Phil Jackson, Mike D'antoni | featured news

When Jim Buss and Lakers management fired Mike Brown as coach, they should have had a deal already in place with Phil Jackson. The current roster is too old for D'Antoni's up-tempo game... A host of challenges confront Mark Thompson as he officially takes over as chief executive of New York Times Co, from making the company less dependent on advertising to trimming costs to figuring out what to do with its pile of cash.

In a stunning reversal, the Los Angeles Lakers hired Mike D’Antoni late Sunday night, spurning Phil Jackson, whose contract demands were apparently too steep. D’Antoni will sign a four-year deal worth $12 million, according to reports. His debut on the Lakers bench could be delayed a few weeks while he recovers from knee-replacement surgery.