Montreal fans riot after victory
MONTREAL, April 22 (UPI) -- Rioting and arson followed the Montreal Canadiens' home ice Game 7 playoff victory over the Boston Bruins Monday night, police said.
Street celebrations began soon after 10 p.m. when the Canadiens shut out the Bruins 5-0 and thousands of fans took to the streets to celebrate, the Canwest News Service reported.
Around midnight, police said things turned ugly as revelers began smashing store windows and looting. Six police cars were torched and 10 others were so badly damaged they had to be towed, police said.
"People started attacking private businesses, attacking police officers and throwing rocks or any objects they could find at police cars," said Montreal Police Constable Laurent Gingras.
Three juveniles were among the 16 males arrested on charges ranging from breaking and entering a business, armed assault on a police officer, mischief on a police vehicle, assault and various bylaw infractions, Canwest said.
Police said calm was restored by 3 a.m., and no injuries were reported. Gingras said it would take some time to determine the amount of damages.
Michigan's Jake Long tabbed by Dolphins
DAVIE, Fla., April 22 (UPI) -- The Miami Dolphins agreed with Jake Long on a multi-year contract, effectively making the Michigan offensive tackle the first pick of this year's NFL draft.
Long, at a news conference with the Dolphins Tuesday, said he appreciated not having to worry about "any of that other stuff," such as his contract. The Miami Herald reported that the deal covered five years and totaled $57.75 million, of which $30 million was guaranteed.
The Dolphins, who were a league-worst 1-15 last year, have the first selection in this weekend's NFL draft. It was the first time Miami had the first overall pick and they wrapped up Long four days before the draft starts.
Long, 22 years old, 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, started for Michigan at left tackle the last two seasons and was the Big Ten Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year in both 2006 and 2007. He was second in the voting for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy, given to the top college lineman. Louisiana State defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey won both honors.
"Jake was our guy from the beginning," said Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland. "There wasn't a whole lot of debate."
Garnett named NBA's top defensive player
NEW YORK, April 22 (UPI) -- Boston's Kevin Garnett has been voted the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, the league said Tuesday.
Garnett was listed first on 90 of the 124 ballots sent in by sportswriters and broadcasters in the United States and Canada. He was second on 12 ballots and third on seven ballots for a total of 493 points.
Last year's Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Camby, of Denver, was second this season with 12 first-place votes and 178 points and Houston's Shane Battier, with 11 first-place mentions and 175 points, was third.
Garnett, a 6-foot-11 forward, averaged 9.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.4 steals a game in winning his first Defensive Player of the Year award. His acquisition from Minnesota is considered a big part of the Celtics' record turnaround from a 24-win season to a league-best 66-16 mark this year.
Garnett is the first Boston Celtic to be selected NBA Defensive Player of the Year since the award was first given after the 1982-83 season.
Lidstrom again a Norris Trophy finalist
TORONTO, April 22 (UPI) -- Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom, Boston's Zdeno Chara and Calgary's Dion Phaneuf were announced Tuesday as finalists for the NHL's James Norris Trophy.
The Norris Trophy is given to the NHL's top defenseman. Lidstrom has won the honor five of the last six seasons, losing out to Scott Niedermayer in 2003-04.
Lidstrom score 10 goals and had 60 assists in 76 games this season in helping the Red Wings to the NHL's President's Trophy. Only two players -- Boston's Bobby Orr (eight Norris Trophies) and Montreal's Doug Harvey (seven-time winner) -- have won the honor more than Lidstrom.
Chara totaled 51 points on 17 goals and 34 assists while Phaneuf had 43 assists and 17 goals for 60 points.
The award, decided on a vote of members of the Professional Hockey Writer's Association, is to be announced June 12 in Toronto.
Tiger Stadium demolition approved
DETROIT, April 22 (UPI) -- Preservationists hoping to convert the dugout of Detroit's old Tiger Stadium into a museum said Tuesday they may not be able to raise the money in time.
The city's Economic Development Corp. approved a demolition plan Tuesday, The Detroit News reported. The plan requires the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy to raise $369,000 by June to secure the dugout area and eventually to raise $15 million to convert it into a museum and community center.
"I don't know whether we will be successful or not," said Daniel Varner, a member of the conservancy board. "There's always been the possibility that the entire stadium could be torn down."
MCM Management Corp. of Bloomfield Hills and The Farrow Group of Detroit won the contract to demolish the stadium and sell it for scrap.
