Perez, Peterson penalized; Hill to return

July 7, 2007

Doping
On a day Major League Baseball and the National Football League each suspended a player, the first National Hockey Leaguer to be suspended for violating the league's drug policy finalized a new contract, although he'll have to sit out the first 19 games of next season. Detroit Tigers infielder Neifi Perez yesterday became the first player penalized for testing positive for a stimulant under baseball's drug program. The player's 25-game suspension will cost him about $400,000 of his $2.5 million salary . . . Denver Broncos defensive end Kenny Peterson will miss the first four games of the season and be suspended without pay for violating the NFL's steroid policy . . . The Wild agreed to a one-year, $475,000 deal with Minnesotan Sean Hill, a 37-year-old defenseman who played for the Islanders last season and received a 20-game suspension hours before their loss to Buffalo in the final game of their playoff series April 20. The Wild said Hill acknowledged using a prescribed testosterone booster approved by the NHL, but tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid boldenone.

Hockey

The Buffalo Sabres, who lost star forwards Chris Drury and Daniel Briere to free agency, signed high-scoring Thomas Vanek, 23, to a seven-year, $50 million contract, matching the offer the player received minutes earlier from the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers' move enraged Buffalo, with Sabres managing partner Larry Quinn warning his team will consider making offers to Edmonton players in the future. Vanek's 68 goals and 132 points rank third among second-year NHL players -- trailing only Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin . . . John Paddock was promoted to head coach of the Senators after two seasons as Ottawa's assistant coach.

Basketball

Hall of Fame coach Lenny Wilkens resigned as the vice chairman of the Seattle SuperSonics, completing a rapid decline from his role in the organization. Wilkens, the NBA's career victory leader, coached the Sonics to their only championship in 1979 . . . Kevin Durant scored 18 points in his pro debut but shot just 5 of 17 from the field in the Sonics' 77-66 loss to Dallas on the first day of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas . . . Restricted free agent Andres Nocioni agreed to a five-year deal to return to the Chicago Bulls . . . Jerry Stackhouse agreed to a three-year deal to remain the Dallas Mavericks' sixth man . . . Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird had successful arthroscopic surgery on her left knee. Bird is expected to miss about two weeks and will not participate in the WNBA All-Star Game July 15 . . . In WNBA play, Cappie Pondexter hit a 14-foot shot with 2.1 seconds left in the second overtime to lift the host Phoenix Mercury to a 111-109 victory over Connecticut. The Sun (6-11), who led by 14 in the first half, lost for the ninth time in 11 games . . . In other games, Lauren Jackson's 28 points lifted visiting Seattle past the Houston Comets, 71-55; Janel McCarville's 18 points and 12 rebounds led the visiting New York Liberty past the Detroit Shock, 82-81, in overtime; Nicole Powell's 21 points sparked the visiting Sacramento Monarchs to an 85-80 victory over the Minnesota Lynx.

Baseball

The Braves placed pitcher John Smoltz on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 3 after an MRI found inflammation in his right shoulder. The Braves said the MRI also showed a "good" rotator cuff . . . Newspaper heir Kevin McClatchy will step down as the Pirates' chief executive officer at the end of the season.

Miscellany

Real Salt Lake's Freddy Adu set up two goals by the Red Bulls' Jozy Altidore as the United States shocked Brazil, 2-1, in Ottawa to win Group D with 7 points and advance to the Round of 16 at the Under-20 World Cup. The US will face a third-place team from another group in Toronto Wednesday. Brazil finished third in the group and might not advance. Poland, which tied South Korea, 1-1, in Montreal, advanced as the group's second-place team . . . Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio was hired to coach the Chicago Fire, replacing Dave Sarachan, who was fired June 20 . . . Belmont Hill School lost to England's Radley College by a quarter-length at the Henley Royal Regatta in England, where Brown's women advanced to the Remenham Cup semifinals by beating London's Thames Rowing Club by 5 lengths.