Basketball
KINGS KEEP MARTIN: Guard Kevin Martin agreed in principle to a contract extension Tuesday with the Sacramento Kings.
Geoff Petrie, the Kings' president of basketball operations, announced the deal, believed to be a five-year extension to begin in the 2008-09 season. Martin's agent, Jason Levien, couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
"We expect to finalize the contract in the very near future," Petrie said. "He's one of the most exciting young players in the NBA. We look forward to watching him play for many years to come."
Martin, a speedy shooter who will begin his fourth NBA season in the fall, was the Kings' leading scorer last season at 20.2 points per game.
The former first-round pick was one of Sacramento's few bright spots during its first losing season since 1998, and the club moved quickly to sign Martin before he became a free agent after next season.
STRAWBERRY SIGNS: The Phoenix Suns and D.J. Strawberry, their second-round draft pick, have agreed to a two-year contract that guarantees him a roster spot this season.
Strawberry, the 59th overall selection in the June draft, will receive the rookie minimum salary of $427,163 for the 2007-08 season. The second year of the contract is a team option.
The 6-foot-5 Strawberry, a former University of Maryland star and son of former baseball star Darryl Strawberry, played point guard in the NBA Summer League and could provide depth at that position for the Suns.
Track and field
21-YEAR-OLD WINS: Kerron Clement powered his way to victory in the 400-meter hurdles to give the Americans an eighth medal, and third gold, in the first four days of the world track and field championships in Osaka, Japan.
No one will compare Clement with Edwin Moses in terms of style, but boy does he have the raw talent to dominate a race. He stutter-stepped before the last two hurdles, and still won going away.
"I'm 21," Clement said. "I'm still young. I have a few things to work on, and the future is very bright."
Youth outraced age at the finish, but Felix Sanchez, who turns 30 on Thursday, was more than happy with a silver medal.
Hockey
KINGS HIRE COACH: The Los Angeles Kings have added former Boston and Detroit head coach Dave Lewis to their coaching staff.
The 54-year-old Lewis has served as a head coach or assistant coach in the NHL for the past two decades. He earlier played 15 seasons in the league, including three with the Kings from 1979-83.
The Bruins ousted him as coach in June, after they finished 35-41-6 and faded down the stretch by going 1-10-1 in their final 12 games.
Snowboarding
UTAHN PLACES 2ND: U.S. snowboarder Louie Vito from Sandy rallied from a first-run fall to land second in halfpipe Saturday at the Australian Open in Perisher Blue, Australia.
Vito, who won the Australian Open last season, put together a second run Saturday that opened with a frontside 1080, followed by a Cab 720, into a frontside 900 tail grab, frontside ally-oop 360 and capped with an ally-oop rodeo 360. Vito stands third in the Burton Global Open Series after two events.