Auto Racing
Air Titan is the Sprint Cup’s biggest change for 2014
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – There were no surprises Tuesday when NASCAR revealed the 2014 Sprint Cup Series schedule because a date swap between Darlington and Kansas already had been announced by the respective tracks.
NASCAR did confirm that its track drying system Air Titan will be at all Sprint Cup events next season.
If any major changes are coming, it won’t happen until 2015. That’s when NBC will take over the final 20 races of the Cup schedule, and NASCAR could have some flexibility with race dates.
Golf
Woods still draws the stars during wraparound season
Even with a PGA Tour season starting in October and big golf played around the world, Tiger Woods still has a cast of stars for his holiday tournament in California.
Woods said Tuesday he pleasantly was surprised to attract a strong lineup of players for his World Challenge on Dec. 5-8 at Sherwood Country Club.
The field includes defending champion Graeme McDowell and three other Europeans who will be competing in the Race to Dubai. Ernie Els is playing for the first time. Jason Day will be coming over the Pacific from two big events in Australia.
NFL
Peterson’s prosecution leans toward more serious charges
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Prosecutors expect to ask a grand jury to consider more serious charges in the death of the 2-year-old son of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
Tom Wollman, Lincoln County state’s attorney, said Tuesday he’ll review the recently completed autopsy findings and other reports before looking at any new charges against Joseph Robert Patterson, 27.
Sioux Falls police identified the boy Tuesday as Tyrese Robert Ruffin, who died Friday after being hospitalized with severe head injuries. Earlier Tuesday, they’d given an incorrect surname.
Patterson, the boyfriend of Tyrese’s mother, was charged last week with aggravated assault and aggravated battery and is being held on $750,000 cash bond. A message left for Patterson’s attorney Tuesday was not returned, and Patterson’s mother said she didn’t want to comment.
The criminal complaint accuses Patterson of intentionally and recklessly injuring Tyrese by causing bleeding of the skull or brain damage by blows, shaking or making the boy’s head impact an object or surface.
Prosecutors also are asking that a suspended sentence be imposed for a 2012 domestic assault conviction, saying the deal required Patterson to show no violent, threatening or assaultive behavior for three years. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for Oct. 30.
Soccer
U.S. wins in stoppage time to stun Panama, help Mexico
PANAMA CITY – Graham Zusi and Aron Johannsson scored in second-half stoppage time, and the United States rallied for a 3-2 win Tuesday night that left Mexico’s World Cup hopes alive and knocked out the Panamanians.
The U.S., which clinched a World Cup berth last month, didn’t use most of its starters.
Gabriel Torres put Panama ahead in the 18th minute in a downpour in Panama City.
Michael Orozco tied it in the 64th minute, just as Costa Rica took a 2-1 lead at home in its match against Mexico.
Luis Tejada scored in the 83rd, putting Panama within minutes of a fourth-place finish and a berth in next month’s playoff against Oceania champion New Zealand. Mexico, which last missed the World Cup in 1990, would have been eliminated.
But Zusi, the hero Friday against Jamaica, scored 1:24 into three minutes of stoppage time, and Johannsson added his first international goal at the 2:40 mark, giving the U.S. a record-tying 22 points in the hexagonal, the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region.
Associated Press
