BASKETBALL

MAGIC SIGN HOWARD TO 5-YEAR EXTENSION

Only 21 years old, Dwight Howard already says he wants to retire in Orlando.

He committed to sticking around for a while longer yesterday, as the former no. 1 overall pick signed a five-year contract extension worth approximately $80 million.

“Me and Mickey Mouse will be here forever,” Howard joked.

It was Orlando’s second multimillion dollar move in two days. The Magic officially pulled free agent All-Star Rashard Lewis from Seattle yesterday, agreeing to a six-year contract worth more than $110 million in a sign-and-trade deal.

Those two moves will define the team for the foreseeable future, and general manager Otis Smith likes what he sees.

“You have to have a big guy in the middle. (Coach Stan Van Gundy) talked about the great perimeter players, and I feel very good about the opportunity to sign a big guy for a long period of time,” Smith said.

HOCKEY

SOURAY AGREES TO 5-YEAR DEAL WITH OILERS

Sheldon Souray gave the Edmonton Oilers the impact player general manager Kevin Lowe was looking for when the All-Star defenseman agreed to a five-year deal yesterday.

Spurned in attempts to finalize a deal with forward Michael Nylander, and rebuffed when the Buffalo Sabres matched a lucrative offer sheet to young forward Thomas Vanek, the Oilers locked up Souray, who posted career highs of 26 goals and 64 points last season with Montreal.

His previous single-season bests were 15 goals and 39 points. Souray, an Alberta native, spent the past six seasons with the Canadiens.

BASEBALL

PADRES’ WELLS GETS 7-GAME SUSPENSION FOR OUTBURST

Padres pitcher David Wells was suspended for seven games and fined $3,000 yesterday by the commissioner’s office for his animated argument with an umpire last weekend.

Wells was ejected by umpire Ed Hickox for questioning calls in the fourth inning of Saturday’s 8–5 win over Atlanta after Jeff Francoeur hit a two-run homer. The portly pitcher had to be restrained by San Diego manager Bud Black, two coaches and catcher Josh Bard, and Wells fired a ball against the screen as he walked off the field.