Auto Racing
It was not a sinus infection; Hamlin had metal in his eye
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A small piece of metal in his eye – not a sinus infection – caused Denny Hamlin to miss last week’s race at California.
Hamlin was not medically cleared to race last Sunday by doctors in the infield care center at Auto Club Speedway; it was determined at the track that it was related to a recent sinus infection Hamlin had suffered.
Hamlin was referred to a local hospital for further evaluation, and once there, “a small piece of metal was found to be in Hamlin’s eye,” Joe Gibbs Racing said in a statement Wednesday.
Hamlin was evaluated twice this week and was cleared to race this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.
College Basketball
Turns out, Manhattan coach didn’t graduate from UK
TAMPA, Fla. – Steve Masiello’s promising coaching career is in limbo after his deal with South Florida fell apart because he doesn’t have a college diploma.
Manhattan College said Wednesday that it placed him on leave while Masiello is “reviewing his degree status.”
USF requires its basketball coach to have at least a bachelor’s degree. The 39-year-old Masiello did not graduate after attending Kentucky, where he played for Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith from 1996 to 2000.
Cycling
Rodriguez wins Stage 3 and takes the Catalunya lead
LA MOLINA, Spain – Joaquim Rodriguez broke away from the other race favorites on the final uphill climb to take the lead of the Volta a Catalunya with a stage win Wednesday.
The Katusha cyclist claimed the third of seven stages, a 101-mile ride from Banyoles to La Molina in the Pyrenees mountains.
NFL
NFL owners primarily have sportsmanship in mind
ORLANDO, Fla. – The NFL will place a heavy emphasis on enforcing its player conduct rules, and as the league’s spring meetings wrapped up Wednesday, sportsmanship – and lack thereof – was the prime topic.
That includes abusive and racist language.
While the owners voted or tabled a dozen rules or bylaw changes, expanding the playoffs from 12 to 14 teams – one in each conference – was discussed. Goodell is optimistic that’s coming, and he will discuss it with the players’ union April 8. A vote could come as early as the owners’ May meeting in Atlanta.
Also on Wednesday:
Approved experimentation with extra-point kicks from the 20-yard line for two weeks in the preseason, but implementing longer point-after attempts for the regular season has been tabled.
Adopted proposals to extend the length of the goalposts from 5 feet to 35 feet to better determine if kicks are good; to no longer stop the clock on sacks; and to allow video reviews on plays with a recovery of a loose ball on the field even though the play had been whistled dead.
Rejected proposals to move kickoffs to the 40-yard line; to allow more than one player to be placed on injured reserve, then return to the roster during the season; to subject personal foul penalties to video review; to permit coaches to challenge any officiating decision except on scoring plays or turnovers, which automatically are reviewed; and to eliminate the first preseason cutdown to 75 players.
Tabled proposals to raise the number of active players for games not played on a Sunday or Monday, except for opening week, from 46 to 49; to raise the practice-squad maximum from eight to 10 players; to eliminate overtime in preseason games; to allow trades after the Super Bowl and before the new league year begins in March; to permit teams to test at their facilities 10 players who attended the NFL combine; to place fixed cameras on the goal lines, sidelines and end lines to aid replay reviews; and to call pass interference in the area 1 yard or less from the line of scrimmage, where it does not apply now.
Associated Press
