Fast Break

Auto racing

Curses! Stewart fined by NASCAR

Tony Stewart was fined $25,000 and docked 25 points by NASCAR on Tuesday for cursing during his television interview after his win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Stewart, who had just scored his second victory in three years at his hometown race track, was soaking up the adoration from the throng of orange-clad fans when he dedicated the win to them.

“This one’s for every one of those fans in the stands who pull for me every week and take all the (expletive) from everybody else,” he said.

The curse came on ESPN’s first Nextel Cup broadcast since 2000.

The penalty doesn’t hurt Stewart in the standings. He is fifth in the points, and the deduction didn’t drop him.

The curse spoiled ESPN’s return to NASCAR. Stewart is feuding with the network, which criticized him two weeks ago for saying he was going to drink a case of beer to celebrate his July 15 win in Chicago.

Soccer

For MLS, it’s adieu to Adu

Freddy Adu, 18, the American phenom who is one of the highest-profile stars of Major League Soccer, has agreed to play for Benfica and trained with the Portuguese club Tuesday.

MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis told the Associated Press that Adu’s agent Richard Motzkin had confirmed the deal.

The midfielder arrived in the Portuguese capital Monday to negotiate terms. There were no immediate plans to introduce the player to the media.

Football

Special online Cougs ticket sale

Single-game tickets for Washington State football home games go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at wsucougars.com. This online presale will continue through the weekend.

Phone sales (1-800-GO-COUGS) and walkup sales at the WSU Athletic Ticket Office will begin Monday at 10 a.m.