Welke named World Series umpire crew chief
NEW YORK, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Tim Welke, a 25-year veteran major league baseball umpire, was selected crew chief for the six-umpire team working the 2008 World Series.
As crew chief, Welke will work home plate Wednesday for Game 1 in Tampa, Fla., when the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays open the best-of-seven series. He would also be behind the plate for a potential Game 7.
MLB said the rest of the umpire crew, with their Game 1 assignments, are: Kerwin Danley, first base; Fieldin Culbreth, second base; Tom Hallion, third base; Jeff Kellogg, left-field line; and Tim Tschida, right-field line.
This year marks the fourth World Series for Welke, who also called series in 1996, 2000 and 2003. Tschida and Kellogg are working their third World Series while it will be the best such assignment for Hallion, Danley and Culbreth.
NHL mulling second Toronto team
TORONTO, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The governors of the National Hockey League are in informal talks about putting a second team in Toronto, the Globe and Mail reported Tuesday.
Several of the governors who didn't want to be identified confirmed the notion was being considered, and the co-chief executive officer of Research in Motion Ltd., Jim Balsillie, was the likely beneficiary.
Balsillie came to the financial aid of the ailing Nashville Predators, and also has proposed moving the Predators to Hamilton, Ontario, 50 miles west of Toronto.
That didn't sit well with the NHL governors, who said it would impact attendance at Buffalo Sabres games, and the city of some 500,000 was too small to support a major league team.
One of the governors dismissed claims a second team would take fans and revenue away from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"The Maple Leafs would not be hurt one bit. In fact, it would help them," he said. "They could make all kinds of money renting the Air Canada Center to the other team."
Pats' Harrison could be out for the year
FOXBOROUGH, Mass., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- New England safety Rodney Harrison has a torn quadriceps muscle and will likely miss the rest of the season.
Harrison was injured during Monday's 41-7 win over Denver. The injury as original believed to be to his right knee but The Boston Globe and NFL.com both citing unnamed league sources, said Harrison had the muscle injury and that he would miss the rest of the season.
New England Coach Bill Belichick, who is always circumspect about injuries, Tuesday said: "It was difficult for all of us to watch Rodney get carted off like he did. When we have some more information, we'll give it to you."
Harrison, 35, is in his 15th NFL season, having played nine seasons with San Diego before joining the Patriots in 2003. He is the only NFL player with 30 sacks and 30 interceptions in his career. Harrison has been selected to the Pro Bowl twice.
New England also saw running back Sammy Morris leave Monday's game because of a knee injury. His status wasn't known Tuesday.
Former Celtics owner Mangurian dies at 82
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Former Boston Celtics owner Harry Mangurian has died at the age of 82 after a battle with leukemia, a friend announced Tuesday.
Gordon Latz said Mangurian died Sunday at a hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was diagnosed with leukemia last winter.
The Boston Globe said Mangurian owned the Celtics from 1979-93 and was responsible for building the Larry Bird-Kevin McHale era that produced an NBA title in 1981.
"Harry was a solid owner," Celtics Vice President Jeff Twiss told the Globe. "With his leadership, guidance, and working with Red Auerbach, he helped raise our franchise up to that championship level."
A memorial service for Mangurian, who was also a successful Florida thoroughbred breeder and a World War II veteran, will be Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale.
