European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 30, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                              June 2007 stars and stripes Mideast edition Page 27 Nils european league folds after 16 years the associated press Germany the nil folded its development league in Europe after 16 years calling the decision a sound business move that will allow for a stronger International focus on regular season games outside the United the announcement came less than a week after the Hamburg sea devils beat the Frankfurt Gal Axy 3728 in the world bowl championship in Frankfurt be fore a crowd of five of the leagues six teams Are in Germa with the other in a statement on the germanian Guage edition of the Nils web site said the nil decided to concentrate its strategies and re sources on regular season games outside the United states in an Effort to reach As Many peo ple As nil commissioner Roger Goodell thanked the fans for their support but said it was time to develop a new International Strate terming the move to fold nil Europa the Best business Deci the league reportedly was losing about million a from now on we will focus on regular season games and use new technologies to make nil More popular he nil team owners decided in october to play up to two regu la season games outside the United the first such game is 28 in London Between the Miami dolphins and the new York the league said it is looking to Ward other regular season games in Mexico and with Germany a Strong candidate for nil Europa has created thou Sands of passionate fans who have supported that league and sports briefs our sport for Many said Mark senior vice presi Dent of nil and we look Forward to building on this foundation As we begin this new phase of our International de the league began in 1991 As the world league of american foot with 10 teams from the United states and spreading from Scotland to after Clos ing for two seasons in 1993 and the league returned with six european teams and retained the same format until the sources padres agree on Deal to acquire Bradley san Diego the san Diego padres agreed to acquire temperamental outfielder Milton Brad Ley from the Oakland athletics on thursday the second time in just More than a week that the team decided to add a player with a history of the padres will Send Oakland a minor league several peo ple with knowledge of the Deal speaking on condition of anonymity because it had yet to be an Bradley could join the team Dur ing a weekend series at the los Angeles one of his former general manager Kevin Tow ers confirmed in an email thurs Day that the padres had interest in the but declined fur ther flames sign f Primeau Alberta the Cal Gary flames resigned Center Wayne Primeau to a three year contract and inked defens Eman David Hale to a oneyear Calgary had acquired who Coul Dve become an unrestricted free agent from the Boston Bruins in a february Trade that also brought defense Man Brad Stuart to the his salary last season was in the new hell earn million a predators general manager Kariya will be free agent Preda tors Forward Paul Kariya plans to enter free the latest loss for a team fighting for its general manager David Poile said Poile said Kariya decided to be come a free agent because the predators Are up for Sale and the teams future is he just decided its Best for him to look at alternative of Poile the predators have already shed several of their franchise including goaltender Tomas defens Eman Kimmo Timonen and Forward Scott Kariya led the team in scoring for the last two with 85 Points in 20052006 and 76 Points last Hes been a great player for Poile told the associated hell be one of the most highly sought free agents this makeup artist sues claiming sexual harassment new York a woman who worked on the set of the esp talk show cold pizza is suing the sports saying she was fired after complaining about sexual harassment by the shows Host and a regular in the makeup artist Rita Ragone said she was pinched and fondled by sports commentator Woody Paige and subjected to crude sexual comments by esp Host Jay Crawford at the shows studio in Ragone said Paige once grabbed her backside so forceful she was propelled Forward and into the it is not Paige said in an email to the associated he declined further esp spokesman Mike Soltys said the allegations were he declined to discuss the specific charges in the which also named Paige and Crawford As de Soltys said Crawford was upset by the accusations and read a statement in which the to Host said he vehemently denied the allegations and looked Forward to answering them in Ragone said a columnist with the Denver repeatedly made vulgar remarks about her she made unwanted sexual told her she Only got the Job be cause of her looks and contributed to a Locke room atmosphere by making disparaging remarks about another hair Ragone said the situation was exacerbated by a few female employees who didst seem to mind the including a stylist who gave the