In brief: Robby Gordon has penalty rescinded
Robby Gordon received a reprieve from a NASCAR appeals committee Wednesday when the three-member panel restored the 100 points he had been docked for an infraction at Daytona.
The National Stock Car Racing Commission also lifted crew chief Frank Kerr’s six-week suspension, but raised his monetary fine from $100,000 to $150,000. The fine is the largest in NASCAR history, topping the $100,000 set by Michael Waltrip last season and matched several times.
“We are grateful the commissioners rescinded the points penalty and suspension but disappointed by the fine,” Gordon said.
Gordon was caught with an unapproved front bumper on his Dodge during the first inspection for the season-opening Daytona 500. Dodge inadvertently sent Gordon a prototype bumper it is hoping to get approved for competition.
“Gold Coast Indy officials and the IRL agreed to a six-year contract for the Gold Coast Indy 300 at Surfers Paradise in Brisbane, Australia.
Figure skating
Witt retires
Two-time Olympic champion Katarina Witt, 42, ended her show career on ice. Witt drew thunderous applause in Hannover, Germany, on the last night of her farewell tour.
The former East German drew worldwide fame by beating American rival Debi Thomas at the end of the Cold War in a politically charged duel for the 1988 Olympic gold.
College basketball
Detroit coach resigns
Perry Watson resigned as basketball coach at Detroit after 15 seasons, although he’d been on an indefinite leave of absence since Jan. 7 for an undisclosed medical condition.
Watson, 57, posted a 258-185 record and three Horizon League championships with the Titans.
“John Wooden, 97, was up and about and his medication was changed to alleviate an irregular heartbeat, six days after the former UCLA basketball coach was hospitalized after breaking his left wrist and collarbone in a fall.
College baseball
Robinson selected
Jackie Robinson was one of 12 former players and coaches elected for the third induction class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
UCLA’s only four-sport athlete played baseball for the Bruins in 1940. He later broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier when he debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947.
Robinson, who died in 1972, joined Owen Carroll, a pitcher at Holy Cross and coach at Seton Hall, and Billy Disch, who coached Texas to 22 Southwest Conference titles from 1911-39, as three Vintage-Era (pre-1947) inductees.
Also elected were former major leaguers Steve Arlin (Ohio State), Eddie Bane (Arizona State), Floyd Bannister (Arizona State), Neal Heaton (Miami), Burt Hooten (Texas), the late Dick Howser (Florida State), Ben McDonald (LSU) and Greg Swindell (Texas). Former Oklahoma State and New Mexico State coach Gary Ward also was elected. The inductees will be honored during a July 2-4 celebration in Lubbock, Texas.