Report: Cavs offer rich contract to Izzo
CLEVELAND, June 7 (UPI) -- Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is wooing Michigan State men's basketball Coach Tom Izzo with a rich offer to lead the NBA team, sources say.
Citing unnamed multiple sources, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported Monday Gilbert has discussed offering Izzo $6 million per year for five years to leave the college ranks and join the NBA.
The newspaper's sources said Izzo was mulling the offer, which is much higher than the industry standard for coaches with no NBA experience. It is reportedly packed with incentive clauses and perks such as the free use of one of Gilbert's jets.
The Plain Dealer had earlier reported Izzo was among a handful of candidates atop the Cavs' wish list to replace Mike Brown, who was fired two weeks ago.
The newspaper cited "several people who are friends of Izzo" as saying the coach is hesitant about taking the job unless he's convinced superstar free-agent-to-be LeBron James would re-sign with the Cavs.
Hornets pick Williams as new head coach
NEW ORLEANS, June 7 (UPI) -- The New Orleans Hornets Monday tapped Monty Williams as the team's new head coach.
Terms of the deal were not released, but The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported the two sides agreed on a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year.
"We wanted to make sure we interviewed all of the top candidates to get the best available coach on the market," Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower said. "We feel like we succeeded with that objective and now that we have Monty on board, we can concentrate on helping him thrive by continuing to do whatever it takes to make this team better."
Williams, 38, becomes the NBA's youngest head coach. He comes to the Hornets from the Portland Trail Blazers where he has been an assistant coach since 2005.
"I am honored for this opportunity to be the Hornets' head coach," Williams said. "The Hornets have a first-class organization and team; this is the perfect opportunity for me."
Nationals take Bryce Harper with 1st pick
SECAUCUS, N.J., June 7 (UPI) -- The Washington Nationals selected slugging catcher Bryce Harper Monday with the top overall pick on the first day of the 2010 baseball draft.
Harper, widely touted as the best choice available in this year's draft, has already graced the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine as "The Chosen One." He skipped the final two years of high school, obtained a GED and has been playing in Nevada in a junior college league.
With the Nationals' move, Harper, 17, became the first junior college player to be taken with the first overall pick.
Washington made the pick one day before the highly anticipated major league debut of last year's first overall pick, pitcher Steven Strasburg.
Harper this year starred for the College of Southern Nevada and made a splash in the National Junior College World Series, where he hit for the cycle in one game, going 6-for-7, and later added a 6-for-6 game with four home runs.
South Africa deports 10 soccer hooligans
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 7 (UPI) -- South African authorities deported 10 Argentine soccer hooligans after arresting them at the Johannesburg airport, police reports indicated Monday.
Police said the 10 were taken into custody Saturday at OR Tambo International Airport and sent home the next day as the country prepared to host the 2010 World Cup, The (Johannesburg) Times reported.
The newspaper said authorities alleged two of the men are well-known figures among hardcore Latin American football gangs known as the Barra Bravas.
One, Andres Pillin Bracamonte, was described as the leader of the Rosario Central Barra Bravas and faces charges for allegedly throwing firecrackers during the World Cup qualifier between Argentina and Brazil.
The Times said a charge of attempted murder against Bracamonte was dropped. It quoted Argentine media as reporting he was allowed to leave the country and travel to South Africa despite the charges against him.
