Penguins' arena deal gives staying power

The Pittsburgh Penguins reached a financing deal for a new $290 million arena that will keep the NHL team in the city where it has played since 1967.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said money from the state's new slot-machine parlors would help fund the arena.

"Well, this is a great day for hockey," Penguins co-owner Mario Lemieux said. "I'm glad that I'm here announcing a deal with the city, the county and the state to stay here for 30 years. That was my goal, and I'm glad we finally achieved it."

MACKEY WINS IDITAROD Lance Mackey won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, becoming the first musher to win major long-distance North American sled-dog races back to back.

Mackey crossed under the famed burled arch in downtown Nome, Alaska, completing the 1,131-mile Iditarod in a little more than nine days.

He celebrated as he came down Nome's Front Street, alternately waving a fist in the air, then high-fiving fans that lined the street.

His family mobbed him at the finish line.

Last month, Mackey won his third straight Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, a 1,000-miler between Fairbanks, Alaska, and Whitehorse, Yukon.

SUPER-G AT RISK The super-G could be eliminated as an alpine discipline to shorten the World Cup skiing calendar.

The super-G was added to the World Cup program in the 1982-83 season. If the super-G is dropped by the World Cup circuit, it will no longer be raced at the Olympics.

REPORT: FOX ABUSIVE Nevada coach Mark Fox yelled profanities and appeared ready to use force toward a police officer and game officials after the Wolf Pack lost in the Western Athletic Conference tournament, according to a police report released in Las Cruces, N.M.

SOUTHERN UTAH HIRE Former Brigham Young coach Roger Reid was hired to coach the Southern Utah men's basketball team. He coached BYU from 1989-1996 and was 152-77.

HIGHLANDERS COACH LEAVES UC Riverside men's basketball coach David Spencer resigned his job, citing health reasons.

DILLON ARRESTED University of Arizona reserve guard Daniel Dillon was arrested Sunday on suspicion of drunken driving in Tucson.

CINCY'S PIRTLE RETIRING Laurie Pirtle is retiring after 21 years as Cincinnati's women's basketball coach, with a career record of 310-301 and six NCAA Tournament appearances.

LUBBOCK'S DREAMS A plan for improving Texas Tech's football stadium includes the addition of 30,000 seats during the next 20 years and a five-story building for club, retail and suite space.

BOGUT APOLOGIZES Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut apologized for getting "caught up in the heat of the moment" and making an obscene gesture toward the home crowd while leaving the court Monday night.

KNIGHT FINED Charlotte Bobcats guard Brevin Knight was fined $25,000 by the NBA for verbally abusing a game official and failing to leave the court quickly.

PLANS BLOSSOM A grove of cherry blossoms behind the left-field bleachers is one of the latest additions to the plans of the Washington Nationals' stadium. Construction of the 41,000-seat ballpark remains on schedule for Opening Day next year.

A-ROD STAYING PUT Alex Rodriguez tried to leave no doubt: He wants to finish his career with the New York Yankees. "I want to 100 percent stay in New York," Rodriguez said on a radio show.

BECKHAM GIVES THANKS David Beckham bid an emotional farewell to fans in Manchester, England, before leaving Europe to join Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy.

WORLD CUP OPENER The West Indies, aiming to be the first team to win cricket's World Cup in front of its own fans, beat Pakistan 241-187 in the tournament opener at Kingston, Jamaica.

KIRALY HANGING IT UP Karch Kiraly, 46, the world's most decorated volleyball player, announced that this season will be his last on the AVP Crocs Tour.

PELLIZOTTI ON TRACK Franco Pellizotti won the second stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race at Limoges, France, taking the overall lead from David Millar.

LADD DIES Ernie "Big Cat" Ladd, who played for three American Football League teams before becoming a member of the World Wrestling Federation Hall of Fame, died Saturday in Grambling, La. He was 68.

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