Names in the game for Sept. 22, 2005

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005 | 9:28 a.m.

Luc Robitaille

Luc and Stacia Robitaille's summer home overlooks a tranquil Rocky Mountain valley where the autumn leaves are just starting to change from green to red.

Although the name of the home, "Serenity," seems appropriate enough, calling it "Sanctuary" would be every bit as fitting.

The Robitailles have opened their spacious mountain retreat to two families whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, and they have plans to bring in more.

"I just don't like to see people suffer," said Stacia Robitaille, who turned to her husband after watching the Katrina aftermath on TV and suggested they help out personally.

She is hosting the victims in Utah, arranging flights, airport pickups and lodging in the 10,000-square-foot log home, as Luc trains with the Kings for his 19th season in the NHL.

Serbian national team

By the time the Serbia-Montenegro basketball coach resigned, the feeling among his players had grown so bitter that they could no longer look at each other.

Failing to defend their European Championship title -- and the locker room scuffle that followed -- was the breaking point.

Zeljko Obradovic stepped down Wednesday, saying that to stay on as coach "would lead me straight to a madhouse. I'm already ready for an asylum. That's how I feel. I wish my successor lots and lots of luck!"

Team captain Dejan Bodiroga, center Zeljko Rebraca of the Los Angeles Clippers and Dejan Tomasevic also announced they were quitting the national squad.

France beat Serbia-Montenegro 74-71 Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals, eliminating the hosts and reigning world champions with a 2-2 record. Obradovic blamed the team's "catastrophic play" on his feuding players.

He said Marko Jaric of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Igor Rakocevic of Real Madrid had a fist fight after the loss to France, as did Tomasevic and forward Vladimir Radmanovic of the Seattle SuperSonics. Radmanovic and his agent, David Bauman, disputed that, saying the player did not get into a fist fight after the game.

Dwyane Wade

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade agreed to a seven-year deal to endorse Converse footwear and apparel, company officials said. Wade was already under contract to Converse in a deal worth $400,000 annually. Company officials declined to release financial terms of his new pact.

Wade's first signature shoe will be in stores Nov. 3 -- coinciding with the Heat's home opener against Indiana.

-- Sun wire services