Auto Racing
Maurice is the latest Petty inducted into the Hall
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Petty dynasty now is fully represented in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Maurice Petty formally was inducted into the Hall, joining his father, brother and cousin as members of the exclusive group.
Maurice Petty was the first member of the fifth class to be inducted during Wednesday night’s ceremony. “The Chief” was inducted by brother Richard Petty, the seven-time NASCAR champion and member of the inaugural Hall of Fame class.
Maurice Petty is the first engine builder to be inducted into the Hall. His engines won seven titles and more than 200 races, including seven Daytona 500s.
Also in the Hall from the Petty Enterprise dynasty is patriarch Lee Petty, and the Petty boys’ crew chief and cousin, Dale Inman.
Also inducted Wednesday: Tim Flock, Jack Ingram and Dale Jarrett.
NHL
In 2014-15, Phoenix Coyotes will be the Arizona Coyotes
GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Phoenix Coyotes will become the Arizona Coyotes starting in the 2014-15 season.
The team has been known as the Phoenix Coyotes since moving to Arizona from Winnipeg in 1996. The team played its home games in downtown Phoenix before moving to Glendale in 2003, but they kept the Phoenix name.
Coyotes President and chief executive officer Anthony LeBlanc said the ownership group, IceArizona, wanted to change the name so it could be recognized as a team for the entire state instead of just Glendale or Phoenix.
The Coyotes will keep the same uniforms they wear now, but they will have a new shoulder patch on their jerseys.
NFL
Colorado governor renames the 14ers for the Broncos
DENVER – Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is taking Super Bowl hoopla to new heights. He announced Wednesday he’s temporarily re-naming Colorado’s highest mountains for each member of the Denver Broncos. The state is home to more than 50 mountains over 14,000 feet.
Hickenlooper renamed the tallest mountain, Mt. Elbert, for Peyton Manning, while Zane Beadles and other members of the offensive line are getting the Collegiate Peaks range. Capitol Peak, considered to be the most difficult to climb, temporarily was renamed for Champ Bailey. Longs Peak went to long kicker Matt Prater.
Soccer
Holden joins the Americans for World Cup training
CARSON, Calif. – Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden is training with the United States national team for the first time since tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament during the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup last July 28.
Holden was in the Los Angeles area to be evaluated by Dr. Bert Mandelbaum, who operated last summer on the 28-year-old.
Holden will remain with the Americans until Saturday, when they will play an exhibition game against South Korea.
Tennis
Both Italy and the U.S. will Fed Cup without its stars
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – With Sloane Stephens and Serena Williams pulling out because of injuries, the United States’ Fed Cup team will field an inexperienced roster of Lauren Davis, Madison Keys, Christina McHale and Alison Riske against Italy.
The first-round matches are Feb. 8-9 in Cleveland.
Keys is the highest-ranked member of the U.S. team at 37th. Davis, Keys and Riske will make their Fed Cup debuts.
The U.S. Tennis Association announced its team Wednesday, saying the No. 1-ranked Williams has a back injury, and No. 18 Stephens is out with a wrist problem.
Italy also will be without its top two players: No. 7 Sara Errani and No. 14 Roberta Vinci. Instead, the visitors’ roster is No. 45 Karin Knapp, No. 84 Camila Giorgi, Nastassja Burnett and Alice Matteucci.
Associated Press
