National sports
Stewart sidesteps most severe penalty in NASCAR ruling
Tony Stewart avoided suspension Wednesday when NASCAR fined him $50,000 and docked him championship points for his altercation with Brian Vickers. Stewart lost 25 points in the driver standings, car owner Joe Gibbs lost 25 points in the owner standings, and Stewart was placed on probation until Aug. 18. “This action we’ve taken speaks for itself,” NASCAR president Mike Helton said from Charlotte, N.C. “Tony Stewart is well aware of what is expected of him going forward.” Stewart could have been suspended for Saturday night’s race at Daytona International Speedway for his latest infraction. But NASCAR declined to park him for a race, which saves the 2002 series champion’s bid for the Nextel Cup championship. Stewart said he met with NASCAR chairman Brian France to discuss the matter. “I understand and accept NASCAR’s penalty,” he said. “With NASCAR’s continued growth and their rise in mainstream popularity, I realize their rules have become stricter than they were in the past.
Tennis
Williamses won’t join Fed Cup
Serena and Venus Williams will skip the U.S. Fed Cup team’s women’s tennis quarterfinal against Austria next month, with Martina Navratilova, Chanda Rubin, Lisa Raymond and Jill Craybas on the team announced from White Plains, N.Y.
Venus Williams lost in the second round at Wimbledon last week, while Serena reached the semifinals by beating Jennifer Capriati 6-1, 6-1.
“Former pro Lori McNeil was hired as an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic women’s tennis team.
Golf
Big tour stop settles in Atlanta
East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta has been known as the home of Bobby Jones for most of its 100-year history. Now the greatest amateur will have to share top billing with golf’s top professionals.
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem announced that East Lake will be the permanent home of the Tour Championship, the season-ending event for the top 30 players on the money list.
The Tour Championship, which began in 1987, is one of the most lucrative tournaments on tour and often decides top honors such as player of the year, leading money winner and Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average.
Soccer
Ching named to U.S. team
Former Gonzaga University player Brian Ching (San Jose) was among 18 players selected for the U.S. roster for a July 11 men’s soccer exhibition game against Poland at Chicago’s Soldier Field.
Four European-based players were selected for the game, the last for the U.S. team before the start of the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying.
The United States won 1-0 in an exhibition game at Poland on March 31. The Americans open the semifinals of World Cup qualifying at Jamaica on Aug. 18 — four days after the start of the Premier League season in England.
Hockey
Judge turns down Danton
A federal judge in East St. Louis, Ill., denied a request by Mike Danton of the St. Louis Blues to move his murder conspiracy trial away from the area.
U.S. District Judge William D. Stiehl ruled Tuesday that extensive media coverage of the case hasn’t been harmful enough to merit a change of venue.
Danton has been jailed since his arrest April 16 in San Jose, Calif., a day after the San Jose Sharks eliminated the Blues from the National Hockey League playoffs. He is accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill his agent, David Frost.
“Eric Lindros joined the free-agent market when the New York Rangers declined to pick up the $10.25 million option in the oft-injured center’s contract.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed goalie Ed Belfour, forwards Joe Nieuwendyk, Gary Roberts and defenseman Aki Berg. Belfour, the NHL’s active leader in wins (435), led the Maple Leafs to their best regular season in franchise history, going 34-19-6.
“Forward Tyson Nash, a six-year veteran, signed a three-year contract to stay with the Phoenix Coyotes.
“The New Jersey Devils made one-year qualifying offers to center Jan Hrdina and forwards Viktor Kozlov and Jeff Friesen, one of the heroes of the team’s 2003 Stanley Cup win.
Sports people
The Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League acquired right wing Derek Couture from the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for left wing Aaron Bader. … Dutch Belnap has been named interim athletic director at Weber State as the Ogden, Utah, school searches for a permanent replacement. Former athletic director John Johnson left earlier this month for a job at Washington State.