Motown swap: Iverson boosts Pistons’ ticket sales

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan – Allen Iverson hasn’t stepped on the court for Detroit, but the Pistons’ new star already is boosting the team’s fortunes. The Pistons have averaged 5,000 daily individual ticket sales since the trade was announced Monday. The team also sold 100 additional season tickets. The Pistons traded Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb to Denver for the former league MVP. Iverson is expected to play his first game at home on Sunday. The Pistons announced that more than 1,000 orders have been placed for Iverson jerseys. They are expected to arrive in stores Friday. Tennis development Jay Berger and Ola Malmqvist were hired to lead elite player development by the US Tennis Association on Thursday at White Plains, New York. Berger and Malmqvist will work at the training centers in Boca Raton, Florida, and Carson, California. The 41-year-old Berger will lead the men’s program. He won four ATP singles titles and was ranked as high as No. 7 in five-year professional career. He was a member of the US Davis Cup team in 1988 and 1990. Malmqvist coached the UNLV women’s tennis program from 1993-98. The 50-year-old has worked with Chanda Rubin, Luke and Murphy Jensen, and Petr Korda. He won the 1983 NCAA doubles title at Georgia. “Jay and Ola are two of the brightest coaches in tennis," said Patrick McEnroe, general manager of the elite player development. “That they share a history of working with young, up-and-coming players and are already familiar with our system and our players will make for a seamless transition as we revamp our coaching philosophies." – AP