Auto Racing
McMurray pulls the pole from the Chase drivers
MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Jamie McMurray pulled off a surprise run at Martinsville Speedway with a pole-winning drive in Friday qualifying.
McMurray is not one of the eight drivers qualified to race for the Sprint Cup title, and his qualifying record of 99.905 mph nudged six championship-eligible drivers in the final round of qualifying.
Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth, who both are in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship field, qualified second and third, respectively.
Non-Chase driver Tony Stewart was fourth, followed by title contenders Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski.
It was a terrible qualifying session for Kevin Harvick, who appeared to twice slap the wall and failed to advance out of the first round. He’ll start 33rd on Sunday, worst of all the Chase drivers.
Golf
PGA president resigns after sexist post to Poulter
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Ted Bishop was ousted Friday as president of the PGA of America over a sexist Facebook post and tweet directed at Ian Poulter.
Bishop was unhappy with comments Poulter made in his book about the Ryder Cup captaincy of Nick Faldo in 2008 and Tom Watson last month at Gleneagles.
“Really? Sounds like a little school girl squealing during recess. C’MON MAN!”
Bishop deleted the Facebook post and tweet later Thursday evening but never apologized.
In removing Bishop as president, the PGA of America board said the remarks were inconsistent with association’s policies. Bishop, a head golf professional from Indiana, had one month remaining on his two-year term as president.
Derek Sprague, expected to be voted in as the next president at the Nov. 22 annual meeting, was appointed the interim president. Paul Levy will handle the roles as vice president and secretary until the election.
MLB
Maddon excises opt-out as Tampa Bay Rays’ manager
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Joe Maddon won’t be returning to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays announced Friday that Maddon has exercised an opt-out in his contract, which was set to expire after next season.
Maddon managed the Rays for nine seasons, compiling a 754-705 record. He led Tampa Bay to the playoffs four times, won two AL East titles and one World Series appearance.
The decision comes less than two weeks after Tampa Bay lost executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Friedman last week announced his fealty to Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly.
Tennis
Nadal ends season in favor of appendicitis surgery
PARIS – Rafael Nadal said he will have season-ending appendicitis surgery next month, ruling him out of the upcoming Paris Masters and the ATP Finals in London.
Nadal announced the decision Friday after losing to 17-year-old Borna Coric in a sub-par performance in the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors in Basel. He said he will undergo surgery Nov. 3 and that his 2014 season is over.
Ivanovic, Sharapova secure Serena’s year-end No. 1
SINGAPORE – Serena Williams made the semifinals of the WTA Finals on Friday and earned the year-end No. 1 ranking without hitting a ball.
Williams’ fortune was at the expense of Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova. Ivanovic had a shot at reaching the semis, and Sharapova had a slimmer chance at the top ranking. Both won dramatic three-setters, but they needed to win in two and were eliminated.
Associated Press
