Tyson involved in scuffle at L.A. airport

LOS ANGELES — Mike Tyson allegedly hit a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport and was detained on suspicion of battery Wednesday, police said.

The paparazzo told police that Tyson struck him once, airport police spokesman Sgt. Jim Holcomb said. The photographer fell to the ground and was treated for a cut to his forehead at a hospital.

Tyson's spokeswoman Tammy Brook said the boxer was traveling with his wife and 10-month-old child Wednesday afternoon when he was attacked by an overly aggressive paparazzi. He acted in self-defense to protect his child, she said.

Tyson and the unnamed photographer both want to press charges for misdemeanor battery, police said.

"There's a lot of different versions to this story and that's all going to come out later," Holcomb said. "There were numerous witnesses and that's what this whole case is going to depend on."

Tyson was being held at the airport police station and will be booked and released later, Holcomb said.

"Right now he is very compliant, very cooperative. He's just waiting in one of our holding cells," he said.

The photographer will also be booked once he is released from the hospital, police said.

Leafs are NHL's most valuable franchise

NEW YORK — For the fourth straight year, the Toronto Maple Leafs are the NHL's most valuable team, according to Forbes magazine's annual survey.

The Leafs are worth $470 million, an increase of 5 percent over last year. They easily are worth more than the next franchise, the New York Rangers at $416 million, up just 1 percent.

The original six franchises are in the top seven, with only Philadelphia at No. 5 breaking that monopoly. Montreal is third ($339 million), followed by Detroit ($337 million), Philadelphia ($273 million), Boston ($271 million) and Chicago ($258 million).

Chicago has the biggest rise in value, up 26 percent, followed by Washington at 15 percent to $183 million.

The Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins rank 11th at $222 million.

Griffey Jr. a Mariner for another season

SEATTLE — Ken Griffey Jr. and the Mariners agreed Wednesday to another one-year contract that will keep the popular slugger in Seattle next year.

Baseball's active home run leader, who turns 40 on Nov. 21, will basically get the same, incentive-laden deal with $2 million in base salary he signed to return to Seattle for the 2009 season.

—Deseret News staff and wire reports