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■BASKETBALL

Spain fires Pepu Hernandez

Pepu Hernandez was sacked as coach of world basketball champions Spain by the country’s federation (FEB) on Tuesday, just two months before the start of the Beijing Olympics. The 50-year-old had already said he was going to step down after the Olympics but fell out with FEB president Jose Luis Saez over the timing of this announcement just over a month ago. The FEB said the decision had been taken due to Hernandez’s failure to complete contractual obligations, for the lack of respect shown towards the Federation and its members and his public accusations of mistreatment and persecution. “These are not the ideal working conditions with two months to go to the most important event in the world sporting diary,” Saez told a news conference. “I have no personal dispute with Hernandez. We have always had a strictly professional relationship.”



■BASKETBALL

Pistons let Flip Saunders go

The Detroit Pistons sacked head coach Flip Saunders on Tuesday despite the teams’ success of having reached the NBA semi-finals three seasons in a row. “I think this team became way too content and did not show up with a sense of urgency to get it done,” team president Joe Dumars said. “I can’t sugarcoat it.” Detroit fired the 53-year-old coach just four days after Detroit was eliminated by the Boston Celtics in their best of seven semi-final. The Pistons were one of the NBA’s top teams again this season, going 59-23 en route to the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. Although Saunders was sent packing on Tuesday, Dumars issued a warning to the rest of the Pistons. “Make no mistake, everybody’s in play now,” Dumars said. “There are no sacred cows here. You lose that sacred cow status when you lose three straight years like this.”



■FOOTBALL

Dallas extends Owens’ stay

Wide receiver Terrell Owens signed a three-year contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday that will keep him with the team until the end of the 2011 season. The 34-year-old, a third-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 1996, has agreed to a deal estimated by local media to be worth US$27 million. “With this contract, I know I’m a Cowboy for life,” Owens told a news conference. “It was always a possibility that I could end my career with the Cowboys. Now that’s gonna happen. “This contract, for a lot of people, it signifies money and they see dollar signs, but for me, it signifies commitment.” A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens produced 166 catches for 2,535 yards and 28 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Cowboys.



■ICE HOCKEY

Lightning head coach fired

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach John Tortorella, who orchestrated the franchise’s only Stanley Cup in 2004, was fired by the team on Tuesday. Tortorella, the most successful US-born coach to work in the NHL, had one year remaining on his contract. “This has been a very difficult decision because of everything that John Tortorella has meant to and done for this organization,” Tampa Bay General Manager Jay Feaster said in a statement on the team’s Web site (lightning.nhl.com) “What he accomplished during his tenure in Tampa was nothing short of remarkable and our organization will always owe him our thanks, gratitude and deep respect.” Tampa Bay propped up the 15-team Eastern Conference standings last season with a win-loss record of 31-42.


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