Auto Racing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The NASCAR Hall of Fame in downtown Charlotte was open Thursday, hours after its exterior was damaged during violent protests over the police shooting of a black man this week.
The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority oversees the NASCAR Hall of Fame building and the convention center next door.
“The damage at our CRVA venues consists of broken exterior windows at the Charlotte Convention Center and NASCAR Hall of Fame,” said Laura Hill White, director of communications for the CRVA.
The breach on the property was to a restaurant connected to the $160 million Hall of Fame.
Golf
ATLANTA – Dustin Johnson hit out of a bunker to 2 feet for birdie on his first hole and kept right on rolling to a 4-under 66 for a three-way tie of the lead Thursday at the Tour Championship.
Hideki Matsuyama had six birdies and Kevin Chappell played bogey-free to join Johnson at 66 on a tough day for scoring at East Lake.
Jason Day, who withdrew from the final round of the BMW Championship two weeks ago with back pain, was among those at 67. Jordan Spieth shot 68, courtesy of six birdie putts between 18 and 30 feet.
Rory McIlroy and Paul Casey also were at 68.
Hockey
TORONTO – Vladimir Tarasenko and Ivan Telegin scored 1:19 apart in the second period and Russia beat Finland 3-0 on Thursday to set up a World Cup of Hockey semifinal against Canada – and knock out Team North America.
Evgeni Malkin scored in the third period for Russia (2-1-0), and Sergei Bobrovsky made 21 saves.
Russia will face Canada on Saturday night. In the other semifinal, Sweden will play Team Europe on Sunday.
NBA
ELIZABETH, N.J. – NBA referees will be cracking down this season on the kind of hits to the groin area that resulted in Draymond Green’s suspension during the NBA Finals.
They also will more closely monitor traveling after complaints from coaches that players are getting away with too many steps on the perimeter.
The hits to the groin – termed “unnatural acts” by the league – are a point of emphasis after a number of situations involving Green during the postseason.
Olympics
COLORADO SPRINGS – The leader of the U.S. Olympic Committee reiterated his support for allowing Russians to compete at the Rio Games and said that to fix worldwide doping problems, “we can’t devolve into a Cold War mentality of us versus them.”
Chairman Larry Probst supported the International Olympic Committee’s near-unanimous rubber-stamping of IOC President Thomas Bach’s decision to avoid a blanket ban of the Russians from the Olympics.
Speaking at the U.S. Olympic Assembly on Thursday, Probst introduced a short video message from Bach, who praised the U.S. for its leadership in the worldwide sports movement.
Probst reiterated his support of the president’s stance on Russia. The World Anti-Doping Agency recommended the country’s ouster from Rio after investigators found evidence of a state-sponsored doping system in the country.
Associated Press
