hockey
Buffalo fires Ruff, seeks replacement
• Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was fired after the team’s latest slow start to the season and amid growing criticism from the team’s fan base. Ruff was relieved of his duties shortly after the team held a 90-minute practice, and a day after the Sabres were booed several times by their home fans during a 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
The Sabres (6-10-1) have gone 4-10-1 since opening the season winning their first two games. With a 571-432-162 record, Ruff was the team’s winningest coach. In his 16th season, Ruff was also the active leader among NHL coaches with the same team. The Sabres, who play at Toronto tonight, have not yet named a replacement.
The Sabres put Cody McCormick on waivers.
• The Anaheim Ducks signed Viktor Fasth to a two-year, $5.8 million contract extension, rewarding the Swedish goalie for his 8-0-0 start to his first NHL season. Fasth earned a new contract after just nine unbeaten appearances with the Pacific Division-leading Ducks. He’ll make $2.4 million next season.
Soccer
AC Milan upsets Barcelona 2-0
• Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari scored second-half goals, leading host AC Milan to a 2-0 upset of Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League second-round matchup. Barcelona, which has won three of the last seven European titles, had not lost by two goals since a 3-1 defeat to Real Betis in the Copa del Rey on Jan. 19, 2011.
• Manchester United Chief Executive David Gill said he will step down in June after a decade running one of the world’s most valuable teams. Gill’s responsibilities will be assumed June 1 by Executive Vice Chairman Ed Woodward.
other sports
Serena Williams pulls out of event
• Serena Williams withdrew from the Dubai Championships in the United Arab Emirates because of a back injury.
• Florida basketball player Damontre Harris, a junior who is sitting out this season under NCAA transfer rules, was charged with failing to appear at an arraignment in Gainesville, Fla. Harris, a 6-foot-10 forward who transferred from South Carolina, was arrested Wednesday after he was pulled over for a traffic violation.
• Bob Bowman will coach the U.S. men’s team and Dave Salo will guide the women’s team at this summer’s world swimming championships in Barcelona, Spain.
• Sophie Kurys, who stole 201 bases in 1946 while playing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, died Sunday in Scottsdale, Ariz., after complications from surgery. The speedy second baseman was 87.
— From wire reports
