HOOPS: Pistons close to hiring Cavs assistant

The Pistons and Cavaliers assistant John Kuester are nearing an agreement to make him their coach, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The Pistons spoke with Avery Johnson, but talks with the former Mavericks coach fell through.

* The Hawks reached an agreement to re-sign point guard Mike Bibby to a three-year deal.

* USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said that “all leads point to Coach K coming back,” following a published report that Mike Krzyzewski has agreed to return as U.S. Olympic basketball coach.

HOCKEY: Sakic to hang up his skates

Joe Sakic, the Avalanche’s longtime captain, will retire tomorrow after a 20-year NHL career, a person familiar with the situation said. Sakic, who turned 40 yesterday, won the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001, was named league MVP in 2001, and led Canada to an Olympic gold medal in 2002.

* The Flyers agreed to a multiyear contract extension with defenseman Chris Pronger. . . . The Maple Leafs signed coveted 24-year-old Swedish free-agent goalie Jonas Gustavsson, to a one-year contract.

* Penguins forward and Game 7 hero Maxime Talbot will miss the beginning of the season after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

MLB: Braun retracts negative remarks

After a meeting with general manager Doug Melvin, Brewers slugger Ryan Braun backed away from the strong comments about the team’s need to improve its pitching staff he made over the weekend.

* The Diamondbacks traded right-handed reliever Tony Pena to the White Sox for a minor league infielder.

COLLEGE: Lawyer slams BCS before Senate

A lawyer for the Mountain West Conference raised the possibility of antitrust violations in the Bowl Championship Series before a Senate Judiciary Committee subcommittee. He got a favorable reception from Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the subcommittee’s top Republican.

SOCCER: U.S. defender Onyewu joins Milan

U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu joined AC Milan, becoming one of the few Americans to play in Italy’s top league. Milan said it agreed to a three-year contract with the 27-year-old.

* Celso Borges‘ goal in the 64th minute gave Costa Rica a 1-0 win over Jamaica in their Group A Gold Cup match. Elsewhere, Canada strengthened its hold on Group A of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 1-0 win over El Salvador.

ETC.: Bolt runs blistering 200 meters

In Lausanne, Switzerland, Usain Bolt ran the fourth-fastest 200 meters in history, finishing in 19.59 seconds at the Athletissima meet despite chilly weather and a track slowed by a downpour.

* In Indianapolis, Ryan Lochte won the 400-meter individual medley at the U.S. national championships, leading a parade of Olympians who qualified for the world meet later this month.