Auto Racing
As the Smoke clears, Stewart will return to the track
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Tony Stewart will return to Sprint Cup competition Sunday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway, ending a three-race hiatus taken after he struck and killed a fellow driver during a dirt-track race.
The three-time NASCAR champion has not raced since his car hit Kevin Ward Jr. at an Aug. 9 sprint car event in upstate New York. Stewart pulled out of the NASCAR race at Watkins Glen the next morning, then skipped races at Bristol Motor Speedway and Michigan.
Cycling
Valverde wins Stage 6 and takes the Vuelta lead
LA ZUBIA, Spain – Alejandro Valverde of Spain surged forward to win the sixth stage Thursday of the Spanish Vuelta and take the overall lead.
The 31-year-old Movistar rider climbed to the finish line in 4 hours, 35 minutes, 27 seconds, just ahead of Spain’s Alberto Contador and Britain’s Christopher Froome, who both finished in the same time.
Valverde, a two-time Vuelta winner, took the overall lead ahead of Nairo Quintana of Colombia, who is 15 seconds behind.
NFL
Goodell acknowledges he ‘didn’t get it right’
NEW YORK – Acknowledging he “didn’t get it right” with a two-game suspension for Ravens running back Ray Rice, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced tougher penalties for players accused of domestic violence, including six weeks for a first offense and at least a year for a second.
An initial domestic violence offense will draw a six-week ban without pay. A second offense will result in banishment from the league, but a player will be allowed to petition for reinstatement after a year.
Soccer
Klinsmann names a U.S. 10 for Czech Republic friendly
CHICAGO – United States’ head coach Jurgen Klinsmann selected 10 players from this year’s World Cup team to play against the Czech Republic next Wednesday:
Defenders : John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Tim Ream (Bolton);
Forwards : Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Joe Gyau (Borussia Dortmund II), Jordan Morris (Stanford), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich);
Goalkeepers: Cody Cropper (Southampton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake);
Midfielders : Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Emerson Hyndman (Fulham), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Brek Shea (Stoke City).
Kessler and Ronaldo named best European players
MONACO – Cristiano Ronaldo won UEFA’s award as the best player in Europe last season after scoring a record 17 goals in the Champions League.
The Portgual and Real Madrid forward beat Bayern Munich pair Manuel Neuer of Germany and the Netherlands’ Arjen Robben.
Nadine Kessler of Germany won the women’s award.
WNBA
Ogwumike follows her sister as a rookie of the year
Chiney Ogwumike always enjoyed following her sister’s path. Now the Connecticut Sun player joins her as a winner of the WNBA rookie of the year award.
Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks are the first siblings to win the award.
Chiney Ogwumike, the No. 1 pick in last April’s draft, averaged 15.5 points and 8.5 rebounds. She received 23 votes from a national panel of 38 broadcasters and sports writers and broadcasters.
Associated Press
