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Rockies extend Hurdle's contract

DENVER, April 2 (UPI) -- Colorado Manager Clint Hurdle and General Manager Don O'Dowd have had their contracts with the Rockies extended through the 2009 season.

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Hurdle, 49, has been the Colorado manager since April 26, 2002, and has a 352-436 managerial record. The Rockies were 76-86 last season. O'Dowd, 47, has been the Rockies' general manager since Sept. 20, 1999, and is credited with developing a strong Colorado farm system.

The new agreements, monetary terms of which were not released, cover the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

"We made a commitment to our organization and everyone in it a long time ago and these extensions are a part of that," Rockies President Keli McGregor said. "I met with ownership at the end of spring training and we believe this is the right decision at the right time."


Four Tops miss Detroit Tigers' opener

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DETROIT, April 2 (UPI) -- The Four Tops, who were scheduled to perform at the Detroit Tigers' home opener Monday, were forced to cancel the performance due to travel problems.

While the Motown greats were set to sing the national anthem at Comerica Park for the Tigers' first game at home this season, the band was unable to catch a flight Sunday, the Detroit Free Press said.

Group spokesman Matt Lee said that the Tigers organization was very supportive and "very understanding," he told the Free Press.

With the "I Can't Help Myself" crooners unavailable, Tigers officials instead turned to vocalist Lori Couturier for the ceremonial opening anthem and the seventh-inning rendition of "God Bless America."

The singer was already scheduled to perform at the stadium by singing the Canadian national anthem for the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, the paper said.


Phil Jackson selected for basketball hall

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., April 2 (UPI) -- Nine-time NBA champion coach Phil Jackson and North Carolina Coach Roy Williams are among the class of 2007 for the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.

Hall officials on Monday announced that Jackson, who has a total of nine NBA championships while coaching the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, and Williams, who guided North Carolina to a NCAA title, will be enrolled in the Hall of Fame during ceremonies Sept. 6-8 in Springfield, Mass.

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Also in the hall class of 2007 are: the 1966 NCAA champion Texas Western basketball team; Houston Comets Coach Van Chancellor, who led the Comets to WNBA titles each year from 1997-2000; referee Mendy Rudolph, who called at least one NBA finals game each season for 22 years; and international coaches Pedro Ferrandiz, who had a 437-90 record coaching Real Madrid, and Mirko Novosel, who coached Yugoslavia to the 1980 Olympic gold medal.


Kiprusoff tops NHL's weekly honors

NEW YORK, April 2 (UPI) -- Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff was selected the star of the NHL players-of-the-week honors, the league said Monday.

The league picks three players for players of the week, with Kiprusoff taking the lead honor and Florida forward Olli Jokinen and Detroit goaltender Dominik Hasek also getting player-of-the-week accolades.

Kiprusoff improved to 40-21-9 on the season by posting a 1.30 goals-against average for the week that included his seventh shutout of the season -- a 1-0 overtime victory over Minnesota. He made 38 saves in that game and 93 in three games during the week.

Jokinen posted an NHL-best seven points over four games last week. He had a goal and two assists against Tampa Bay and two assists each in games against Atlanta and Washington. He has 37 goals and 49 assists this season, one goal and two assists short of tying his career highs.

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Hasek was 2


1 last week with a 1.30 GAA as the Red Wings moved into first place in the NHL's overall standings. Hasek's overall 2.08 GAA leads the NHL.

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