Sale of NBA's Philadelphia 76ers approved
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Private equity investor Joshua Harris has had his purchase of the Philadelphia 76ers approved by the NBA Board of Governors.
Harris, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, is believed to have paid about $300 million to Comcast-Spectacor for the NBA team. Comcast-Spectacor, however, retained ownership of the Wells Fargo Center and NHL's Philadelphia Flyers.
Harris agreed to buy the basketball team in July. His ownership team includes David Blitzer, a senior manager direction at The Blackstone Group, and Jason Levien, who is an executive with the Sacramento Kings.
"On behalf of my partners, I genuinely want to thank (Comcast-Spectacor Chairman) Ed Snider and Comcast-Spectacor for choosing us to steward the Philadelphia 76ers, a storied NBA franchise," said Harris. "We are excited to be writing a new chapter in Sixers lore."
The Comcast-Spectacor group had owned the Sixers since 1996.
Philadelphia was 41-41 last season and lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Internal Notes
Broncos' McBean accused of stalking
DENVER, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- A lawyer representing Denver Broncos' defensive tackle Ryan McBean said he's not guilty of stalking allegations that led to his arrest Friday.
The Denver Post reported Colorado Bureau of Investigation records showed McBean was arrested Friday, accused of stalking in Denver.
He posted $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 28.
"We are confident that the legal system will find Ryan completely innocent of any allegations," said Peter Schaffer, an attorney representing McBean.
"We will defend all allegations to the full extent of the law, as well as seek all legal avenues available to us when the claims prove to be frivolous," said Schaffer, who is also an NFL agent.
The Post did not provide details on the alleged stalking.
McBean attended team meetings and practice Monday.
Coach John Fox said the team is aware of McBean's arrest, which occurred on a bye week.
"We'll let the legal process run its course, but at this point, we're gathering information and, hopefully, the facts," Fox said.
McBean, a fourth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007, signed with the Broncos in 2008 and has eight tackles and one sack this season.
Tulane football coach retires
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Bob Toledo, who has coached Tulane football since December 2006, resigned Tuesday as the Green Wave's football coach.
Tulane has lost its last four games and is 2-5 on the season. Toledo had a 15-40 record at the school.
Co-offensive coordinator Mark Hutson was selected to be the interim head coach for the final six games of the season.
"We are very appreciative of the job Bob and his staff did both on and off the field during their 4 1/2 seasons," Tulane Athletic Director Rick Dickson said in a statement.
"A transition like this is always difficult and we are very grateful that Bob and his assistants will ensure that the program can continue to move forward without interruption for the next six games."
Toledo issued a statement thanking Dickson for the opportunity to coach at Tulane and his coaching staff and players for their hard work.
"We worked extremely hard and I feel like we did our best," he said.
Toledo, 65, previously was the head coach at California-Riverside, Pacific and UCLA. He also was the offensive coordinator at several programs over a coaching career that began in 1969.
He had back-to-back 10-2 seasons at UCLA, taking the Bruins to the Rose Bowl after the 1998 season. Toledo was 93-108 in 18 seasons as a head coach.
Layne to be World Series umpire crew chief
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Jerry Layne, a 23-year major-league umpire, was appointed crew chief for the six umpires who will work the 2011 World Series.
Major league officials on Tuesday announced the umpiring assignments.
Layne has earned 13 post-season assignments. This year will mark his second World Series. He worked the 2005 series between the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros.
Also on the crew will be Gary Cederstrom, Ted Barrett, Greg Gibson, Ron Kulpa and Alfonso Marquez. Cederstrom was on the 2005 World Series crew with Layne while Marquez worked the 2006 series and Barrett called the 2007 World Series.
Gibson and Kulpa will be working their first World Series.
All six worked the division playoff series earlier this month.
The World Series is set to begin Wednesday with the Texas Rangers playing the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis.
