel Berkovitz on the 18th lap and held on to win a 50-lap NASCAR Super Stock race in front of 4,122 at Irwindale Speedway.

The victory was worth $1,000.

Five people were killed, including the driver, when a car in a French auto rally went out of control in Sens.

The car hit a utility pole, knocking it over onto a crowd of spectators, according to officials.

Eight people were injured, five seriously, in the accident near Cerisiers, southeast of Paris. The navigator in the car was among those seriously hurt.

Miscellany

English professor Murray Sperber plans to return to Indiana University next spring, six months after he left campus because of death threats and harassment from defenders of former Hoosier basketball coach Bob Knight. Sperber, a longtime critic of Knight, took a leave of absence last summer shortly after the university announced Knight must abide by a zero-tolerance behavior policy. Sperber has been promoting his fourth book on collegiate athletics, “Beer and Circus: How Big-time College Sports Is Crippling Undergraduate Education.” . . . The 100th national beach paddle tennis championships will be held today at noon at Venice Beach.