Sports briefs

Arbitrator puts Kovalchuk on market

Ilya Kovalchuk is back on the free-agent market, and talking already.

An arbitrator ruled Monday that the NHL acted correctly in voiding Kovalchuk's landmark $102 million contract with the Devils.

The league had rejected the 17-year contract, saying the longest deal in league history violated its salary cap.

The NHL Players Association filed a grievance against the league. A hearing was held last week, and arbitrator Richard Bloch sided with the league when he issued his ruling.

The decision put Kovalchuk back on the market as an unrestricted free agent, and the high-scoring Russian already was talking to the Devils again.

U.S., Brazil prep for exhibition game

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Less than one month after the World Cup, players from all corners of the globe gathered for a high-profile exhibition game between the United States and Brazil.

A dozen Americans returned home from Europe for Tuesday night's match at the New Meadowlands Stadium. Jozy Altidore was training less than two hours after arriving from Spain, where he played on Sunday.

More than 65,000 tickets had been sold for the match in the new $1.6 billion home of the NFL's Giants and Jets.

No Americans ranked in ATP Top 10

LONDON — No American player is in the top 10 for the first time since the men's tennis computer rankings began in 1973.

Andy Roddick dropped from No. 9 to No. 11 in the ATP rankings issued Monday. Roddick lost in the third round last week at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington.

U.S. men have gone 27 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments without a title. Roddick was the last American to win a major title at the 2003 U.S. Open.

NBA will play regular-season games in U.K.

NBA Commissioner David Stern promised regular-season games in London before the 2012 Summer Games.

Stern delivered.

When the Toronto Raptors play the New Jersey Nets on March 4-5 at The O2 arena in London, it will be the first time the NBA plays regular-season games in Europe.

"This, to us, is really within the context of giving as much support as we can to the sport of basketball for the 2012 Olympics," Stern said Monday.

Locksley boots two Lobos from team

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico coach Mike Locksley says defensive backs Nathan Enriquez and A.J. Williams have been dismissed from the team for an undisclosed rules violation.

—Deseret News staff and wire reports