Auto Racing
Formula One’s de Villota dies unexpectedly at 33
A year after almost losing her life in a gruesome racing accident, former Formula One test driver Maria de Villota was found dead in a hotel room in Seville, Spain, on Friday – with an autopsy showing lingering injuries from her wreck likely caused her death. De Villota was 33.
De Villota’s sister, Isabel, said an autopsy indicated that she had died in her sleep around 6 a.m. local time because of “neurological damage” from her crash in July 2012. De Villota lost an eye in the accident but since seemingly had recovered from the wreck – even driving again, writing a book about it and recently getting married.
Spanish police said her death was from “natural causes” and that there was no indication of foul play.
College Hockey
NBC Sports Network adds Irish hockey to its payroll
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame and NBC Sports Group reached a three-year agreement calling for the network to televise 12 of the Fighting Irish’s home hockey games each year of the deal.
The agreement announced Friday also calls for NBC Sports Live Extra to stream those 12 games and eight more home games online.
The first such game was scheduled for Friday night when No. 7 Notre Dame hosted Western Michigan. NBC Sports said it will televise more than 20 college hockey games this season, including the 12 Notre Dame home games, five Hockey East games and five Big Ten games.
Cycling
UCI makes nice with USADA; Cookson talks women’s elite
LONDON – The International Cycling Union opened discussions with the World Anti-Doping Agency to set up an independent investigation into the cycling body’s handling of past drug scandals.
The UCI was criticized for not doing enough to catch Lance Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after admitting to doping. His admission followed an investigation by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
New UCI President Brian Cookson, who defeated incumbent Pat McQuaid in an election two weeks ago, said the governing body has begun “establishing a high-level dialogue with WADA” on plans for the investigation.
Cookson said most of the new presidents of the UCI commissions have been appointed, the UCI has revoked the age limit of 28 for UCI women’s teams, and a new women’s cycling commission will be formed to promote the growth of women’s elite racing.
MLB
Dodgers’ ace of a southpaw wins the Spahn Award
OKLAHOMA CITY – Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw won the 2013 Warren Spahn Award.
The award is presented by the Oklahoma City Bricktown Rotary Club and the Jim Thorpe Association to the top left-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues. It’s named for Hall-of-Famer Warren Spahn, whose 363 career wins are the most by a left-hander.
Kershaw was named the winner Friday after going 16-9 in 2013 with 232 strikeouts and a 1.83 earned-run average. He also won the award in 2011.
NFL
Peterson’s 2-year-old son dies after battery
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Authorities said a 2-year-old died of injuries suffered in an alleged child abuse case in South Dakota, and a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press the boy is the son of Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson.
Lincoln County State’s Attorney Tom Wollman confirmed the death of the child Friday. He had been in critical condition in a hospital with severe head injuries since Wednesday.
A 27-year-old man, Joseph Patterson, allegedly the boyfriend of Peterson’s mom, has been charged with battery in the child’s death.
Associated Press
