Ducks owner Samueli is suspended by NHL

The NHL suspended Anaheim Ducks owner Henry Samueli indefinitely on Tuesday, one day after his guilty plea in federal court for lying to regulators about his role in an alleged plot to manipulate stock options at his Irvine-based company, Broadcom Corp.

Samueli will be barred from any involvement with the Ducks or the league at least through Aug. 18, the day he is scheduled to appear in federal court for sentencing.

The NHL said it would review at that time Samueli’s status as owner and then finalize the duration of the suspension and determine if further action is necessary.

“While Mr. Samueli has been an exemplary owner, we hold NHL personnel to the highest standards, and this plea requires the imposition of discipline under league rules,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.

Under a deal with prosecutors, Samueli pleaded guilty on Monday in Santa Ana to one felony count of making a false statement to the Securities and Exchange Commission during its investigation into Broadcom and its alleged practice of backdating stock options.

The government has recommended a sentence of five years’ probation and $12.2 million in fines and penalties.

Team spokesman Alex Gilchrist said Michael Schulman, the Ducks’ chief executive and Samueli’s right-hand man, would take charge of all team decisions during the suspension.

-- Eric Stephens

Barry Melrose, former coach of the Kings, was named coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

He replaces John Tortorella, who was fired after the Lightning finished with a league-worst 31-42-9 record last season.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

Fresno State wins, 19-10, and forces decisive Game 3

Fresno State rallied from a 5-0 deficit in the third inning and defeated Georgia, 19-10, at the College World Series in Omaha.

Fresno State (46-31) and Georgia (45-24-1) will meet in Game 3 tonight to determine the national champion.

JURISPRUDENCE

Judge says Gatlin can’t run at trials

Banned sprinter Justin Gatlin got support but no relief from a federal judge in Pensacola, Fla., who rescinded his order allowing the defending 100-meter champion to compete in this weekend’s Olympic track and field trials.

Judge Lacey Collier said that while he believed Gatlin “is being wronged,” he lacked jurisdiction over the U.S. Olympic Committee to determine who is eligible for the trials.

The former world 100- and 200-meter champion plans to appeal.

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One man was arrested and a second was sought in a robbery and beating that left Oakland Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker unconscious on a side street after a long night of partying at Las Vegas nightclubs.

Police said Arfat Fadel of Las Vegas was accused of multiple felonies, including kidnapping, robbery, battery and conspiracy in a June 16 robbery. Lt. Clinton Nichols said Walker lost about $3,000 in cash and $100,000 worth of jewelry in the robbery. The loot has not been recovered, he said.

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Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of driving while ability-impaired.

Anthony was sentenced to a year probation, 24 hours of community service, and more than $1,000 in fees and court costs while prosecutors dropped a more serious DUI charge.

Anthony also pleaded guilty to failure to stay in a single lane.

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Alabama linebacker Jimmy Johns was arrested on felony drug charges and kicked off the team.

Johns, who moved to defense for his senior year after playing running back and receiver in 2007, was “pretty wide open” selling cocaine to students on and around the Alabama campus but tried to hide what he was doing from teammates, police in Tuscaloosa, Ala., said. He was held at the metro jail with bond set at $120,000.

MISCELLANY

Marathon winner is stripped of title

Ambesse Tolossa of Ethiopia was stripped of his 2007 Honolulu Marathon title and suspended from international competition after testing positive for a banned substance, race officials said.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Tolossa, 30, tested positive for an opiate and will be banned from international competition retroactive from May 2 until April 4, 2010.

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Phil Mickelson has agreed to play in the LG Skins Game, Nov. 29-30, at Indian Wells Golf Resort. Defending champion Stephen Ames and two others will make up the field in the made-for-television event. It’s Mickelson’s first appearance since 2003 when he was third behind Fred Couples and Annika Sorenstam.