news conference

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas State has called a news conference for Monday morning amid multiple reports that Bill Snyder, who retired as Wildcats coach three years ago, has been rehired.

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis will call the plays on offense for the Irish against Navy. Weis said at his news conference Tuesday he is taking over the play calling for at least one game because offensive coordinator Mike Haywood will miss some practices this week to attend a funeral of a family member in Houston.

Washington coach Tyrone Willingham says he will step down at the end of the 2008 season. The Huskies fell to 0-7 on Saturday after a 33-7 loss to Notre Dame.

Willingham and athletic director Scott Woodward made the announcement at a news conference Monday. Willingham has been under fire for being unable to turn around the Washington program.

He is 11-32 overall in his four seasons.

Elton Brand was expected to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, and the power forward instantly gives them the low post presence they sorely needed to become contenders in the East.

The Sixers have called a 5 p.m. news conference to introduce the two-time All Star. Brand's arrival is a huge move for the Sixers, who have worked quickly to become a threat in the Eastern Conference.

Dominik Hasek is expected to announce his retirement, a person in the NHL told The Associated Press on Sunday night.

The Detroit Red Wings scheduled a news conference for Monday morning without revealing details. A person within the league, who requested anonymity because the announcement was Hasek's to make, said Hasek was expected to end his award-winning career.

Braves pitcher John Smoltz, who notched his 3,000th career strikeout earlier this year, will have season-ending shoulder surgery that may well end his career, SI.com has confirmed.

The 41-year-old Smoltz was scheduled to attend an 11:30 a.m. news conference with manager Bobby Cox and general manager Frank Wren to discuss his future.

Matt Ryan has signed a six-year, $72-million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Ryan, the No. 3 overall pick in last month's NFL draft, is guaranteed $34.75 million in the deal signed Tuesday.

Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts confirms the signing and says the team has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday night.

Ryan's guaranteed money is $4.75 million more than received by Jake Long, the No. 1 overall pick who also is represented by agent Tom Condon.

Top-ranked Justine Henin will make a major announcement about her career Wednesday amid reports she will quit professional tennis.

Henin, who has been in a slump all spring, called a news conference, while local newspapers already carried headlines saying "Henin quits." The 25-year-old Belgian has always said she sought a long career and despite injuries and a divorce, she had a sterling 2007 with...

The NBA has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday at a Los Angeles hotel, where Kobe Bryant is expected to be announced as winner of his first Most Valuable Player award.

Neither NBA spokesman Mark Broussard nor the Lakers would discuss the subject of the news conference, although the league did refer to it as an NBA Awards Announcement.

The Los Angeles Times reported last Friday that the 29-year-old Bryant had won the award.