In the tunnel-vision world of NASCAR, race drivers that don’t come up with a typical stock car background are often viewed as “Carpet Baggers” and less than worthy of being taken seriously as a driver that started his racing career at Talladega Sport Track.
The owner of Lowe’s Motor Speedway threatened to shut down the track and open another one somewhere else after the city council derailed his plans to build a drag-racing strip at the site. City officials angered Bruton Smith when they voted this week to change zoning to ban drag strips, addressing concerns of nearby residents worried the noise would disturb their neighborhoods and decrease…
Yi Jianlian had 10 points and five rebounds, and threw in a halfcourt shot Saturday during the Milwaukee Bucks’ open scrimmage at the Bradley Center. Three days after arriving from Shanghai, the Bucks’ first-round pick from China also blocked a shot in 25 minutes before 7,109 fans. Yi was the main focus of the scrimmage for the fans, who cheered him loudly when he was introduced before the practice…
Al Jefferson had 11 points and 17 rebounds, fellow newcomer Ryan Gomes scored 12 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat Efes Pilsen 84-81 Saturday in the first game of the NBA Europe Live tour. Gomes had 10 points and nine rebounds in the first half. Ricky Davis scored 12 points. Drew Nicholas scored 24 points, and Andre Hutson had 15 points and 19 rebounds for the Turkish team.
Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis was released from the hospital after injuring his neck in practice and was expected to sit out Saturday’s workout. He left Castle Hospital in Kailua on Friday night on his own accord with what the team said was a neck sprain. Ellis underwent a battery of tests, including an MRI exam and CT scan, and all were normal.
Padres outfielder Milton Bradley was fined $750 but not suspended for his confrontation last month with umpire Mike Winters. Winters previously was suspended for inciting Bradley. Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president in charge of discipline, said Friday that Bradley was not suspended “because no contact was made” during the eighth-inning screaming match at San Diego on Sept.
When the Pittsburgh Pirates last fired a manager this quickly, he couldn’t get his team into the World Series. Jim Tracy was let go because he didn’t produce anything resembling a winning season. Tracy was ousted Friday after two years filled with long losing streaks and little discernible progress by a team that has had 15 consecutive losing seasons, one short of the major league record.
Mets pitcher Tom Glavine declined his $13 million option with New York on Friday, making himself eligible for free agency. The 41-year-old lefty, who got his 300th win this year, gets a $3 million buyout in addition to his $7.5 million salary this year. “Tom has not had enough time to sufficiently think things through with his family and did not want to make a decision until he the opportunity with…
New York Rangers left wing Sean Avery left Saturday night’s game against Ottawa with a shoulder injury resulting from a hit by Senators right wing Chris Neil. Avery went directly to the dressing room and did not return. Neil was penalized for elbowing on the play 7:23 in. The two rugged players were given roughing minors for a skirmish 56 seconds into the game.
Hard Spun turned the tables on Street Sense, going right to the lead and then holding off the Kentucky Derby winner in a determined drive to win the $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic on Saturday at Turfway Park. Hard Spun broke from the inside post and was taken to the lead immediately by jockey Mario Pino, with Street Sense outside him just a half length back.
