Sports briefs for December 10, 2003

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2003 | 11:06 a.m.

A settlement has been reached in Carson City in the suit between two prominent boxing promoters over the contract of former junior welterweight champion Vincent "Cool Vince" Phillips.

The Nevada Supreme Court said Tuesday that Top Rank Inc. and Don King Productions have agreed that an appeal to the court should be dismissed and that each side should bear their costs and attorney fees.

Top Rank maintained it had a contract to promote three of Phillips' fights after he won the title in 1997. The company staged two fights but then Phillips signed with King for a bout in Madison Square Garden against Terronn Millett.

Top Rank filed suit in 1999 claiming King interfered with the Phillips contract. Top Rank said it lost $200,000 because it was not able to promote the third fight.

Top Rank, headquartered in Las Vegas, also sued Phillips but dismissed him from the suit when he was judged to be bankrupt.

District Judge Mark Denton granted a pre-trial summary judgment in June in favor of King and ordered Top Rank to pay $3,261 in court costs. Top Rank appealed.

Under the terms of the settlement, the summary judgment issued by Denton will be final, but the court judgment on the costs will be vacated.

Capitals fire coach

Coach Bruce Cassidy was fired today as coach of the Washington Capitals, a team mired at the bottom of the NHL standings despite one of the highest payrolls. Assistant coach Glen Hanlon will replace Cassidy.

Galloway an owner

Dallas Cowboys receiver Joey Galloway joined the ownership group of the Arena Football League's Columbus Destroyers.

NASCAR points plan

NASCAR is considering a radical change to its point system that would create a 10-race championship chase. The top 10 drivers would be locked into place after the 26th race of the 2004 season. They would then compete over the final 10 races -- with their standings possibly being reset to zero -- for the Nextel Cup.

Women to Oakmont

The USGA awarded the 2010 U.S. Women's Open to Oakmont in suburban Pittsburgh.