Briefs | NHL: Steve Yzerman leads talented list of first-time eligibles in Hall

NHL

Yzerman, Hull, Leetch, Robitaille elected to Hall of Fame: Steve Yzerman's greatest accomplishment in captaining the Detroit Red Wings to the 2002 Stanley Cup might have been managing all the egos on that star-studded roster.

The talent of that team was never more evident than Tuesday, when three members were elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Yzerman, Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille will be inducted alongside Brian Leetch and New Jersey Devils president Lou Lamoriello on Nov. 9.

"I think the biggest thing for me of having a guy like Stevie as a leader was the way he handled stuff around us," Robitaille said on a conference call. "We've got literally 20 big egos in the room. Everybody played a role on their teams for years, and they had to understand their roles and the common goal. I take that into the rest of my career and whatever else I do."

The maximum of four players was elected this year. Lamoriello was chosen in the builder category. All four players were eligible for the first time.

Gretzky wants hockey in Phoenix and Hamilton:

Wayne Gretzky would like to see NHL hockey in both Phoenix and Hamilton.

The Coyotes coach is watching Jim Balsillie and the NHL spar over the future of the Arizona franchise and hockey in Southern Ontario.

"It's been tough for everyone," Gretzky said at a 2010 Olympic sponsorship event in Vancouver, B.C. "It's been tough for fans of the Phoenix Coyotes, it's been tough for the organization, but on the other side of it, Hamilton is a great city and one day it will probably eventually get an NHL franchise, so it's a tough scenario for both sides."

Calgary's Darryl Sutter hires brother: General manager Darryl Sutter hired his brother Brent Sutter to be the coach of the Calgary Flames.

The addition of Brent pushes the total number of Sutters in the Flames organization to five.

Brother Duane is director of player personnel, brother Ron is a scout and Darryl's son, Brett, played for the Flames farm team last season.

Babcock to coach Canadian Olympic team: Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock will coach the Canadian men's hockey team at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, according to a person familiar with the decision.

Babcock will have Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock on his staff, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because Team Canada plans to announce its coaching staff on Thursday in Montreal.

NFL

Favre reportedly will attend Vikings' training camp: Brett Favre will be at Minnesota Vikings training camp in Mankato when they open up the end of July, a source told Minneapolis' WCCO-TV.

That source said that Favre and the Vikings have come to a contractual agreement, with heavy incentives. The Vikings equipment manager has already ordered number 4 purple jerseys with his name on it.

Chiefs to retire Thomas' number: The Kansas City Chiefs will retire the number of the late Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas during a ceremony Dec. 6.

Thomas' family will also be presented his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring at halftime of the Chiefs' game against Denver at Arrowhead Stadium.

Jets will wear corporate patches on practice jerseys: The New York Jets are taking advantage of a new NFL rule this summer that will allow them to place a corporate logo on their practice jerseys as a source of additional revenue.

The rule allows teams to sell sponsorships on their practice jerseys, and the patches can be no larger than 3 ½-by-4 ½ inches. The patch the Jets will wear starting in training camp features the logo of Atlantic Health, a New Jersey-based health care provider

Steelers sign Starks to four-year deal: Offensive tackle Max Starks has signed a four-year contract that keeps him with the Pittsburgh Steelers through the 2012 season and frees up several million dollars in salary-cap room for the team.

Starks, the starting left tackle, was designated as the Steelers' franchise player on Feb. 20 — less than three weeks after they won the Super Bowl — and he initially accepted a 2009 salary of $8.45 million.

Skiing

Vonn, Macartney on U.S. Alpine team: Two-time World Cup overall champion Lindsey Vonn heads the roster for the 2010 U.S. Alpine Ski Team.

Bode Miller is not on the team. The World Cup champion and 2002 Olympic medalist left the U.S. squad in 2007.

A separate roster will be named for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Vonn, of Vail, Colo., is joined on the women's roster by Olympic gold medalist Julia Mancuso, of Olympic Valley, Calif.

Another Olympic champion, Ted Ligety, of Park City, Utah, leads the eight-member men's "A Team." Scott Macartney of Kirkland also was named to the men's team.

Auto racing

IndyCar circuit will race in Brazil: The IndyCar series is taking its season-opening race to one of its best training grounds next season — Brazil.

Terry Angstadt, president of Indy Racing League's commercial division, confirmed Tuesday the series intends to race next March in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, about 200 miles from the capital of Sao Paulo. A date is not expected to be announced until late July, when the entire schedule is released.

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