National sports

Ward, oldest living Indy 500 winner, dies in Anaheim

Two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Rodger Ward died Monday at a hospice in Anaheim, Calif., Indianapolis Motor Speedway said.

At 83, Ward was the oldest living winner of the race. He won in 1959 and 1962, during a six-year span in which he finished no worse than fourth.

Ward was second to A.J. Foyt in 1964, failed to qualify in 1965 and drove for the 15th and final time in 1966, finishing 15th. The next night, at the Victory Banquet, Ward announced his retirement at 45.

“I felt like it was time,” he later recalled. “Some drivers go past their time.”

Ward was born Jan. 10, 1921, in Beloit, Kan., and moved with his family to Los Angeles as a child. When he was 14, he built a Ford hot rod with parts from his father’s junkyard business and began drag racing.

Ward, a fighter and bomber pilot in World War II, returned to Southern California after the war and began racing midgets. He passed his rookie test at Indianapolis in 1951 and finished 27th.

He considered quitting racing four years later, however, when his front axle snapped, triggering a crash that killed his close friend and two-time defending Indy 500 champion Bill Vukovich.

“I don’t know that I could really explain to you how badly I felt,” Ward said. “To me, it was an absolute disaster.”

Vukovich’s family convinced him to continue racing.

“C.J. Hart, who helped create the country’s first commercial drag strip, died at 93.

Hart, known as “Pappy,” died at the Placentia, Calif., home of his son Gerald on June 25. He had a stroke in May.

Hart and two partners helped to popularize the sport by running the first commercial drag race June 19, 1950, on a runway at the Orange County Airport, according to the National Hot Rod Association.

Hockey

Panthers sign free agent Cairns

Free agent defenseman Eric Cairns signed with the Florida Panthers.

Cairns, 30, had two goals and six assists in 72 games with the New York Islanders last season, and his 189 penalty minutes were the most among NHL defensemen.

The terms of the deal were not released.

“Forward Boyd Devereaux signed a one-year-contract with the Phoenix Coyotes after playing the past four seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

The agreement between the Coyotes and the free agent contains a club option, the team said.

Devereaux had six goals and nine assists in 61 games last season while playing center and wing.

Soccer

Stange quits as Iraq coach

Fearing for his safety, Bernd Stange said he has resigned as coach of Iraq’s national soccer team.

Stange had a contract with the Iraqi Soccer Federation that ran until 2006. The German said he was warned his life would be in danger if he returned to Iraq.

Stange has been in Jordan since April 8, when the German Foreign Ministry advised him to leave Iraq.

Basketball

Hawks say Woodson’s their man

The Atlanta Hawks have reached an agreement with Detroit assistant Mike Woodson to become their new coach, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported.

Woodson agreed to a four-year deal to replace Terry Stotts, who was fired May 6.

“We think it’s a good situation for us and a good situation for him,” Hawks general manager Billy Knight said. He did not give details of the contract.

Hawks spokesman Arthur Triche said no contract had been signed, and there would be no announcement until it was.

The 47-year-old will become the 10th coach of the Hawks since the franchise moved to Atlanta in 1968.

Miscellany

Wimbledon ratings increase

Roger Federer’s 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory over American Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon men’s singles final drew a 3.6 overnight rating Sunday on NBC.

That’s 33 percent higher than the 2.7 last year, when Federer beat Mark Philippoussis. It’s also the best overnight rating for a Wimbledon men’s final since 2000 — the last time an American was in the match.

That year, Pete Sampras won the last of his seven Wimbledon singles titles, and the rating was 5.0.

“Marianne Stanley was hired by the New York Liberty as an assistant coach .

Stanley, who coached the Washington Mystics in 2002 and 2003, will work with interim head coach Pat Coyle, who replaced the fired Richie Adubato on Saturday.

“Wonder Again enjoyed a perfect trip on her way to a convincing 3 1/4 -length victory in the $250,000 New York Handicap at Belmont Park in New York. Stay Forever was second, a nose in front of Spice Island in the field of seven fillies and mares 3-years and older.