Sports briefs for October 10, 2003

Friday, Oct. 10, 2003 | 11:36 a.m.

Professional hockey returns to Las Vegas tonight when the Wranglers play the Bakersfield Condors in an exhibition beginning at 7:05 at the Orleans Arena.

The Wranglers, in their inaugural season in the ECHL, will play the Condors again Oct. 24 in their regular-season home opener.

"It's going to be a good time for us to run through a lot of operational issues with the new staff, new building and new fans," Wranglers vice president Billy Johnson said of tonight's exhibition opener. "We will be saving the full show for our opener on October 24th, but the preseason game will provide a great deal of practical experience for everone."

Rebels meet fans

Members of the 2003-04 UNLV men's team will be at the Galleria Mall in Henderson from 1-3 p.m. Saturday to meet fans, sign autographs and pose for photos.

NFL named in suit

The parents of a 2-year-old girl who was paralyzed in an accident caused by a drunken fan after a New York Giants game in 1999 have sued the National Football League, saying the league promotes the kind of behavior that led Daniel Lanzaro to drink 14 beers.

Gardenhire extended

Minnesota Manager Ron Gardenhire, who led the Twins to the AL Central title in each of his two seasons, was given a two-year contract.

Hopkins stirs up show

At a news conference in New York announcing a Dec. 13 bout against William Joppy in Atlantic City, middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins charged off the dais, and got into a shoving and screaming match with a half-dozen Joppy backers.

Athens workers strike

About 1,200 employees at the 2004 Olympic Village staged a 24-hour strike, a day after a construction worker was killed at the site. The strikers stayed off the job to protest safety conditions.

UNLV ends slide

The UNLV women's team snapped a five-match losing streak with a 3-2 victory against visiting Air Force (10-7, 1-3 Mountain West). UNLV improved to 7-8, 1-3.

Knicks add Mutombo

Dikembe Mutombo signed a multiyear contract with the New York Knicks, two days after he accepted a buyout and was waived by the New Jersey Nets.

Hewitt withdraws

Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt withdrew from next week's Madrid Masters to concentrate on Australia's Davis Cup final. Australia and Spain will play on grass in Melbourne on Nov. 28-30.