Sports briefs

NHLReport: Belak committed suicide

Former NHL player Wade Belak hanged himself, according to a person familiar with the case.

Belak, an enforcer who played with five NHL teams before retiring in March, was found dead Wednesday in Toronto. He was 35.

The person familiar with Belak's death said he hanged himself at a downtown luxury hotel and condo building. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity yesterday because details of the investigation were confidential.

"At this point it's non-suspicious," Toronto police spokesman Tony Vella said. "We will not provide any further information on a non-suspicious case."

Belak is the third NHL enforcer found dead since May. The body of 27-year-old Rick Rypien of the Winnipeg Jets was discovered earlier this month at his home in Alberta after a police official said a call was answered for a "sudden and non-suspicious" death. Former Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard died in May at 28 due to an accidental mix of alcohol and the painkiller oxycodone.

Belak was scheduled to work as a sideline reporter on Nashville television broadcasts this season. The 6-5, 233-pound forward played for Colorado, Calgary, Toronto, Florida and Nashville, playing in 549 NHL games with eight goals, 25 assists and 1,263 penalty minutes.

He fought 136 times during his 14-year NHL career, according to hockeyfights.com.

Boogaard's brain being studied

Researchers at Boston University are studying the brain of the deceased Boogaard to determine whether he suffered from a degenerative brain condition associated with repeated hits to the head. Dr. Robert Cantu, a neurosurgeon and co-director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University's School of Medicine, confirms Boogaard's family donated his brain. Cantu leads a research team studying the long-term effects of head trauma in sports.

GOLF

PGA agrees to TV deals

In a move that refutes the idea that television networks are interested in only one golfer and that they would be wary until Tiger Woods returns to form, the PGA Tour announced that it has extended its agreements with CBS and NBC through the next 10 years.

Nicklaus toying with tradition

Jack Nicklaus is trying something new to get more people to play golf. He is holding events at his Muirfield Village Golf Club in which the cup will be twice as large and the tournaments will be only 12 holes. Nicklaus is concerned that fewer people are playing golf. He says it's important to think beyond the traditional rules and try something different to make the game more appealing. As part of the Labor Day activities at Muirfield Village, Nicklaus will host 12-hole tournaments in which the hole will be 8 inches in diameter instead of the traditional 4 1/4 inches. To encourage faster play, participants are required to complete the round in 2 1/2 hours. They will be penalized one stroke for every five minutes over the allotted time.

Dougherty leads European Masters

Nick Dougherty shot an 8-under 63 to lead Rory McIlroy by two shots after the first round of the European Masters Crans-Sur-Sierre, Switzerland.

-- AP