Magloire out for weeks
Miami center Jamaal Magloire, who broke his left hand on Thursday in a NBA pre-season game, will be sidelined for six to eight weeks, the Heat said on Saturday. Magloire was hurt in the third quarter of Miami’s second exhibition game of the season, which was played in Paris as part of the NBA Europe Live Tour. Magloire returned to Florida instead of staying with the team, which had another pre-season game against the New Jersey Nets in London on Sunday. The 30-year-old will be re-evaluated next week. The Heat open their regular season at New Jersey on Oct. 29.
■ FOOTBALL
Rookies fined for celebration
The NFL has reportedly fined Philadelphia rookies DeSean Jackson and Quintin Demps US$10,000 apiece for their touchdown celebration in last week’s loss to Washington. Jackson scored on a 68-yard punt return in the first quarter when Demps joined him in the end zone. They posed face-to-face with arms folded and heads bobbing, a seemingly innocent celebration that drew no reaction from on-field officials at the time. However, the Delaware County Times reported that the NFL had deemed their actions weren’t “natural, spontaneous expressions of exuberance and celebratory acts.”
■ ICE HOCKEY
Columbus center suspended
The NHL suspended Columbus Blue Jackets center Michael Peca indefinitely on Saturday in the wake of his game misconduct penalty in a season-opening victory over Dallas. Peca received the penalty for violating Rule 41, physical abuse of officials, at 5:21 of the second period of the Blue Jackets’ 5-4 overtime triumph over the Stars on Friday. The 14-year veteran has appealed the suspension and has a hearing scheduled for next week. Peca recorded eight goals and 26 assists in 65 games last season.
■ BASKETBALL
Ellis suspended for violation
Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis, already nursing a torn ankle ligament from a moped mishap, learned on Saturday the accident will be even more costly. Ellis, who inked a six-year, US$67 million extension this offseason, was suspended for 30 games without pay by the NBA team for violating the terms of that contract. The 22-year-old Ellis initially told the Warriors he was hurt in a pickup basketball game. But the Warriors eventually learned that Ellis was injured in the low-speed motor scooter accident. In a statement released by the Warriors, team president Robert Rowell said that Ellis violated paragraph 12 of the uniform player contract.
■ ICE HOCKEY
Kopitar signs extension
Anze Kopitar has signed a seven-year extension with the Los Angeles Kings, putting the 21-year-old center under contract through the 2015-2016 season. The seven-year deal is the second-longest in club history. Wayne Gretzky, the NHL’s career leader in several categories, signed an eight-year deal in 1988. The contract was extended from seven to nine years after the first year. Kopitar is the latest player to receive a new contract from the Kings. Forward Dustin Brown signed a six-year agreement last year, and forwards Jarret Stoll (four years) and Patrick O’Sullivan (three years) also recently agreed to deals. Kopitar and the Kings were scheduled to open the season on Saturday night in San Jose.
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