Hasek to Retire, Wife Says

The wife of goaltender Dominik Hasek said Monday night that her husband is retiring, although Detroit Red Wing General Manager Ken Holland would not confirm it after meeting with him.

Alena Hasek told television station WDIV that her husband was leaving the Red Wings to return to the Czech Republic, something Hasek would not confirm.

Neither would Holland, although the Red Wings tentatively scheduled a news conference for this morning at Joe Louis Arena.

Holland met with the 37-year-old goaltender and agent Rich Winter on Monday night at a restaurant. Afterward, Holland would not say what transpired.

“I want to make sure Dom is absolutely sure of his decision,” Holland told The Detroit News on Monday. “If he’s staying, I want to make sure he’s under no obligation to his teammates or anyone else.

“I want to make sure it’s his decision. If he’s retiring, I want to make sure he’s sure of that.”

Holland has said Hasek likely would say this week whether he would retire or return for next season. The Buffalo News reported Sunday that Hasek was leaning toward retiring.

Holland has said that he knew Hasek was leaning one way, but he would not say which way that was.

Detroit needs to know Hasek’s decision before next Monday, when the free-agent signing period starts.

College Sports

Outfielder Shane Costa and pitchers Wes Littleton and Chad Cordero of Cal State Fullerton were named to the USA Baseball national team that will compete in 30 games this summer. Long Beach State pitcher Abe Alvarez was also named to the 22-man roster, along with California first baseman Conor Jackson, a former City Section player of the year at Woodland Hills El Camino Real High.

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Senior linebacker Audie Attar, dismissed from the UCLA football team two weeks ago for his involvement in an off-campus fight, has transferred to Division I-AA Idaho State.

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Adam Steinberg was hired as the men’s tennis coach at Pepperdine. Steinberg, 36, has coached at Alabama the last five seasons and has had the Crimson Tide ranked in the top 20 in each of the last four years. He replaces Peter Smith, who resigned May 29 to take over for the retiring Dick Leach at USC.

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The West Coast Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will have new formats beginning next season. The leagues’ top two teams from the regular season will receive byes until the semifinals. Teams that finished fifth through eighth will meet in play-in games for the right to face the third- and fourth-seeded teams in what essentially are quarterfinals. Commissioner Michael Gilleran said the change “places a premium on regular-season success.”

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Northern Iowa announced it is reinstating its women’s swimming and tennis programs in the face of a threatened lawsuit over Title IX. The school announced last month it was dropping men’s and women’s swimming and men’s and women’s tennis because of budget cuts. Athletic Director Rick Hartzell said the move would save $327,000.

Miscellany

Tackle Tony Boselli, expected to anchor the Houston Texans’ offensive line this season, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder but should be ready for the regular season.

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El Centro Del Pueblo, which serves youngsters in the Echo Park area, will get a $250,000 grant from the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles to build a sports and recreation facility, foundation officials said.

A total of 36 organizations were designated to receive grants of more than $1 million from the foundation, which disburses southern California’s share of the surplus from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

In addition, Community Partners-Southern California Youth Soccer Organization will get $140,499 to fund programs for more than 2,125 teams. The Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles, the Dig For Kids Foundation and the Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation were also chosen to receive funds for youth programs, improvement of existing facilities, coaching instruction or equipment.

Passings

John Strzykalski, a running back who played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1946 to ’52 died last Wednesday in Hendersonville, N.C. He was 80.