user: Grizzlies sign GM Chris Wallace to multi-year deal

Updated JUL 29, 2014 4:25p ET

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Grizzlies controlling owner Robert Pera has removed the interim tag and named Chris Wallace as Memphis' general manager, signing him to a multi-year contract keeping him with the franchise.

Pera announced the deal Tuesday but did not disclose any terms. Wallace had been serving as interim general manager since a front office shake-up May 19.

"Chris has been at the forefront and a stable presence throughout some of the Grizzlies' greatest successes," Pera said in a statement. "His strong bonds and experience, not only within the organization and NBA but also within the Memphis and Mid-South communities, make him the ideal fit to lead our basketball operations. We believe Chris' skills and expertise to be vital in our continued success of our franchise."

Wallace originally was hired as general manager and vice president of basketball operations in June 2007, and he put together the core that has gone to a team-record four straight playoff berths and reached the Grizzlies' first Western Conference final in 2013. He drafted Mike Conley, brought in Zach Randolph who has been a two-time All Star in Memphis, traded for Marc Gasol and signed Tony Allen as a free agent.

As the interim general manager, Wallace helped since Vince Carter as a free agent earlier this month and oversaw the June draft that brought in Jordan Adams and Jarnell Stokes.

"Robert Pera is strongly committed to the success of the Grizzlies, and I am excited to continue working in tandem with Robert, our front office and our coaching staff in helping realize his vision for the franchise," Wallace said.

Memphis is the seventh NBA franchise Wallace has worked with in his career. He spent 10 seasons as general manager of the Boston Celtics, was director of player personnel in the last of his four seasons with Miami and also has worked for the Knicks, Clippers, Nuggets and Trail Blazers.

The Grizzlies later announced that Ed Stefanski also is joining the team as executive vice president of player personnel. Wallace said on radio that Stefanski, a former general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers whose last job was with Toronto, will be based in Philadelphia where he has a home.

summary: Grizzlies sign GM Chris Wallace to multi-year deal

Demi Lovato Punched Dancer from "America's Best Dance Crew"

's decision to seek treatment came after she punched a dancer who appeared on "

" ... TMZ has learned.

was on the receiving end of Demi's blow. Welch is a backup dancer on the Jonas Brothers Live in Concert Tour. She was also a member of Beat Freaks, which got the runner-up title on season 3 of "America's Best Dance Crew."

We're told Welch -- who had a pretty nasty shiner from the incident -- has been talking to lawyers and is considering legal action.

Sources close to Demi say she feels "awful" about her behavior and took personal responsibility for it by leaving the tour and seeking help.

summary: Demi Lovato punched Alex Welch -- a member of the Beat Freaks from "America's Best Dance Crew"-- during the altercation that lead to Demi decided to seek…

Are These Cowboys Clowns or Princes?

Things should be looking up for the Cowboys. They’re 8-3 and have a chance to do serious damage to the Giants’ playoff hopes today. So why the sense of foreboding?

Judy Battista of The Times visited the Cowboys this week:

December evokes only shivers around here. Years of late-season failings have become as grating as a loop of Christmas music at the mall. The Cowboys are 15-26 in regular-season games in December and January this decade, putting them in a league with Cleveland, Detroit and Oakland. Coach Wade Phillips took his first question about December when training camp opened in July. The Cowboys have not had a winning record in December and January in 13 years.

Clarence E. Hill Jr. of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram said Tony Romo was in denial about his poor late-season play:

When it comes to Romo’s numbers in December, they are what Phillips calls meaningless baseball stats. Or what Romo terms “weird” and “misleading” statistics.

Romo is 30-7 in September, October and November since 2006, but just 5-8 in December.

The bigger question is why?

Romo refuses to acknowledge there is a problem, let alone get into the blame game.

There has to be at least one controversy before a Giants-Cowboys game. This one started when Eli Manning put his imprint on the Cowboys’ new stadium after the Giants’ victory in Week 2.

Jan Hubbard and Charean Willilams, The Star-Telegram:

If there was any doubt about the authenticity of the signature, Manning put an end to that Thursday when he confirmed that he did, in fact, sign a concrete column in the visitors’ locker room.

“It’s a pretty common thing,” Manning told reporters in New York. “I was asked to sign it; it wasn’t like I just went there and signed it. I didn’t have a pen on me or anything. It was all supplied.”

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said he was certain that no one from the Cowboys asked Manning to sign the locker room. Phillips said he likes and respects Manning, but also said, “Things come back around in this league.”

Extra Point: Are you selling high on the Cowboys? Was Manning out of line in signing the concrete column at the Cowboys’ stadium?

summary: Things are looking up for the Cowboys. They're  8-3 and have a chance to damage the Giants' playoff hopes today. So why the sense of foreboding?

Roger Ailes Responds Gretchen Carlson Sexual Harassment Lawsuit : People.com

07/06/2016 AT 06:55 PM EDT

Fox News Chairman and CEO

has issued a statement regarding former Fox News anchor

"Gretchen Carlson's allegations are false," Ailes says in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. "This is a retaliatory suit for the network's decision not to renew her contract, which was due to the fact that her disappointingly low ratings were dragging down the afternoon lineup. When Fox News did not commence any negotiations to renew her contract, Ms. Carlson became aware that her career with the network was likely over and conveniently began to pursue a lawsuit."

Adding, "Ironically, FOX News provided her with more on-air opportunities over her 11-year tenure than any other employer in the industry, for which she thanked me in her recent book. This defamatory lawsuit is not only offensive, it is wholly without merit and will be defended vigorously."

On Wednesday, Carlson sued Ailes alleging that her former employer "sabotaged her career because she refused sexual advances and complained about severe and pervasive sexual harassment."

Carlson claims the biggest form of Ailes' retaliation was her firing from Fox News on June 23, nine months after allegedly "ostracizing, marginalizing and shunning"

anchor before suggesting she engage in a sexual relationship with him.

According to the legal filing: "As a direct and proximate result of her refusing his sexual advances and in retaliation for Carlson's complaints about discrimination and harassment, Ailes terminated her employment, causing her significant, emotional and professional harm."

summary:

assistant: "This is a retaliatory suit," Ailes claims in a statement obtained by PEOPLE