NHL
Nicklas Lidstrom has made a decision about his future. The 42-year-old Lidstrom will announce Thursday he is retiring after 20 seasons with the Red Wings, ESPN.com reported Wednesday. The four-time Stanley Cup champion and seven-time Norris Trophy winner put retirement on hold in each of the previous two years. Lidstrom had 34 points and a plus-21 rating that ranked among the league leaders last season. He missed a career-high 11 games because of a bone bruise on his right ankle . . . Commissioner Gary Bettman expects negotiations with the players’ association on a new collective bargaining agreement to begin in a couple of weeks. Bettman said talk of a lockout next season is nothing more than speculation. The NHL canceled the 2004-05 season before an agreement was reached that included a salary cap for the first time. That agreement expires Sept. 15.
Moyer, 49, designated for assignment
Baseball
Jamie Moyer has been designated for assignment by the Rockies, the move being made about six weeks after he became the oldest starting pitcher to win a game in major league history. The 49-year-old Moyer said in a news conference he still has hopes of continuing his career elsewhere but his immediate plan was to return home and attend his son’s high school graduation . . . Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner will have surgery on his right knee Thursday and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said Hafner would have an arthroscopic procedure to repair fraying and irritation in his right meniscus . . . Roy Oswalt expects to be ready to join the Rangers after four minor league starts. Oswalt, who has agreed to a minor league deal, is scheduled to make his first start for Triple A Round Rock Saturday . . . One of the men charged in a Dodger Stadium parking lot assault on San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow last year told his mother he was involved and expected to “go down’’ for the attack. A videotape played in a preliminary hearing showed Marvin Norwood talking to his mother by cell phone during an interview with police. He also mentioned co-defendant Louie Sanchez as having been there. A judge is hearing evidence to determine whether Norwood and Sanchez should stand trial in the beating of Stow.
Wheaton falls in Div. 3 World Series
Colleges
Wheaton College fell to No. 1 Marietta College, 7-2, in the NCAA Division 3 College World Series championship game in Appleton, Wis. Senior Hal Landers and junior Sean Ryan each had two hits for the Lyons. Junior Dan Gusovsky had two doubles and an RBI for No. 9 Wheaton . . . Jerry Sandusky lost another bid to delay his child sexual abuse trial and, in what could be the last pretrial hearing before jury selection begins next week, the presiding judge heard defense lawyers and prosecutors debate whether charges should be thrown out. The 45-minute hearing focused on the evidence regarding so-called “Victim 8,’’ a young man who was reportedly seen by a janitor being molested by the former Penn State assistant football coach in team showers more than a decade ago. Prosecutors have said the janitor, Jim Calhoun, has dementia and is not available to testify, so they want to call to the stand co-workers who would recount what Calhoun told them . . . The Big 12 favors a selection committee to be involved in picking the four teams involved in a college football playoff instead of a system that would emphasize conference champions . . . Duke said baseball coach Sean McNally has resigned after seven seasons at his alma mater.
Williams awaits surgery after crash
Boxing
Paul Williams’s longtime promoter said the fighter is in good spirits in an Atlanta hospital as he awaits surgery after he was paralyzed from the waist down in a motorcycle crash. Promoter Dan Goossen said Williams is talking and remains upbeat and determined to regain movement and resume his career. Williams, 30, severed his spinal cord when he was thrown from his motorcycle Sunday morning in Marietta, Ga. . . . A 911 call made from Johnny Tapia’s Albuquerque home reveals the moments when the boxing legend’s family members realized he was beyond help. Teresa Tapia initially said her husband was unconscious and not moving. Another woman, believed to be her sister, tells the operator Tapia appears “stiff’’ and “purple.’’ Tapia, 45, who had long suffered with public battles of cocaine addiction and depression, died Sunday.
Meola, Reyna, inducted into soccer hall
Miscellany
Former US national team goalkeeper Tony Meola, captain Claudio Reyna, and defender Desmond Armstrong have been inducted into the US National Soccer Hall of Fame, along with former women’s national team coach Tony DiCicco . . . Liverpool appears set to hire Brendan Rodgers as its new manager. Following talks with Liverpool’s American owners - Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Red Sox - Rodgers told his current club, Swansea, he has been offered the job as Kenny Dalglish’s replacement at Anfield and was ready to accept . . . In the WNBA, Lindsay Whalen put back her own miss with a second remaining to give Minnesota a 79-77 win over host Washington . . . Sylvia Fowles had 23 points and 12 rebounds, helping Chicago dominate the smaller Silver Stars, 77-63, in San Antonio.