Times staff and wires
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Soccer
FC TAmpa Bay's League Awaits sanctioning
TAMPA — The North American Soccer League, of which FC Tampa Bay is a part, expressed confidence Wednesday that it will receive U.S. Soccer Federation Division 2 sanctioning at this week's USSF general meeting in Las Vegas.
The NASL received provisional D-2 sanctioning in November, but three weeks ago that sanctioning was pulled because the league had not yet met some of financial requirements.
"We've delivered on the standards, so we have no reason to believe we won't be sanctioned and playing for the 2011 season," NASL CEO Aaron Davidson said.
NASL league brass has said it will not consider playing at the D-3 level.
More soccer: Real Madrid and Barcelona are the sport's biggest moneymakers for the second successive year. The review of soccer finance by the international auditing firm Deloitte showed that Madrid generated $539.1 million in the year ending June 30. Barcelona generated $489.3 million, and Manchester United, owned by the Bucs owners — the Glazer family — was third, same as last year.
autos
Mayfield: Sorry for accusing stepmom
Jeremy Mayfield has apologized for blaming his father's death on his estranged stepmother. The public apology was part of a settlement in a slander lawsuit Lisa Mayfield filed against the suspended NASCAR driver. Mayfield still has a wrongful death lawsuit pending against his stepmother. Terry Mayfield's death on Sept. 5, 2007, was ruled a suicide in two separate investigations. After Lisa Mayfield testified in a NASCAR affidavit that she had witnessed her stepson use methamphetamines, Jeremy Mayfield accused her in interviews of killing his father. Mayfield has been suspended by NASCAR since May 2009 for failing a drug test.
more AUTOS: Danica Patrick announced she will drive in 12 Nationwide series events, including the first four, and compete full time in the IndyCar Series.
TENNIS
Clijsters on verge of reclaiming No. 1
Kim Clijsters moved within one win of the No. 1 women's ranking, rallying past Kristina Barrois 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 in the second round of the Open Gaz de France. The Australian Open champion needs to win her quarterfinal match Friday to take the top spot from Caroline Wozniacki.
more Tennis: Andy Murray was upset 6-4, 6-1 by Marcos Baghdatis in the first round of the ABN-Amro in Rotterdam, Netherlands. … Rafael Nadal was cleared to train after tearing a leg muscle at the Australian Open.
ARENA FOOTBALL
Storm to host free preseason game
The Tampa Bay Storm will play two preseason games, with free admission to its March 3 home exhibition against the Orlando Predators. Fans interested in season tickets can participate in a select-a-seat program at the St. Pete Times Forum the night of the 7:30 Predators game. The Storm travels to Jacksonville on Feb. 28.
Et cetera
Baseball: Tony Malinosky, the former Dodgers infielder (1937) who was the oldest living major-leaguer, died at the age of 101 in Oxnard, Calif.
Skiing: American Lindsey Vonn, the overall World Cup champion still struggling to recover from a concussion, likely will skip Friday's super-combined at the world championships in Germany or possibly withdraw.
Eduardo A. Encina, Times staff writer; Times wires