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Report: N.D. quarterback got in bar fight

SOUTH BEND, Ind., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen got into a fight when a man pushed his date at a South Bend, Ind., bar, a university source says.

Quoting an unnamed Notre Dame source, the South Bend Tribune reported Tuesday that Clausen, 22, and the man who allegedly pushed his female companion got into a scuffle Saturday night outside C.J.'s Pub, during which the man landed a punch on the quarterback's eye.

The pair then wrestled on the ground for a few moments before the fight was broken up and police responded to the scene but no arrests were made or reports filed, the newspaper said.

The incident adds to a downbeat season for the Irish, coming after a 33-30 loss in double overtime Saturday to Connecticut. Head Coach Charlie Weis dismissed the issue at his regularly schedule Tuesday press conference, telling reporters: "We're talking about (upcoming opponent) Stanford. You want to ask me about Stanford, I'm all ears."

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NHL suspends Flyers' Briere

TORONTO, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia Flyers' Daniel Briere has been suspended for two games without pay for a late hit on Colorado's Scott Hannan, the NHL announced Tuesday.

The hit came at 9:06 of the second period in Monday night's game after Hannan scored a goal. Colorado won the game 5-4.

Under the terms of the NHL labor agreement, and based on his average salary, Briere will forfeit $67,357, league officials said. The money will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Briere will miss games Wednesday against the New York Islanders and Friday at Buffalo. He will be eligible to return to action Saturday at Atlanta.

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D.C. United's Ben Olsen retires

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen, perhaps the most popular player in MLS history, announced his retirement Tuesday, league officials said.

Olsen, 32, won eight total trophies while in D.C., including two MLS Cups (1999, 2004). He was a two-time all-star (1998, 1999) and was the 1998 MLS Rookie of the Year, the 1999 MLS Cup MVP and the 2003 USSF Humanitarian of the Year.

"Ben Olsen has been called the heart and soul of D.C. United and, over the years, that is exactly what we've come to expect from him," said D.C. United President and Chief Executive Kevin Payne. "Since he joined our team as the League's first Project-40 player until his last game in the 2009 season, Ben gave all that he had for his team and his teammates."

Olsen ended his career as one of United's all-time leaders in every key category -- second in games played (221), minutes played (17,098) and game-winning goals (13); third in assists (49) and shots on goal (155); and seventh in goals (29), the MLS said.

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N.Y. court rules for Nets arena builder

NEW YORK, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Plans to build the new home of the NBA New Jersey Nets in Brooklyn got a boost Tuesday from a New York Court of Appeals ruling, its developer says.

Bruce Ratner, developer of the proposed Atlantic Yards project on Brooklyn's Flatbush Avenue, said the appellate court ruling allowing the use of eminent domain was "light-switch" for the long-delayed project, The New York Times reported.

"I look at this as the last major hurdle; now we can proceed as we've wanted to for the last three years," he told the newspaper. "The courts have made it clear that this project represents a significant public benefit for the people of Brooklyn and the entire city."

The 6-1 Court of Appeals vote gave the city right to seize the private homes and businesses from holdouts who refused to sell their property to allow the building of the 18,000-seat basketball arena for the NBA's Nets, who have long played in East Rutherford, N.J.

The ruling could have broad implications in reaffirming the legality of cities' use of eminent domain at a time when many state lawmakers are seeking ways to curb government's power to condemn private property, the Times said.