DALLAS — Nolan Ryan was hired Wednesday as president of the Texas Rangers, who brought back the Hall of Fame pitcher their fans once flocked to see.
In recent years, Ryan has been a consultant for the Houston Astros, another former team, and part owner of two Astros minor-league clubs in Texas.
Ryan, 61, replaces Jeff Cogen, who was moved by Hicks to the Dallas Stars during a shake-up of his hockey team in November.
● In New York, Brian McNamee's lawyers said Wednesday they gave federal prosecutors physical evidence backing the personal trainer's allegation that Roger Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs.
Lanny Breuer, one of Clemens' lawyers, immediately responded that McNamee "apparently has manufactured evidence" and called all the allegations "desperate smears."
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● The Diamondbacks promoted Brandon Lyon from setup man to closer Wednesday. The 28-year-old right-hander will replace Jose Valverde, who was traded to Houston after saving a major-league-high 47 games last year for the NL West champions.
● Kelvim Escobar, an 18-game winner for the Los Angeles Angels last season, has a sore shoulder that will limit him at the beginning of spring training.
pro football
Mora to succeed Holmgren in '09
KIRKLAND, Wash. — Jim Mora will succeed Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, beginning with the 2009 season.
After serving as the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach for one more season, the 46-year-old Mora will begin a new, four-year contract as the head coach.
Seahawks president Tim Ruskell and chief executive officer Tod Leiweke both emphasized during a news conference Wednesday that the move gives the team stability and unity.
● Former Houston Oilers linebacker John Grimsley was found fatally shot in his suburban Houston home Wednesday, the apparent victim of a gun cleaning accident, an official said. Grimsley played 10 seasons in the NFL and made the Pro Bowl in 1988.
● Fired in Buffalo and passed over in Washington, Gregg Williams was hired as Jacksonville's defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Wednesday.
● Hall of Famer James Lofton officially joined the Oakland Raiders coaching staff on Wednesday, taking over as the team's new receivers coach.
miscellaneous
Recruit makes up signing with Cal
RENO, Nev. — A Nevada high school football player who had claimed he was duped into believing he was recruited to play at a Pac-10 school admitted Wednesday he made up the story.
Kevin Hart, a 6-foot-5-inch, 290-pound offensive lineman, offered an apology in a statement Wednesday.
Detectives said earlier Wednesday that they had been unable to corroborate Hart's claims that he had been duped by a man he had paid to help promote him in his bid to play in college. Hart spoke with deputies Saturday, a day after he announced at an assembly and a press conference that he would sign with California.
● Boxer Shane Mosley's former strength and conditioning coach has filed a defamation lawsuit over statements the boxer made that the coach gave him steroids without his knowledge. The coach, Derryl Hudson, "never gave, pushed, recommended or in any way made the Defendant take the banned substances," according to the suit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
● The Pima College women's basketball team broke a five-game losing streak by defeating visiting Glendale 67-51 Wednesday night. The win improved the Aztecs to 8-13 overall and 4-11 in the ACCAC.
● The host Pima College men's basketball team lost 99-73 to Glendale on Wednesday night. The Aztecs' record dropped to 5-18 overall, 3-12 in the ACCAC.
● The Atlanta Dream selected veteran guard Betty Lennox from the Seattle Storm among their 13 players in the WNBA expansion draft on Wednesday.
