Fast Break
Auto racing
Busch, Stewart put on probation
It began with crunched fenders, harsh words and maybe even a punch in the face. But the final result was just a slap on the wrist from NASCAR: a six-race probation for Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch.
Heading into Sunday’s Daytona 500, it’s beginning to look like NASCAR officials were serious when they said they will cut drivers some slack on their bad behavior this year.
The punishment follows a confrontation between the two former series champions, who wrecked in practice last week and then carried it into the NASCAR officials’ trailer.
NASCAR said the probation stems solely from the on-track portion of their clash, when the drivers deliberately used their cars as battering rams.
Officials made it known that the term “probation” will mean more this year than it has in the past.
Probation has been a murky issue for NASCAR, as officials haven’t necessarily punished a driver more harshly if he misbehaves while on probation. NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said that’s going to change.
“We’re starting the season by putting them on probation and we’re also going to redefine what probation means,” Hunter said. “And they clearly understand it.”
NFL
Combine calls local players
Washington State quarterback Alex Brink, WSU defensive back Husain Abdullah and Idaho linebacker David Vobora have been invited to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine next week in Indianapolis.
Top executives, coaching staffs, player personnel departments and medical personnel from all 32 NFL teams will be on hand to evaluate the nation’s top college football players eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft.
More than 300 players were invited to the combine, which runs from Feb. 20-26.
The NFL draft will be held April 26-27.
College basketball
Pass off face draws attention
Washington coach Lorenzo Romar is surprised by all the attention being given to Tim Morris’ pass off Alfred Aboya’s face in the closing seconds of Washington’s upset of UCLA.
Romar said Tuesday that it is unfortunate the play is getting as much negative press as it is and has overshadowed the Huskies win over the Bruins.
With UCLA down 66-61 with 47 seconds left, Morris was about to get called for a 5-second violation on an inbound play. Instead, he threw the ball off Aboya, who was guarding him closely across the boundary line, and it banged into an incensed UCLA bench.
Many have chimed in with opinions since the play on Sunday, including former UCLA coach John Wooden, who told the Los Angeles Times he would have taken Morris out of the game.