Gordon fined for antics at race in Montreal

Robby Gordon avoided a lengthy suspension Tuesday when NASCAR fined him $35,000 and placed him on probation through the end of the year for his misconduct during the Busch Series race in Montreal.

Gordon wrecked Marcos Ambrose in the closing laps of Saturday’s race to deny him his first NASCAR victory.

Gordon protested a NASCAR ruling after he was ordered to surrender his second-place position and move back to 13th. He refused and was immediately disqualified.

He then spun Ambrose, who was leading, and NASCAR ruled it was intentional. Gordon was ordered off the track immediately.

•Fresh off a second-place finish in his stock car debut, Patrick Carpentier got another job in NASCAR: He’ll race the Nextel Cup event at Watkins Glen.

Carpentier will replace Scott Riggs in the No. 10 Dodge this weekend.

College basketball

Baynes scores 18

Washington State University center Aron Baynes had 18 points and 12 rebounds during Australia’s 81-79 loss to Korea in an opening game of the World University Games at Bangkok, Thailand.

Also, Gonzaga’s Theo Davis totaled 10 points and 12 rebounds during Canada’s 96-43 win over Thailand.

•Billy Taylor, who led Lehigh to the NCAA tournament in 2004, was hired by Ball State to replace Ronny Thompson, who resigned last month amid accusations that he broke NCAA rules and his claims that he faced a hostile racial environment.

•Wake Forest called a news conference for today and is expected to introduce the successor to Skip Prosser, the congenial men’s coach who died July 26 of an apparent heart attack at the age of 56.

•Former Montana State guard Branden Miller, who is charged in the shooting death of Jason Wright, is now also charged with assault for a bar fight that happened about a week before Wright’s death in Bozeman.

Hockey

Oilers not for sale

The Edmonton Oilers are not for sale. That was the message from Cal Nichols, chairman of the 33-member group that owns and operates the NHL franchise.

•A group led by former Florida Panthers coach Doug MacLean has agreed to buy the Tampa Bay Lightning and says it has no plans to move the franchise.

Miscellany

Punter defense rests

The defense rested in Greeley, Colo., after calling only three witnesses in the trial of a former Northern Colorado backup punter accused of trying to kill the starter.

Mitch Cozad, who did not testify, is charged with attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault in the attack on Rafael Mendoza last Sept. 11. Police and prosecutors have said it was a bid to get the starter’s job.

Court recessed before the jury had a chance to deliberate.

•WBA super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine has an eye infection that might end his career and leave his sight impaired.

•Former WBA flyweight champion Eric Morel will be released from prison in Madison, Wis., after serving two years for sexual assault, state prison officials said.

•Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner won the 400 meters with the year’s fastest time, finishing in 43.50 seconds at the DN Galan meet in Stockholm, Sweden.

•New York Knicks center Randolph Morris was arrested and charged with reckless driving in Lexington, Ky., and later released on bail.

•Los Angeles Clippers forward Elton Brand underwent successful surgery in Wilmington, Del., to repair his ruptured left Achilles tendon.