Auto Racing
NASCAR to automate rules and codify its penalties
COLUMBIA, S.C. – NASCAR plans to automate its rule book and revamp its appeals process in a wide-ranging effort to bring more clarity to race teams and fans.
The governing body outlined several initiatives Monday it expects to implement in its three major series before the start of the 2015 racing season. The effort started eight months ago and will be an ongoing process to keep up with technology and fan interests.
That includes converting its rule book from a word document to computer automated-design drawings that can be easily accessed by race shops to see what’s allowed and what isn’t. Penalties will be specifically spelled out for each type of infraction. When a rule is broken and a team appeals, NASCAR wants more experts on the panel instead of some who might not have as strong a background regarding the infraction.
College Basketball
Coach says Hairston to face ‘serious consequences’
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina coach Roy Williams said Monday that leading scorer P.J. Hairston will face “serious consequences” after being arrested last month on a drug charge during a traffic stop.
In a statement, the Hall of Fame coach said he hasn’t yet determined a punishment for Hairston, who also has been cited twice by police while driving a rental vehicle linked to a convicted felon.
Hairston faces an August court hearing. The team is in the offseason so Williams said he will wait “until the process is complete” to decide on the punishment.
Hairston, a 6-5½ swingman, averaged about 15 points per game and decided in April to return for his junior season instead of entering the NBA draft. He was arrested June 5 and charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession during a license checkpoint in Durham.
College Football
Johnny Football pleads guilty to misdemeanor charge
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor stemming from a 2012 bar fight near campus, closing a case that had dogged his Heisman Trophy-winning season.
Manziel admitted he failed to identify himself to police after the altercation. As part of a plea deal, other charges against the 20-year-old, including disorderly conduct, were dismissed.
Hockey
Kovalchuk trades 15 years for 4 in St. Petersburg
MOSCOW – Russian team SKA St. Petersburg signed forward Ilya Kovalchuk to a four-year contract.
Last week, Kovalchuk walked away from $77 million left on his 15-year contract with the New Jersey Devils. SKA did not disclose the terms of the deal with Kovalchuk in its statement Monday.
Kovalchuk scored 417 goals and added 399 assists in 816 NHL games. His best seasons were in 2005-06 and 2007-08 when he scored a career-high 52 goals. He has three 40-goal seasons.
Kovalchuk has represented Russia at three Winter Olympics, nine world championships, one world junior championship and the 2004 World Cup.
Sports
Real Madrid is most valuable, according to Forbes
NEW YORK – Real Madrid tops Forbes’ list of 50 most valuable sports teams, with Manchester United and Barcelona holding the next two spots.
Forbes said Real Madrid is worth $3.3 billion. The Spanish power moved up a spot from No. 2 last year.
Manchester United, which was No. 1 last year, is worth $3.17 million. Barcelona, Real Madrid’s fierce rival and Spanish League champions last season, is worth $2.6 billion.
The New York Yankees are fourth with a value of $2.3 billion, and the Dallas Cowboys are fifth at $2.1 billion – 30 of the 32 NFL teams made the list, along with seven baseball teams and seven soccer teams.
Associated Press
