Fast Break

Basketball

Abdul-Jabbar coming to Hoopfest

Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be coming to Hoopfest June 26-27.

Abdul-Jabbar dominated the NBA with six MVP awards and holds the all-time scoring record.

He now heads a fund-raising program, Raise Your Hoop I.Q. ( www.hoopiq.com), for basketball-related organizations.

Abdul-Jabbar will give a presentation, hold a question-and-answer session and book signing June 26 at 7 p.m. in the Martin Woldson Theatre at the Fox.

Each ticket includes an autographed book “On the Shoulders of Giants,” an audio documentary CD and Skyhook T-shirt.

Tickets for the event are $50 each and will go on sale at TicketsWest or at the Fox Theater box office Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Running

Nishi to run in marathon in Spokane

Hajime Nishi, a prolific marathon runner from Japan, will run his 556th marathon in Spokane at the Windermere Marathon next Saturday.

Nishi decided in 1995 to raise environmental awareness by participating in 1,000 marathons around the globe.

He was certified in 1997 to be the first person to complete seven marathons on seven continents in seven months, the fastest time to complete this task. In 2000, he notched his 50th U.S. state, Delaware, and in the same year his 50th country, Turkey.

Horse racing

Jockey switches mounts

Rachel Alexandra looks ready to take on the boys, with a familiar face in the saddle.

Stonestreet Stables owner Jess Jackson said Friday he’s pointing the superstar 3-year-old filly to next weekend’s Preakness – and Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel will be along for the ride.

Borel guided Rachel Alexandra to a 20 1/4 - length victory in the Kentucky Oaks on May 1, then pulled a stunning upset aboard 50-1 long shot Mine That Bird in the Derby. Yet he didn’t hesitate when asked by Jackson to switch mounts for next Saturday’s race at Pimlico.

“She’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse,” Borel said.

Rachel Alexandra is undefeated in five starts since Borel took over as her jockey last fall.