NHL rejects Ilya Kovalchuk's 17-year deal with New Jersey Devils

NHL

NHL rejects Kovalchuk's 17-year deal: The NHL rejected Ilya Kovalchuk's landmark 17-year, $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night after it was deemed to circumvent the league's salary cap.

Just one day after Kovalchuk and the Devils came to an agreement on the longest contract in NHL history, the league determined that it was illegal, a person familiar with the issues raised told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the NHL hadn't made a formal announcement.

The contract was rejected because years of low salary at the end of the contract were added for the sole purpose of lowering the cap hit. The person added that no side believes Kovalchuk will play the final years of the deal at those terms. The star forward was slated to earn only $550,000 in each of the last five seasons of the contract that was to run through the 2026-27 season, when Kovalchuk would be 44.

NFL

Favre says there is no deadline for decision: Brett Favre and Vikings coach Brad Childress might have touched on plenty of subjects Monday, but a deadline for the quarterback to say whether he will play in 2010 wasn't among them. That's probably a good thing considering the status of Favre's left ankle.

"The deadline? I don't know," Favre told USA Today on Tuesday. "There obviously comes a point where you've probably gone too far, where you just have to move on. He hopes I make the right decision for myself — one way or the other."

JaMarcus Russell pleads not guilty to drug possession: Former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell pleaded not guilty to a charge of illegal drug possession in Alabama.

Russell, 24, is a former LSU star who was released by Oakland after being the No. 1 draft choice in 2007. He entered the plea in court in Mobile. He is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, codeine syrup.

WNBA

Los Angeles Sparks trip up Tulsa in overtime: Ticha Penicheiro had a career-best 13 assists, one on Noelle Quinn's tiebreaking basket with 30 seconds left in overtime, to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to an 86-83 victory over the Tulsa Shock.

Penicheiro finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and five steals. DeLisha Milton-Jones scored a season-high 23 points for the Sparks (6-15), while Tina Thompson and Kristi Toliver had 15 points apiece.

Scholanda Robinson scored 19 points for the Shock (4-17), which has lost 14 of 15.

Pondexter leads New York in OT: Cappie Pondexter scored six of her game-high 24 points in overtime as the New York Liberty beat the Connecticut Sun 82-74.

New York improved to 10-10, giving every team in the WNBA's Eastern Conference a .500-or better record.

Connecticut (12-9) trailed 61-48 with over four minutes left in regulation, but Renee Montgomery scored 12 of her 23 points in the final 1:48 to force overtime. She made a three-pointer with 4.2 seconds left to tie it at 72.

Softball

Finch will retire next month: Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch plans to retire next month and bring an end to a 10-year career in which she helped the sport blossom in the United States.

The dominating pitcher announced Tuesday that she will play her final games with the U.S. national team this week at the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City. She'll then finish the rest of the National Pro Fastpitch season with the Chicago Bandits before calling it quits at the age of 29.

Tennis

Serena Williams hopes to play in U.S. Open: Serena Williams is hoping to recover from a right foot injury in time to play at the U.S. Open, the agent for the 13-time Grand Slam singles champion said Tuesday.

"Right now, we're taking it a day at a time. She's resting and recovering," agent Jill Smoller said. "She's a fast healer."

Top-seeded Davydenko wins in Hamburg opener: Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia opened the defense of his German Open title by beating Florent Serra of France 6-3, 6-1 in Hamburg.

Soccer

Report: Maradona to stay as Argentina coach: Diego Maradona will reportedly remain as coach of Argentina's national team, a decision he is expected to announce next week after meeting with Argentine Football Association president Julio Grondona.

The state-run Argentine news agency Telam quoted Grondona as saying the meeting would be held Monday.

Seattle Times news services