Fast Break
SPORTS ISSUES
WNBA No. 1 in diversity study
The WNBA has received the first A-plus given in Richard Lapchick’s annual diversity report card on race and gender.
The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport study, which grades professional leagues on the number of participating women and minorities, shows women own three WNBA teams, up two from 2007 and one the previous year.
The number of minority head coaches and players increased, but there was a slight decrease in women and minority assistant coaches.
Carla Christofferson and Katherine Goodman own the Los Angeles Sparks, Colleen J. Maloof and Adrienne Maloof-Nassif own the Sacramento Monarchs, and the Seattle Storm’s owners are Anne Levinson, Ginny Gilder, Dawn Trudeau and Lisa Brummel.
HORSE RACING
Synthetic track safety not clear
A group of horse racing industry experts cautioned Tuesdayagainst rushing to replace dirt and grass tracks, saying there’s not enough evidence yet to decide if synthetic surfaces reduce injuries.
Dr. Rick Arthur is a veterinarian in California, where synthetic surfaces composed of sand, fiber and petroleum-based material were mandated in 2007. He said fatal injuries have been reduced significantly – more than 50 percent at some race meetings. But he was reluctant to give full credit to the surface.
“It’s easy to blame the racetrack but studies (of injuries not limited to the catastrophic) have produced conflicting data,” Arthur said. “It is naive to think that the surface is the only factor. There are a number of other management issues, including the way horses are trained.”
TENNIS
Federer, Borg will team up
Roger Federer and Bjorn Borg will team up for a special doubles event in November, possibly against the men who ended their famous Wimbledon streaks.
Federer and Borg will face John McEnroe and either Rafael Nadal or James Blake at The Venetian Macau Tennis Showdown on Nov. 20 in a Tour of Champions event.
Federer and Borg each won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles. Nadal ended Federer’s run in an epic five-set match this month and McEnroe snapped Borg’s streak in 1981.
FOOTBALL
Favre asks for reinstatement
Brett Favre has faxed his reinstatement paperwork to the NFL and is awaiting approval from commissioner Roger Goodell, league spokesman Randall Liu confirmed.
Once Favre is granted reinstatement, a step considered a formality, the Green Bay Packers will have 24 hours to release the star quarterback or return him to their active roster.