STORRS, Conn. — Jim Calhoun retired as Connecticut's basketball coach Thursday, closing a 26-year career at the school with three national titles, an upcoming NCAA tournament ban and no apologies.

“I never, ever, ever said that I was mistake free,” Calhoun said. “But I always tried to do the right thing.”

The retirement of the 70-year-old Hall of Famer was announced on the court in Storrs where Calhoun racked up many of his 873 total wins.

NEW YORK — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman maintains the league will lock out players Sunday if a new labor deal isn't reached, and star player Sidney Crosby isn't optimistic the season will start on time.With both sides far apart and little time before the current deal expires at midnight EDT Saturday, the league's board of governors met in New York as a group of more than 280 players gathered at a hotel a short distance away.Following lockouts last year by basketball and football owners, Bettman says hockey management is determined to come away with economic gains.

NEW YORK — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will meet Monday with Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma to discuss Vilma’s suspension that was temporarily lifted last week.A person familiar with the plans told The Associated Press that Vilma will be in New York to present his case in the Saints’ bounties scandal for which he was suspended.