Newsmakers
Performed A second autopsy performed at the request of former boxer Arturo Gatti’s family has not ruled out homicide in his death. Michael Baden, the former chief pathologist for the New York State Police and host of the HBO cable TV show “Autopsy,” said Saturday that an autopsy performed by Quebec coroners found that an investigation by Brazilian authorities was incomplete. The second autopsy came two days after Brazilian police classified Gatti’s death a suicide.
Visited Driver Michael Schumacher visited injured Formula One driver Felipe Massa at the Budapest, Hungary, hospital where the Brazilian is recovering from his high-speed crash. Schumacher, who is coming out of retirement to replace Massa at Ferrari, left the AEK hospital with former Ferrari boss Jean Todt. He did not talk to reporters, but later posted a message about the visit on his Web site. “I am surprised at his extreme positive condition, as the accident was only one week ago,” Schumacher said. “We sat together for around three hours and were chatting with each other.”
Expected Speedway Motorsports Inc. owner Bruton Smith expects Lowe’s to end its title sponsorship of SMI’s Charlotte, N.C.-area track at the end of the season. Smith said SMI will continue to have a business relationship with the home improvement chain, but he anticipates Lowe’s Motor Speedway will revert back to Charlotte Motor Speedway when the title sponsorship deal expires later this year.
Signed FIA president Max Mosley has signed a new Concorde Agreement, the document that governs Formula One racing, aiming to restore stability to the sport. The Concorde Agreement is a contract between the FIA, F1’s commercial rights holder and the participating teams, and sets out the basis on which the teams participate in the F1 championship and share in its commercial success. According to a statement, the new deal runs until Dec. 31, 2012.
Agreed The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed free agent Kevin Ollie. The 36-year-old Ollie has appeared in 637 games over 12 seasons spread over 11 different teams. Last season, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 4.0 points and 2.3 assists in 50 games, including 21 starts, with Minnesota.