In Brief

PRO HOCKEY

Former NHL enforcer Belak
hanged himself, source says

Former NHL player Wade Belak hanged himself, according to a person familiar with the case.

Belak, an enforcer who had played with five NHL teams before retiring in March, was found dead Wednesday in Toronto. He was 35.

The person familiar with Belak's death said he hanged himself at a downtown luxury hotel and condo building.

"At this point it's nonsuspicious," Toronto police spokesman Tony Vella said. "We will not provide any further information on a nonsuspicious case."

Belak is the third NHL enforcer found dead since May.

The body of 27-year-old Rick Rypien of the Winnipeg Jets was discovered last month at his home in Alberta after a police official said a call was answered for a "sudden and nonsuspicious" death. Former New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard died in May at age 28 because of an accidental mix of alcohol and the painkiller oxycodone.

Also: Dustin Byfuglien of the Winnipeg Jets was arrested in Minnesota on suspicion of boating while intoxicated.

Hennepin County Sheriff's officials said the 26-year-old defenseman was arrested shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday on Lake Minnetonka in Excelsior, Minn. A statement from the sheriff's department said he refused to submit to a blood or urine test.

Byfuglien was released from the Hennepin County jail early Thursday. He has not been formally charged.

MOTOR SPORTS

Earnhardt Jr. signs extension
with Hendrick Motorsports

Dale Earnhardt Jr. signed a five-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports. The extension keeps NASCAR's most popular driver with Hendrick through 2017.

The deal had been in the works most of this season, with both sides in agreement they wanted to continue the relationship.

Earnhardt left his late father's race team at the end of the 2007 season to join car owner Rick Hendrick. Earnhardt's courtship was the most frenzied free agency in NASCAR history, and he chose the most dominant team in the Sprint Cup Series.

But success has been hard to come by for Earnhardt. He has won just one race since leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., and it came at Michigan in 2008.

Also: Fastenal will sponsor Carl Edwards for 17 races in the Sprint Cup Series beginning next season.

Edwards signed a contract extension last month with Roush Fenway Racing, and the team immediately went to work looking for sponsorship for one of NASCAR's most marketable drivers.

Aflac is currently Edwards' primary sponsor, but the insurance company has not said if it will return next season.

MISCELLANEOUS

Ohio State suspends football
players for improper benefits

Three more football players are in hot water at Ohio State.

As a result, Ohio State might be in even more trouble with the NCAA.

The school reported that running back Jordan Hall, defensive back Corey Brown and defensive back Travis Howard each received impermissible benefits of $300 or less this year -- after several players were suspended for accepting cash and free tattoos from the subject of a federal drug-trafficking probe.

All three were suspended for the Buckeyes' opening game Saturday against Akron at Ohio Stadium.

Also: Even without Tiger Woods dominating golf, the PGA Tour announced its longest network TV deal in history that secures broadcast rights into the next decade.

The tour agreed to a nine-year deal with CBS Sports and NBC Sports. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem did not disclose financial terms, though he said there was an increase in the rights fee and players would see modest advances in prize money.

Nick Dougherty shot an 8-under-par 63 to lead U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy by two strokes after the first round of the European Masters in Crans-Sur-Sierre, Switzerland.

Jockey Kent Desormeaux, a three-time Kentucky Derby winner, was arrested on charges he tried to run over a traffic cop outside Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The 41-year-old Desormeaux, of Weston, Fla., was leaving the historic track in his 2003 Porsche about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when he struck the officer, Saratoga Springs police said. The officer's condition wasn't released.

Desormeaux was charged with reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor. He posted $500 bail.

Junior midfielder Jonny Espinoza scored his first goal of the season in the 93rd minute to give the UNLV men's soccer team a 2-1 overtime win over Cal State Northridge in the Labor Day Classic in Northridge, Calif.

Junior defender Mike Mota fired a shot that was redirected to Espinoza, who scored for the Rebels (1-1).