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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Warriors re-sign Biedrins to six-year deal

The Golden State Warriors re-signed center Andris Biedrins to a six-year contract worth more than $62 million Monday, retaining another restricted free agent and possibly capping a tumultuous month for the club.

Biedrins averaged career-highs with 10.5 points and 9.8 rebounds with the Warriors last season, his fourth with the club that drafted him with the 11th overall pick in 2004. He also led the NBA in field-goal percentage, making 62.6 percent of his shots.

•The Clippers continued their offseason makeover by signing veteran swingman Ricky Davis to a multiyear contract. Terms were not announced.

•The Denver Nuggets have acquired forward Renaldo Balkman from the New York Knicks in exchange for guard Taurean Green, forward Bobby Jones and a second-round draft pick in 2010.

Auto racing

USAC fines Stewart

Tony Stewart was fined $10,000 for what the U.S. Auto Club deemed unsportsmanlike conduct during a midget race last week at O’Reilly Raceway Park.

Tony Stewart Racing also was placed on probation for the remainder of the USAC season.

Stewart reportedly knocked a radio headset off the head of one USAC official and shoved another following a ruling Thursday involving Stewart’s car, driven by Tracy Hines.

Hines scraped the wall and pitted for a tire change, but his car was not deemed ready to re-enter the race in time to rejoin the field for the restart.

•The Indy Racing League won’t return to Nashville Superspeedway after efforts to negotiate an agreement for a 2009 race failed.

“Regrettably, the IRL has chosen to structure their sanction fees at such a level that we had no choice but to re-evaluate whether they fit into our plan,” Cliff Hawks, the track’s vice president and general manager, said. “Regardless, we believe the IRL had no further interest in the middle Tennessee market.”

Golf

Norman not interested

Greg Norman turned down an invitation to play in the PGA Championship, deciding to stick to a previous commitment instead of competing for the fourth straight week.

The PGA of America offered Norman an exemption after he had the 54-hole lead in the British Open and finished third. Norman tied for fifth last week at the Senior British Open, and will play this week in the U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado.

“While I truly appreciate the PGA extending me an exemption for this year’s PGA Championship, I have elected to decline in favor of adhering to the professional and personal commitments I made prior to The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale,” Norman said on his Web site.

The PGA Championship will be played Aug. 7-10 at Oakland Hills in Bloomfield Township, Mich.

•Golfer Chris Wood turned professional just over a week after finishing as the highest placed amateur at the British Open.

The 20-year-old Wood tied for fifth with Jim Furyk at Royal Birkdale, seven shots behind winner Padraig Harrington.

Miscellany

Last chance for Iraq

Senior Iraqi government officials will meet with the International Olympic Committee today to try to salvage the country’s participation in the Beijing Games.

A delegation led by government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh will discuss reinstating the National Olympic Committee, which was dissolved by the Baghdad government in May, and led to the IOC suspending Iraq from the Olympics for political interference.

Iraq also has verbally committed to a compromise by holding free elections to its national committee under IOC observation.

•Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Florida Panthers.

From wire reports