Keselowski, Edwards put on probation
Auto racing: NASCAR docked star Carl Edwards 60 Nationwide Series driver points, fined him $25,000 and placed both Edwards and Brad Keselowski on probation through Dec. 31 following their last-lap antics at Gateway International Raceway.
Jack Roush, owner of Edwards’ No. 60 Ford, was also docked 60 owner points after the latest run-in between the feuding drivers ended with a chain-reaction accident that left Keselowski’s No. 22 Dodge in tatters and another nine cars suffering damage last weekend in Madison, Ill.
Edwards and Keselowski were battling for the lead on the final lap when Keselowski nudged Edwards out of the way coming out of Turn 2. Edwards returned the favor a few seconds later, sending Keselowski into the outside wall coming out of Turn 4. Keselowski slid toward the inside wall before being struck by several opponents, his car a shattered mess as it crossed the finish line in 14th while Edwards celebrated his second win of the season.
Though NASCAR has publicly encouraged drivers to police themselves by encouraging a “boys, have at it” philosophy, director of competition Robin Pemberton said Keselowski and Edwards took things a little too far even though Edwards maintained afterward he was not at fault. NASCAR disagreed.
“We felt like at that time they had stepped over the line of what we would consider to be good, aggressive, healthy hard racing,” Pemberton said.
The 60-point penalty basically wipes out the gain Edwards earned from the victory as he tries to close in on Keselowski’s commanding lead in the Nationwide championship race. Keselowski will take a 228-point lead into Saturday night’s race in Indianapolis.
Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith said the team will evaluate the penalties before deciding whether to file an appeal.
Reed expects to miss start of season
NFL: Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed says he expects to miss the start of the regular season while he recovers from offseason hip surgery.
Reed, 31, said he expects to be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which requires a player to miss the first six games of the season.
He said Tuesday his rehab is a slow process: “I’m going to get out there when I feel good. I can’t give you a date. I don’t know.”
Spurs give Jefferson new multiyear deal
NBA: Richard Jefferson was a way overpriced $14 million swingman in San Antonio last season.
His new deal will likely give the Spurs more for their money.
The Spurs re-signed Jefferson to a multiyear deal, nearly a month after the nine-year veteran opted out of a guaranteed $15.2 million next season. Terms of his new deal weren’t disclosed, but Jefferson had been willing to give up the final year of his bloated deal for longer-term security.
• Rockets feel ready to contend: The Houston Rockets think they are ready to contend in the Western Conference, even after striking out on the big names in this summer’s free-agent bonanza.
When their main target, Chris Bosh, opted to join LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Miami, the Rockets turned their focus to luring center Brad Miller and retaining forward Luis Scola and point guard Kyle Lowry.
Houston introduced Miller on Tuesday and officially announced the re-signings of Scola and Lowry on Wednesday, the last major moves expected heading into next season. Even without Bosh, general manager Daryl Morey thinks the roster is deep and talented enough to make a long playoff run.
Spieth wins first round in U.S. Junior
Golf: Defending champion Jordan Spieth of Dallas beat Chelso Barrett of Keene, N.H., 7 and 5 in the first round of the U.S. Junior national championship at the Classic Course at Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada, Mich.
The opening round didn’t go as smoothly for 17-year-old medalist Curtis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla.
Thompson, who finished the championship’s two qualifying rounds at 10-under-par, trailed Scottie Scheffler of Dallas by two holes with eight to play before he rallied for a 3 and 1 victory.
• Kang rallies for victory: Stroke-play medalist Danielle Kang trailed after 15 holes in the opening round of match play in the U.S. Girls Junior Championship before prevailing on the final hole against Colombia’s Alejandra Cangrejo.
Kang, from Thousand Oaks, Calif., tied the match on the 16th hole and then used a par on No. 18 to pull out a 1-up victory at The Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst.
Megan Khang, a 12-year-old from Rockland, Mass., advanced by winning her first-round match 2-up against Emily Wright of Mason, Ohio.
Rachel Alexandra should be favored
Horse racing: Rachel Alexandra should be an overwhelming favorite when the reigning Horse of the Year takes on six rivals in Saturday’s $400,000 Lady Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.
The 4-year-old filly drew the No. 5 post, and will have regular rider Calvin Borel aboard.
Also entered for the 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares are Stage Trick, Queen Martha, Ask the Moon, Hark, Fabulous Babe and Yes She’s a Lady.
• Mine That Bird preps: Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird is on target for his second start of the year in the Whitney Handicap on Aug. 7 at Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The 2009 Derby winner worked a mile in 1:40.14 under jockey Calvin Borel.
Mine That Bird is 0 for 6 since winning the Derby at odds of 50-1.
Judge: Cheerleading not a college sport
Miscellany: Competitive cheerleading is not an official sport that colleges can use to meet gender-equity requirements, a federal judge ruled in ordering a Connecticut school to keep its women’s volleyball team.
Several volleyball players and their coach had sued Quinnipiac University after it announced in March 2009 that it would eliminate the team for budgetary reasons and replace it with a competitive cheer squad.
The school contended the cheer squad and other moves kept it in compliance with Title IX. But U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill disagreed.
• Brooklyn arena will host boxing: Golden Boy Promotions has signed a strategic agreement to bring at least 12 boxing shows per year to the New Jersey Nets’ future home in Brooklyn, N.Y.