men Lap racist notes reportedly found in Ball state coach office Ball state University is investigating the source of notes with racist Lan Guage found in the offices of mens basketball coach Ronny Thompson and his the notes included copies of articles from the student newspaper about the schools findings that son of former Georgetown coach John Thomp and his staff broke Mcaa rules in May by being at Volun tary of season team workouts and then lied about their Thompson was named Ball states coach in april the cardinals finished 922 during his first notes were slipped under the office doors of Thompson and other staff members Over the they included racial slurs along with cheaters and school officials there were some harassing and racial comments that were on the sheets that were athletic director Tom Collins spokesman Tony Proudfoot told the associated press on thursday that Thomp son was on vacation and Unreich new Mexico hires Louisville assistant As new hoops coach Louisville assistant mens basketball coach Marvin Menzies has been named head coach at new mexi co Umsu president Michael mar tin said thursday that an assistant for the past two years under Rick will be introduced on Friday in Las the school has scheduled a 3 news the hiring was first reported by the Las Cruces before going to men Zies spent a year under former at Lanta Hawks coach Lon Kruger at one year As an assistant at us and four seasons at san Diego his Only head coach ing experience was at Santa Moni Ca College from he takes Over for Reggie another former Pitino As who turned around the a Gies during a historic two year new Mexico state finished 259 last capping the Caas biggest turnaround in the past two seasons by winning the wac tournament and playing in the Mcaa tournament for the first time since Theus was named the head coach of the Sacramento Kings earlier this Messier headlines impressive hockey Hall class the associated press Toronto it took Only one look for voters to pick this years class of hockey Hall of Mark Ron Al Mclnnis and Scott Stevens All were elected in their first year of eligibility i have a lot of respect for All the Guys who were inducted this Messier said after the announcement i think their stats and what Treyve done speak for it is the Halls first group of four players since 2001 when Mike Jari Slava Fetisow and Dale Hawer Chuk also pushed the selection to the Maxi there was a number of play ers eligible this year beyond the number that we could put said former Toronto coach Pat a member of the 18per son selection the deliberations were Igor the former rus Sian great who excelled on both sides of the didst make Adam Gates and Claude Lemieux were other firs year eligible who were passed while Glenn Doug Kevin Steve Larmer and Pavel Bure were again left out it was hard to argue with the four the players elected represent the epitome of hockey Excel nil commissioner Gary Bettman said in a nil executive Jim Gregory will enter As a Gregory was general manager of the Tor onto Maple Leafs from 196979 before running the Nils Central scouting Hes currently a senior vice president with the the induction ceremony will be held Messier is second in nil Ca reer Points and Francis is Mclnnis is third in Points by a Stevens won three Stanley cup titles with the new Jersey devils while punishing the opposition As the games Best hit in honoured to be going in with a class like Francis certainly Over the years Ive spent a lot of time playing against Scott and Al and appreciate just How great hockey players they Messier was a sure thing to get in after a career that saw him win six Stanley cup championships five with the Edmonton oilers and one with the new York rang if it were hed have to Wear one of those sweaters in the they can sew a Jer sey together and split it Down the Middle and i can go in As he Only his former teammate and buddy Wayne Gretzky amassed More Points in the but leadership is perhaps what distinguished Messier Marks reputation is the right one As far As maybe being the Best Leader in the game for Many said everybody talked about the Mclnnis also played 23 nil winning the playoff map while helping Calgary to the Stanley cup in he was also a valuable Elueline contributor in Canadas 2002 olympic Tri Francis is a two time Stanley cup he played 23 nil seasons and trails Only Gretzky on the assists i know As a kid growing up in Sault i often dreamed about playing in the envisioned myself carrying the Stan Ley cup Over my but never did i expect that i would accomplish the Hall of Francis in addition to the Champion Stevens won with the Dev he was chosen As playoff map in a fearless player known As much for his leadership As his Bon crunching body Stevens proves there is room in the Hall for More than just Offen Sive Kevin Mark Messier won six Stanley cups in his 23year nil said it takes everything to make a hockey team and make a winning hockey the physical part of the game is very important and Good just like you need a Good combination of every