Fresh proposal sent to NBA Kings
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 30 (UPI) -- A developer has advanced a plan to keep the Kings in Sacramento, Calif., but expressed doubt the latest offer will retain the NBA franchise.
Neither developer Angelo Tsakopoulos nor the owners of the Kings would discuss the proposal Tsakopoulos made last week, the Sacramento (Calif.) Bee reported.
The developer said the idea is similar to an earlier proposal in which thousands of acres in North Natomas, Calif., would be opened to development and 20 percent of the profit would be used for a new arena.
That plan fell apart when landowners refused to participate.
"I don't know what's going to happen, but I have to say, I don't think the chances are very good," Tsakopoulos told the newspaper.
Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said the idea had not been fully analyzed.
"There are people who have approached Gavin (Maloof) and me with ideas; a couple of them have merit," said Maloof, who declined to elaborate.
Maloof said there are no plans to move the Kings despite ongoing talk of a possible departure to Anaheim, Calif.
Martz 'dying' to get back to Rams
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The Rams' Mike Martz said he is "dying to come back" to coach St. Louis now that he feels so improved from the heart valve bacterial infection he suffered.
"I'm off all the medication now. The biggest concern now is getting my stamina back. The fatigue is just about all gone," Martz told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I'm dying to come back."
But Martz also said in his Tuesday interview from San Diego: "We'll just stay by the plan" to resume coaching in 2006.
Aside from health concerns, Martz said his wife told him an early return would be unfair to interim Rams' Coach Joe Vitt.
Even though Martz has a year left on his contract, it seems almost certain he will not return given his open feud with the Rams' front office in October, the newspaper said.
Reports of Martz's readiness to return may send a message to the NFL, where hiring and firing season could bring six or more changes in head coaches, the Post-Dispatch said.
Boston College and NFL's Concannon dead
BOSTON, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Famed football standout John J. "Jack" Concannon Jr. died suddenly in a Boston hospital at the age of 62.
Concannon played football, baseball and basketball for Boston College where he won a number of prestigious awards, according to a biography on the Boston College Web site.
The Boston Herald reports Concannon was drafted as the New England Patriots' first pick in the 1964 American Football League draft but chose to play for the rival National Football League instead.
From 1964 to 1975 he started at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
Concannon acted in the original "M*A*S*H" movie as well as "Brian's Song."
He died Monday from unknown causes at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Boston.
IOC group makes final Turin tour
TURIN, Italy, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- An International Olympic Committee group has completed its final full visit to Turin, Italy, the site of the 2006 Winter Games.
The IOC's Coordination Commission, led by champion skier Jean-Claude Killy, spent three days touring the venues for the Winter Olympics with officials of the Torino 2006 Organizing Committee -- TOROC.
Killy noted that, even with the preparations that have been made, there will be challenges.
"The IOC is confident that TOROC and its partners have the skills and experience to find solutions wherever there may be problems," he said. "Preparing for the Olympic Games is a team effort. It is important this team stays focused and stays together, taking its cue from strong leadership on the part of the organizing committee."
Ceremonies Nov. 27 marked the lighting of the Olympic torch in Greece. The flame is scheduled to arrive in Rome on Dec. 7 and work its way by relay to Turin over the next month.
The Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place Feb. 10-26 in and around Turin.
Girl aims for Pop Warner history
BOSTON, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- A 12-year-old ward of the state hopes to be first girl to play in the Pop Warner Super Bowl -- if her team can raise $70,000 by Thursday, a report said.
The money would fund the Boston Raiders' trip to Orlando, Fla., representing New England in the Pop Warner Super Bowl playoffs that start Sunday at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex.
The Raiders finished the season 13-1 with the help of Jessica "Speedy" Puglisi, who played wide receiver and safety on the otherwise all-boy team.
Despite recently becoming a ward of the state because of her mother's alcoholism, the seventh grade math whiz was described as sweet and enthused about being the first girl to make the Pop Warner playoffs, The Boston Herald reported.
"If you just do the things you have to do, it's easy," Puglisi often says.
"I just want to do something positive so I don't get in trouble," said the resident of the Home for Little Wanderers in Mission Hill, Mass.
