Auto Racing
Harvick and Stewart swap pit crews for the Chase
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Stewart-Haas Racing is swapping pit crews in hopes of boosting Kevin Harvick’s chances in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
Harvick, who has been critical of his team’s slow pit stops in recent weeks, will race his No. 4 Chevrolet with the crew of teammate and team co-owner Tony Stewart beginning this week at Chicagoland Speedway. Stewart will get Harvick’s pit crew for the final 10 races of the season.
SHR is taking a chance that the move will pay dividends for Harvick in the 16-car Chase field. It also could cost Stewart, who is trying to avoid his first winless Cup season.
Cycling
Vuelta leader, Contador, withdraws from worlds
MADRID – Five-time grand tour winner Alberto Contador said he won’t compete in the upcoming road world championships.
The world championships will be held Sept. 21-28 in Ponferrada, Spain.
Contador spoke on a rest day at the Spanish Vuelta, which he leads with five days to go.
NBA
Hawks discipline but keep Ferry after racist remarks
ATLANTA – Atlanta Hawks’ chief executive officer Steve Koonin said Tuesday he is sticking with Danny Ferry, even though the team’s new majority owner wants the general manager to be fired.
Koonin told the Atlanta’s 92.9 The Game, the Hawks’ flagship radio station, he made the decision to discipline Ferry but keep him in place as general manager. He said he relied on Atlanta law firm Alston and Bird’s three-month investigation of Ferry and his racially charged description of Luol Deng.
Ferry made the inflammatory comments about Deng in a conference call with the Hawks’ ownership group in June when the team pursued Deng as a free agent.
Atlanta media outlets obtained a letter Monday night from co-owner Michael Gearon Jr., which cites Ferry telling the ownership group that Deng “has a little African in him.”
Hawks’ spokesman Garin Narain said the investigation of Ferry’s comments uncovered a racially inflammatory email written two years ago by Levenson. That discovery led to Levenson’s announcement Sunday that he will sell his controlling share of the team.
NFL
Pegulas peg the Buffalo Bills for an NFL-record $1.4B
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – A person with direct knowledge of the sale process confirmed to The Associated Press that Buffalo Sabres’ owners Kim and Terry Pegula submitted an NFL-record $1.4-billion bid in reaching a tentative agreement to buy the Buffalo Bills.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Tuesday because the Pegulas’ formal bid was not made public.
The price eclipsed the previous high of $1.1 billion set in 2009, when Stephen Ross completed his purchase of the Miami Dolphins.
The Bills’ sale is subject NFL owners’ approval at league meetings Oct. 8.
Tennis
Both Cilic and Nishikori rise in the ATP Tour rankings
NEW YORK – U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic’s first Grand Slam title moved him up to No. 9 from No. 16 in the ATP rankings Tuesday, while runner-up Kei Nishikori rose three spots to a career-best No. 8.
Cilic beat Nishikori 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in Monday’s final at Flushing Meadows.
Serena Williams’ third consecutive U.S. Open championship allowed her to keep her No. 1 WTA ranking. Runner-up Caroline Wozniacki moved to No. 9 from No. 11.
Novak Djokovic stayed at No. 1, followed by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, respectively. In the semifinals, Cilic beat Federer, and Nishikori eliminated Djokovic. Nadal didn’t attempt to defend his 2013 U.S. Open title because of a right wrist injury.
Associated Press
