D'Antoni out as Knicks coach
NEW YORK, March 14 (UPI) -- New York Knicks head Coach Mike D'Antoni has resigned in a "mutual decision" with the team, Knicks owner James Dolan announced Wednesday.
Assistant Coach Mike Woodson will take over as the interim coach, he said.
Dolan told reporters D'Antoni "felt that it was best for the organization if he were not to continue [as head coach]. He did offer to stay, but after a long discussion we decided it was best for the team if he did not continue in his role."
The move came as the Knicks stumbled to their sixth straight loss Monday in a 104-99 defeat at the hands of the NBA-best Chicago Bulls. The squad fell to 18-24 with the setback -- good for a tie with the Milwaukee Bucks for an eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
"Mike is a great coach and even better guy," Knicks interim General Manager Glen Grunwald added. "But now we have to move forward. We're going to do everything we can to get this team back on track."
D'Antoni compiled a 121-167 record in three-plus seasons in New York.
NBA.com reported D'Antoni's departure was hastened by a disagreement with Dolan over the possibility of trading superstar forward Carmelo Anthony.
Citing an unnamed source, the Web site said D'Antoni wanted to swap Anthony to the New Jersey Nets for Deron Williams -- a proposed move Dolan "categorically declined."
Knicks respond with one-sided win
NEW YORK, March 14 (UPI) -- J.R. Smith and Steve Novak combined to hit 13 3-pointers Wednesday, allowing the New York Knicks to end a tumultuous day by running away from Portland 121-79.
The Knicks announced hours before the game Coach Mike D'Antoni had stepped down in a "mutual decision" with the club. With assistant Coach Mike Woodson running the team, the Knicks crushed the Trail Blazers and ended a six-game losing streak.
Amare Stoudemire had 17 points and Carmelo Anthony added 16 for the Knicks, but the New York stars were overshadowed by the long-range shooting of Smith and Novak.
Smith made seven from beyond the arc and totaled 23 points. Novak scored 20 points in 20 minutes while hitting six 3-pointers.
The Knicks limited Portland to 29 first-half points while building a 26-point halftime advantage.
Portland fell to 1-4 on a seven-game road trip that has stops left in Chicago and Oklahoma City.
Lions ink Calvin Johnson to 8-year deal
DETROIT, March 14 (UPI) -- The Detroit Lions Wednesday signed all-pro receiver Calvin Johnson to the richest contract in NFL history with an eight-year, $132 million deal.
About $60 million of the contract is guaranteed. The deal will keep the wideout in Detroit through 2019.
The $132 million deal tops the $120 million handed out by the Arizona Cardinals to receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and its $60 million guarantee is also the highest in league history, The Detroit News reported.
Lions Coach Jim Schwartz noted the deal came on the 87th birthday of team owner William Clay Ford Sr.
"He's the only guy I know who on his birthday decides to give a gift to the city of Detroit, the Lions organization and NFL fans everywhere," he said.
Johnson's new contract highlighted a busy day of free-agent activity around the NFL that included:
-- Jacksonville's signing of wide receiver Laurent Robinson to a five-year contract.
-- Cleveland running back Peyton Hills' decision to sign a one-year deal with Kansas City.
-- An agreement by Philadelphia and receiver DeSean Jackson to a five-year offer.
-- The signing of cornerback Brandon Carr by Dallas to a five-year contract worth a reported $50.1 million.
-- The announcement that Indianapolis had retained receiver Reggie Wayne.
Vermont earns date with Tar Heels in NCAA tourney
DAYTON, Ohio, March 14 (UPI) -- Freshman guard Four McGlynn scored 18 points Wednesday, boosting Vermont into the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 71-59 win over Lamar.
The Catamouts have won 15 out of 16 games.
Vermont, which defeated America East Conference regular-season champ Stony Brook in the finals of the league tournament to earn its NCAA berth, will next meet Midwest Region No. 1 seed North Carolina in Greensboro, N.C., Friday.
Lamar held a three-point lead with 12:48 to play in the first half, but managed only nine more points during the rest of the period and trailed at intermission 30-21. The Cardinals came no closer than seven the rest of the way.
The setback for Lamar quickly ended the initial appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a head coach for Pat Knight, son of former Army, Indiana and Texas Tech coach Bob Knight.
The younger Knight completed his first season at Lamar (23-12).
Matt Glass added 11 points and Sandro Carissimo had 10 for Vermont (24-11), which is in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years. Lamar was led by Devon Lamb with 16 points.
