Rangers ready to meet Flyers in Classic
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- The Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers say they're ready to battle the Flyers outdoors at Philadelphia in this year's NHL Winter Classic.
The national stage for Monday's contest at Citizens Bank Park will be huge for the newly surging Rangers, who have won six of their last seven games to claim the East's top spot by two points over the third-place Flyers.
But Coach John Tortorella says the media distractions of the NHL's annual outdoor-rink game isn't hurting his squad.
"We're really looking forward to it," he told the New York Post Friday. "It's an honor to play in it, it's great for the league, so I'm glad it's here. Guys have handled it very well."
"It's hard [to focus], but I think it's part of being a pro: worrying about the game in front of you and not letting big games like that distract you," added Rangers Captain Ryan Callahan.
The pregame build-up has included camera crews from the HBO hockey documentary show "24/7" following both teams' every move, the newspaper said.
Falcons' Gonzalez signs one-year deal
ATLANTA, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez said Sunday will return for a 16th NFL season after signing a one-year extension with the team.
Gonzalez, a likely future NFL hall of famer, revealed the news on his Twitter account.
"Very happy to be coming back next year to play. I love everything about the Falcons and the city of Atlanta," he wrote.
Gonzalez, 35 , made the move during one of his best seasons, in which he has caught 79 passes for 867 yards and seven touchdowns.
In his 15-year career with Kansas City and Atlanta, he has racked up 1,148 receptions, second only to Jerry Rice on the NFL's all-time list.
Gonzalez has the most receiving yards (13,330), most receptions in a single season (102) and most touchdown catches (95) among tight ends.
LeBron James to wed longtime girl friend
MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Jan. 1 (UPI) -- LeBron James says he and high-school sweetheart Savannah Brinson got engaged in Miami Beach on New Year's Eve.
The basketball superstar popped the question while ringing in the New Year at an intimate dinner at the Shelborne Hotel that included teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosch and singer Queen Latifa and the rapper Nas, The Miami Herald said Sunday.
The occasion also marked James' 27th birthday. There was no word on a wedding date.
Brinson and James have two boys together -- LeBron Jr., 7, and Bryce, 4.
Panther ejected for 'slur' talks to union
MIAMI, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Florida Panthers forward Krys Barch has talked to the players' union following an ejection for allegedly uttering a racial slur, his agent said Sunday.
Barch was kicked out of Saturday's game against Montreal after officials determined he had aimed a racial slur at the Canadiens' P.K. Subban, a league official told The Miami Herald.
Scott Norton, Barch's agent, told the newspaper his client had spoken to the NHL Players Association about the incident but had yet to talk to any NHL officials.
Barch is "upset and concerned for his family" over the ejection, Norton said, saying the comments aimed at Subban from the Panthers' bench were misconstrued and "didn't have any racial undertones nor was a slur."
Norton said linesman Darren Gibbs may have misunderstood what was said or taken it out of context.
"At the end of the day, we're confident there will be no further punishment and he will be cleared of wrongdoing and his name will be cleared," he told the Herald.
