Auto Racing
Swan Racing might swan dive out of the Sprint Cup
Swan Racing is reviewing its ability to compete in NASCAR because of difficulty securing corporate sponsorship for the two-car operation.
Swan Racing owner Brandon Davis, the chief executive officer of independent gas and oil company Swan Energy, bought the organization in late 2012. Parker Kligerman drives the No. 30 Toyota Camry, and Cole Whitt drives the No. 26 Toyota Camry for Swan in the Sprint Cup series.
Davis had been transforming the organization he purchased in late 2012. A former start-and-park team, he set a goal of racing in every event. Then he pumped the organization with needed cash when he signed former NFL linebacker Bill Romanowski as an investor, and rapper 50 Cent used his SMS Audio line to partner with the team.
But unable to keep funding the cars out of his own pocket, Davis may have to shut down the team.
College Basketball
Parker enters the NBA draft, tries to channel Irving
Jabari Parker is hoping to become Duke’s latest one-and-done star to become the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
The 6-8 All-American forward said Thursday he’ll enter the NBA draft after being the highest-scoring freshman in Duke history. He also was the first freshman to lead the Blue Devils in rebounding and scoring and the first freshman in three decades to be selected team MVP.
Now he has the chance to do what Kyrie Irving did in 2011: follow a one-year stay at Duke by being the first name called in the June draft.
Parker led the Atlantic Coast Conference with an average of 8.7 rebounds, while his 19.1 points were second only to North Carolina State’s T.J. Warren, who entered the NBA draft last week.
Young the Wildcats’ freshman to declare for the draft
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky guard James Young will enter the NBA draft, becoming the first of the Wildcats’ heralded freshmen to turn pro.
The 6-6 Young led Kentucky with 82 3-pointers last season. He was one of six high school All-American recruits on a Wildcats squad that began the season No. 1 with expectations of winning the national championship. His 43-percent shooting from long range in the NCAA Tournament helped Kentucky reach the final before it lost 60-54 to Connecticut last week.
The Wildcats’ second-leading scorer averaged 14.3 points and 4.3 rebounds.
Fellow freshmen twin guards Aaron and Andrew Harrison and forward Julius Randle are expected to announce their decisions soon.
Cycling
After horrific training wreck, Horner leaves the hospital
MILAN – Spanish Vuelta champion Chris Horner was released from a hospital in northern Italy after a training accident inside a tunnel last week.
The 42-year-old American had a punctured lung drained and also was treated for four broken ribs, plus bruises and cuts, after Friday’s accident.
Horner, who won the Vuelta last year at the age of 41 to become the oldest Grand Tour champion, now will have to skip the Giro d’Italia but he still hopes to ride the Tour de France and Vuelta.
Football
Johnson impresses Alouettes for a two-year pro deal
MONTREAL – Former NFL star Chad Johnson will make his return to the gridiron in the Canadian Football League.
The veteran receiver signed a two-year deal with the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday after impressing team officials at a minicamp in Vero Beach, Fla. He last appeared in an NFL game during the 2011 season with New England.
Johnson spent most of his 11 NFL seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. In 166 career games, the six-time Pro Bowler caught 766 passes for 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns.
Associated Press
