Times wires
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Autos
Busch says childress incident closed
ROSSBURG, Ohio — Kyle Busch said the $150,000 fine NASCAR levied against Richard Childress is the end of the matter for him.
Childress, 65, was fined Monday for assaulting Busch after Saturday's NASCAR trucks race at Kansas Speedway, the latest incident between the driver and Childress' teams. Busch was in Ohio on Wednesday for Tony Stewart's charity race.
"NASCAR decided to make the decisions that they felt were necessary," Busch, 26, said. "It's pretty much the end of it. It's not my fight."
Childress, who also was put on probation, was upset Busch bumped into RCR driver Joey Coulter on the cool-down lap after the race. Childress approached Busch, put him in a headlock and punched him several times. Childress said he accepted the penalty but didn't apologize for his actions.
F1: The running of the Bahrain Grand Prix is in doubt less than a week after it was reinstated. Antigovernment protests in Bahrain led to the event being scrapped as the season opener in March. F1 officials decided it could be staged on Oct. 30 after authorities lifted a state of emergency. But with unrest continuing, teams protested. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone said there is no timetable for a final decision.
NFL
Sides meet again; more reportedly set
Owners and players met for a second straight day in New York with Judge Arthur Boylan joining commissioner Roger Goodell as well as union leader DeMaurice Smith. Also on hand were five owners and five players. The talks are supposed to be confidential, but the Associated Press reported an unidentified source saying the sides will meet again "soon and often." Both sides are awaiting a ruling about the legality of the lockout from the federal appeals court in St. Louis. Meanwhile, Judge Susan Nelson, whose decision to lift the lockout is being appealed, moved up a hearing to dismiss the players' antitrust suit from Sept. 12 to Aug. 29, nine days before the season is scheduled to begin.
Boxing
Mayweather eyeing Pacquiao, Roach says
Floyd Mayweather could be preparing for a long-awaited bout with Manny Pacquiao by facing Victor Ortiz on Sept. 17, said Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach. Roach said Ortiz and Pacquiao are both fast, high-volume punchers. They are also southpaws. Mayweather has rarely fought them in his undefeated career, and the few he has fought, including Zab Judah, have caused problems. "He'll give us a good blueprint to fight him," Roach said of Ortiz. "Judah gave him trouble but couldn't maintain the pace. Guys like Victor Ortiz, Manny Pacquiao, they can maintain that pace." Pacquiao is scheduled to face Juan Manuel Marquez in November. Mayweather was not available for comment.
Tennis
Li a big draw in China
Li Na's victory in Sunday's French Open final was watched by 116 million viewers in China, the WTA said. The victory represented the first Grand Slam singles title for a player from China. The WTA said the audience was the biggest for a tennis match in China. Citing figures from state broadcaster, it said the previous high was when 60 million viewers saw Li lose to Kim Clijsters in January's Australian Open final.
Queen's Club: Three days after winning the French, Rafael Nadal began preparations for Wimbledon with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Matthew Ebden in London. Nadal, who had a first-round bye, faces Radek Stepanek. Also, Andy Murray beat Xavier Malisse 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 and faces Janko Tipsarevic.
Et cetera
Soccer: MLS suspended Columbus defender Josh Williams for 10 games and fined him 10 percent of his salary for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The league said he purchased an over-the-counter nutritional supplement containing the banned substance methandienone metabolite. Williams, 23, is in his second season but has not seen action.
Track: The Court of Arbitration for Sport said it will hear American LaShawn Merritt's appeal to compete in the 2012 Olympics on Aug. 17. The IOC bars athletes who receive doping bans of more than six months from competing at the next Olympics. Merritt, who won the 400 meters at the 2008 Olympics, was suspended for 21 months in October 2010.
Times wires