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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NHL
Governor tries to bar move
Penguins' relocation could be stopped by league's actions
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH — Gov. Ed Rendell said he would turn to the National Hockey League to prevent the Pittsburgh Penguins from moving, one day after the team said it had reached an impasse in negotiations with state, county and local officials to finance a new arena.
"the governor believes we have put an exceptionally attractive offer on the table," according to a statement released by Rendell's office.
Later in the day, Rendell told reporters. "If they don't take it, we were
going to be up in New York asking the NHL to bar the Penguins from moving."
On Monday, the Penguins said they will actively pursue relocation and blamed government officials for failing to cut a new arena deal.
Owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle said the team has agreed to pay $120 million throughout 30 years toward a new $290 million arena and to cover any cost over- runs.
The Penguins' lease at 46 year old Mellon Arena, the smallest and oldest arena in the league, expires June
30. The Penguins have repeatedly said they may move the team, or sell it to someone who would move it, if no deal for a new arena is in place by then.
Officials in Kansas City have offered the Penguins free rent and half of all revenues if they agree to play in the soon-to-be-completed $262 million Spint Center.
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he believes it is in the team's best interest to stay in Pittsburgh and said a deal can be reached despite the team's frustration with negotiations so far.
Mary Altaper/ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Pittsburgh Penguins might be moving
to another city after they reached an impasse
in negotiations with the state of Pittsburgh.
* The governor said he would ask the NHL to stop
the move.
>> NFL
Dolphins welcome linebacker
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Joey Porter wasn't unemployed for long
Porter is guaranteed $20 million in the deal, which was agreed to late Monday, according to a person with knowledge of the discussion who requested anonymity because Porter has not yet passed his physical and the contract may not be signed until Wednesday or Thursday.
The trash-talking linebacker, cut last week by Pittsburgh to save salary-cap room, agreed to a five-year, $32 million contract with Miami, giving the Dolphins a potentially devastating pass rushing tandem with Jason Taylor, the defensive player of the year.
Porter's 60 sacks rank fourth in Steelers' history. His addition is part of what's becoming a major roster overhail by the Dolphins, who were 6-10 last season, and new coach Cam Cameron. Already, Miami has
either released or traded seven players who started at least one game on offense in 2006 along with defensive linemen Kevin Carter and Dan Wilkinson.
And Trent Green was seeking a trade that could lead to the end of his career in Kansas City.
"We're going to look and see what his options are," his agent, Jim Steiner, said Tuesday. "We're going to do that."
A statement issued by the Chiefs said conversations with Green continue to be "amicable and productive." General manager Carl Peterson met with the 37-year-old Green on Monday.
Green, who is signed through 2009, is scheduled to make $7.7 million and $9.2 million in the final two years of his contract. Damon Huard, who filled in when Green was hurt last season, recently signed a three-year deal with the Chiefs last month rather than
become a free agent.
Kansas City also has Brodie Croyle, last year's third-round draft pick, to compete with Huard for the job.
In other moves Tuesday:
— Tampa Bay signed offensive tackle Luke Petittgut, released by the New York Giants after starting 106 games for them since being chosen in the first round in 1999.
— Kansas City signed linebacker Napoleon Harris, who played two years in Minnesota after being traded there by Oakland in the deal for Randy Moss.
— The Chicago Bears and New York Jets finalized their trade for running back Thomas Jones. He joins the Jets and gives Cedric Benson a clear shot at Chicago's starting job.
— San Francisco signed former New England linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, the fifth free agent it has signed since the signing period began last Friday.
» WORLD CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
U.S. warns of possible terror threat
BY MALKHADIR M.
MUHUMED
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NAIROBI, Kenya — The U.S. Embassy said Tuesday it has been alerted to a possible "terrorist attack" against this month's world cross country championships in Kenya.
The embassy released a statement saying the threat was coming from "alleged extremist elements" and that the races "may be the target of an unspecified terrorist attack." Last month, the U.S. Embassy issued another strong warning to Americans considering a visit to Kenya, saying violent crime was increasing and that Kenyan authorities have limited capacity to prevent it.
"The U.S. Embassy is also aware of public statements by leaders of Kenya's Coastal Muslim commu
nity threatening to disrupt, through unspecified means, the World Cross Country Championship if the government of Kenya does not satisfy various demands," the latest statement said.
The IAAF World Cross Country Championships are scheduled for March 24 in the coastal city of Mombasa. Athletes from 66 countries are expected to compete in the races, which are being held in Kenya for the first time.
The International Association of Athletics Federations said in a statement that Kenyan authorities assured the group Tuesday that "a specific security plan, involving all branches of the country's military and police authorities, is already in place to protect all athletes and participants during their stay in Kenya."
Embassy spokeswoman Jennifer Barnes declined further comment
on the warning.
Muslim leaders in Mombasa in recent weeks have threatened to disrupt the international championships unless the government releases Kenyans held on suspicion of engaging in terrorism and those detained in Somalia and Ethiopia. The protests were led by Sheik Mohamed Dor, secretary-general of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya.
Dor said his group will disrupt the races unless the detainees are released, but that there will be no violence.
"We are going to have a very, very big demonstration to disrupt the cross country," he told The Associated Press Tuesday. "Every international media would be in Mombasa, so we want to show the world that Kenyan Muslims are marginalized."
PI