■ Ice Hockey
Ducks, Kings meet in London
The Anaheim Ducks will take the Stanley Cup back to its birthplace when they open the National Hockey League's 90th season and begin defense of their first championship in London against the rival Los Angeles Kings. The two-game series highlights the 2007-2008 schedule, released by the league on Wednesday. Anaheim, which became the NHL's first West Coast champion by beating Ottawa in the finals last month, will show off the Cup in England on Sept. 29-30. The oldest trophy in North American sports was purchased at the Regent Street shop of silversmith G. R. Collis & Co 115 years ago. This matchup will be the first regular-season NHL games played in Europe.
■ Swimming
Jensen wins 800m freestyle
Olympian Larsen Jensen won the men's 800m freestyle with the fastest time by an American this year on opening night on Thursday at the Janet Evans Invitational. Jensen, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist and US record-holder in the event, won in 7 minutes, 53.92 seconds on the University of Southern California campus, where he recently earned a degree. His time bettered the meet record of 7:54.47 set by Australia's Craig Stevens in 2004. "I was very pleased with the race," Jensen said. "I've pumped up my training in the past three weeks. Hopefully, I'll go a best time at nationals [starting on July 31] and we'll take it from there."
■ Baseball
Suzuki coy on contract
Ichiro Suzuki was smiling when he emerged from a meeting with Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi after the Mariners' 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night. He still wasn't ready to share any news about his contract, though. "You'll find out sometime," he said, repeating the stock answer that he also offered up before Seattle's fourth straight win. The seven-time All-Star almost seems to be enjoying the commotion from news this week that he has agreed to a five-year extension. It would keep the franchise cornerstone in Seattle until age 39 and take him off the upcoming free-agent market.
■ Baseball
Rodriguez focused on job
Alex Rodriguez isn't interested in talking about his contract with the New York Yankees until after the season. Rodriguez has three-and-a-half seasons left on his record US$252 million, 10-year deal, but can opt out of the contract this autumn and become a free agent - a decision
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