NASCAR awards: black ties and a dim forecast

Jeff Gordon is one of NASCAR’s winningest, highest paid, and most marketable drivers to any demographic, and even he is feeling the pinch of an economic climate that’s hammering NASCAR.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re making millions or making thousands; it’s all perspective,” Gordon said during NASCAR’s black-tie banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York on Friday. “When it’s been escalating and it takes its dip, it gets your attention. It’s getting all of our attention.”

This week NASCAR’s biggest names congregated in New York City, for a celebration of NASCAR, the 2008 season and Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson.

NASCAR, its teams and its sponsors spend a lot of money on everything from drivers, to putting on races to celebrating accomplishments. But the week after America’s recession was made official, with companies struggling across every industry and throughout the nation, celebrations are muted everywhere.

The season-ending black-tie gala, though formal, glittering and celebratory, was tinged with the knowledge that the sport, its sponsors and many of its employees have fallen on hard economic times.

The normally extravagant champions week was scaled back a bit from previous years. Ford and Chevrolet both canceled their pre- and post-banquet parties.

HOCKEY

Avery gets 6 games

Sean Avery was suspended for six games by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after the league’s most notorious agitator made a crude comment regarding his ex-girlfriends dating other hockey players.

Avery already has served two games of the suspension and will serve an additional four, making him eligible to return Dec. 16 against Phoenix, if Dallas Stars management and his teammates accept him back.

Avery also agreed to be evaluated for anger management. If necessary, he will then receive “structured counseling in response to a pattern of unacceptable and anti-social behavior,” the NHL said.

NFL

Judge blocks suspensions

A federal judge in St. Paul, Minn., has blocked the NFL from suspending five players for violating the league’s anti-doping policy by using a banned diuretic, clearing the way for them to play Sunday.

U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson said he needed more time to consider the case after hearing several hours of arguments from the league and the NFL Players Association.

Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Minnesota Vikings and Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints were suspended this week for four games each. They tested positive for a banned diuretic in the dietary supplement StarCaps.

•Pierce meets with investigators: After making them wait almost a week, Antonio Pierce talked to investigators about the accidental shooting of New York Giants teammate Plaxico Burress.

Authorities provided no details of Pierce’s meeting with police detectives and prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorney’s office. His attorney, Michael Bachner, refused to comment when reached by the Associated Press.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

A raise for Gundy

Mike Gundy was rewarded by the regents who oversee Oklahoma State with a new seven-year contract that will pay him $15.7 million.

Gundy’s annual salary will go from about $1 million to an average of more than $2.2 million through 2015.

•Coaches stay put: Mississippi coach Houston Nutt, who turned around a moribund Ole Miss program in just a year, has come to terms on a contract extension that will keep him with the Rebels until 2012. Also, Boise State coach Chris Peterson has denied interest in the Mississippi State opening left by Sylvester Croom’s resignation. Mississippi State athletic director Greg Byrne and Peterson are longtime friends.

BASEBALL

Mariners outright RHPs

Right-handers R.A. Dickey and Sean White have been sent outright to the minors by the Seattle Mariners.

The team announced that the 34-year-old Dickey has until Friday to decide if he will accept going to Triple-A Tacoma. If the knuckleballer declines, he will become a free agent.

NBA

Celtics dump Blazers

Ray Allen scored 19 points and Rajon Rondo followed his first career triple-double with 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Boston Celtics to a 93-78 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at Boston.

MISCELLANY

Wie in good shape

Michelle Wie offset her mistakes with enough birdies, shooting a par 72 that left her two shots behind and still in good shape at the LPGA Tour qualifying tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla.

•Aggies edge Wildcats: Nathan Walkup scored a 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining to give Texas A&M a 67-66 victory over Arizona at College Station, Texas.

Walkup’s winning shot was A&M’s only lead of the game. The Aggies (6-1) trailed 40-29 at halftime and had been out-rebounded 20-5 by the Wildcats (5-2) at that point.

•Vonn wins: Lindsey Vonn skied into biting wind and persistent snow, winning a season-opening downhill at Lake Louise, Alberta. Vonn, the defending World Cup overall and downhill champion, was timed in 1 minute, 26:10 seconds and was followed by Italy’s Nadia Fanchini in 1:26.71 and Germany’s Maria Riesch in 1:26.79.

•Svindal victorious: Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway finished in 1 minute, 43.85 seconds to win a men’s downhill at Beaver Creek, Colo. Marco Buechel of Liechtenstein came in second, .06 seconds behind. Canada’s Erik Guay was third.