Casino is suing NBA over convention bill

A Las Vegas casino has filed a lawsuit against the NBA and a player’s charity seeking payment on a convention bill dating to the 2007 All-Star game.

Wynn Las Vegas claims NBA Entertainment, NBA Properties and co-defendant Alonzo Mourning Charities have failed to pay a $50,000 bill for convention and meeting space and related services used during the 2007 NBA All-Star weekend.

Wynn Las Vegas last month recovered a $400,000 gambling debt from retired basketball standout Charles Barkley after filing a lawsuit. After the media reported the lawsuit, Barkley quickly repaid the debt, plus $40,000 in district attorney’s fees for the case.

The casino claims to have entered into an agreement with NBA Entertainment for use of the resort’s hotel and convention space during the February 2007 event.

NBA Entertainment then authorized the charity to use some of the convention and meeting space for a fund-raiser, according to the lawsuit.

Maureen Coyle, NBA vice president of communications, said the league could not comment on the lawsuit because its attorneys have not seen it.

PRO FOOTBALL

O’Hara interviews for Avengers opening

Tampa Bay offensive coordinator and former USC quarterback Pat O’Hara has interviewed for the Avengers head coaching position.

O’Hara, who won three ArenaBowl championships and passed for more than 13,000 yards and 200 touchdowns in his Arena playing career, is one of several candidates in line to replace Ed Hodgkiss, who was fired Tuesday.

Other candidates include current AFL head coaches: Chicago’s Mike Hohensee, Orlando’s Jay Gruden, Dallas’ Mike McClay and New Orleans’ Mike Neu.

-- Lonnie White

Running back Najeh Davenport was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers after the team couldn’t work out a trade for Willie Parker’s former backup.

Davenport rushed for a career-high 499 yards and averaged 4.7 yards a carry last season but was ineffective as a starter in the Steelers’ final two games after Parker broke a leg.

MISCELLANY

Utah picks up option on forward Millsap

The Utah Jazz exercised the team option on forward Paul Millsap and made a qualifying offer to shooting guard C.J. Miles.

Millsap averaged 8.1 points and 5.6 rebounds last season and led the Jazz in rebounding seven times.

The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired the short-term negotiating rights to Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts for a conditional draft pick. The deal allows the Lightning to talk exclusively to Malone and Roberts until the NHL free agency signing period begins Tuesday.

Washington State backup quarterback Cole Morgan is transferring to Western Washington because he’s in search of playing time.

Connecticut basketball Coach Jim Calhoun says forward Stanley Robinson plans to attend a junior college near his home in Birmingham, Ala., while addressing academic and personal issues.

Karla Schacher scored in first-half injury time to help Canada beat the United States, 1-0, in the CONCACAF women’s under-20 championship final at Puebla, Mexico.

The L.A. Riptide defeated the Rochester Rattlers, 15-10, in a Major League Lacrosse match at Rochester, N.Y.

PASSINGS

Texas Tech coach, administrator Robison

Polk Robison, whose success as Texas Tech’s basketball coach helped the school break into the Southwest Conference in 1956, has died. He was 96.

Robison coached Texas Tech from 1942 to 1961 and was its athletic director from 1961 to 1969.

Uga VI, the University of Georgia’s mascot, has died of congestive heart failure. The university said that the 9-year-old English bulldog died after being taken to a veterinarian.