Auto Racing
Grand jury to weigh the case of Stewart and Ward Jr.
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. – A grand jury will decide whether NASCAR driver Tony Stewart will be charged in the August death of a fellow driver at a sprint car race in upstate New York.
Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo said Tuesday that after reviewing evidence collected by sheriff’s investigators, he has decided to present it to a grand jury. Tantillo could have determined there was not enough evidence to support charges and dropped the case.
Stewart’s car struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. at a dirt-track race in Canandaigua on Aug. 9 after the 20-year-old climbed from his car after it had spun while racing alongside Stewart.
Basketball
Incomplete and rusty USA beats Canada by 25
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The United States’ women’s basketball team only has been together for a week and still are missing a few key players.
Only leading by four at halftime, the Americans scored the first 13 points of the third quarter to grab control in a 76-51 victory over Canada on Monday night in an exhibition game.
Nneka Ogwumike scored 10 points in the Americans’ balanced attack against Canada.
The U.S. now will head to France to play in a pre-worlds tournament against Australia, China and France. The 13 players who competed in Monday night’s game will be joined by a few players who missed the training camp to play in the WNBA Finals.
The U.S. will make a quick stop in the Czech Republic before heading to Istanbul to begin the world championship Sept. 27.
Golf
McIlroy wins Vardon Trophy as player of the year
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Rory McIlroy is the Vardon Trophy winner and the PGA of America’s player of the year for the second time.
McIlroy won the points-based player of the year award on the strength of his two majors at the British Open and PGA Championship. Winning two majors comes with a 50-point bonus. McIlroy also won the Bridgestone Invitational.
McIlroy had an adjusted scoring average of 68.62 to win the Vardon Trophy over Sergio Garcia (68.95).
The 25-year-old from Northern Ireland also won the PGA’s player of the year and the Vardon Trophy in 2012.
NFL
Pro Football Hall of Fame names class of nominees
Deceased linebacker Junior Seau and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Kurt Warner are among the 15 first-year eligible modern-era candidates nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Also nominated for the class of 2015 in their first year of eligibility are receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, tackle Orlando Pace – all St. Louis Rams – and placekicker Jason Elam, a former Denver Broncos kicker.
A total of 99 players and 14 coaches comprise the 113 nominees. A modern-era player or coach must be retired at least five consecutive seasons to be eligible.
The selection committee will choose 25 candidates as semifinalists in late November. That list will be reduced to 15 modern-era finalists in early January. The 2015 class will be voted on the day before the Super Bowl.
One senior committee nominee, former Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff, also will be on the ballot.
Between four and eight new members will be selected. Inductions will be in August at Canton, Ohio, site of the Hall of Fame.
Some other familiar names who have been nominated are running back Jerome Bettis, receivers Tim Brown and Marvin Harrison, guard Will Shields, defensive end/linebackers Kevin Greene and Charles Haley, safety John Lynch and placekicker Morten Andersen. All were finalists in 2014.
Head coaches Don Coryell, Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, a finalist last January, and Mike Holmgren also are among the 2015 nominees.
Associated Press
