Head2Head: How should NASCAR handle late-race cautions? (NASCAR.com)
With questions arising over time about how NASCAR officials handle on-track situations, the governing body needs to be absolutely ardent in following the rules it has made public. Included in that is the green-white-checkered finishes that have become all the rage. If cautions are going to set up late-race dashes for the victory, then NASCAR officials need to take on the responsibility of looking out for the drivers they’re packing up for late restarts. Case in point: Sunday night in Charlotte, Kasey Kahne ran out of fuel on the restart, piling up cars on the outside of the track as Dale Earnhardt Jr. checked out. No caution flew, despite the fact cars were still smashing into each other as Junior got to Turn 2. On the white-flag lap, fine. The wreck was behind the leader. However, there was still another lap to go and the safety of those still running—as well as those who are out of commission with cars coming at full speed—needs to be of the utmost importance. NASCAR rules set up a maximum of three green-white-checkered finishes. Throwing the caution there changes nothing in the finish, but shows NASCAR officials care about their independent contractor drivers. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the yellow would have flown. The fact it didn’t at the most key juncture of one of the sport’s biggest races is a problem and sets up a need for NASCAR officials to be more stringent in applying their rules. • Jill Erwin, NASCAR.COMThe opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. When it comes to sports, how many times have you complained the officials are too involved? The best games are the ones decided on the field, not by the officials or umpires. Well it works that way in NASCAR as well. Cautions should be a last resort in the final five laps of a race. The only reason a caution should fall in the final five laps is for safety reasons—a car stuck on the track, debris littering the track, oil on the track. Keep the yellow in the flagstand unless it’s completely necessary. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a rule that should be applied throughout the race. Cautions are a part of the sport and are necessary. But strategies have been revealed at the final five laps and NASCAR should do everything in its power to let them play out. Let the drivers decide the winner. In football, on a bomb to the end zone as time expires, you don’t think there could be a pass interference call? Or in basketball, when someone cuts to the hoop as time runs out, trust me when I say he is getting hacked. Yet, the flags and whistles are nowhere to be seen. That’s not to say if something is obvious, a call won’t be made, because it will. Same applies to NASCAR—only put the yellow out if it is absolutely necessary in those final five laps. Let the drivers decide the winner … not the NASCAR officials. • Bill Kimm, NASCAR.COMThe opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.
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Pavlyuchenkova ousts 3rd seed Zvonareva (AP)
PARIS (AP)—Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova hit winners all over the place and was rewarded for her high-risk tennis, reaching the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time on Sunday. The 19-year-old Russian defeated third-seeded Vera Zvonareva 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 on center court at Roland Garros and will next play either defending champion Francesca Schiavone or Jelena Jankovic. Pavlyuchenkova recovered from a slow start and then kept pressuring Zvonareva, hitting 45 winners and 41 unforced errors. She was down a break early in the deciding but said her mental strength helped her prevail. “I think maybe in the past, or last year, I wouldn’t have believed I can win this match against that top player,” Pavlyuchenkova said. “I remember last year against Serena Williams (in the third round), it was the third set and she broke me once, and then I didn’t really believe that I could come back. It was 6-1 in the third for her. This time I think that was the main key.” Zvonareva opened up a 5-2 lead but failed to build on the momentum and was forced into a tiebreaker after Pavlyuchenkova saved a set point in the 12th game. Pavlyuchenkova closed out the set with a forehand volley winner but then lost four games in a row to start the second set. Zvonareva broke for a 2-1 lead in the deciding set, but she lost the last five games. Pavlyuchenkova converted her third match point when Zvonareva sent a forehand long. Zvonareva denied she lost the mental battle despite her incapacity to make the difference on important points. “There is no mental problem,” she said. “I think every time I was taking the risk, I wasn’t so consistent. That’s why I was playing a little bit too passive. It’s not acceptable at this stage of the Grand Slam.” Pavlyuchenkova’s previous best result at a major was reaching the fourth round at the U.S. Open last year. She has three WTA titles to her name and has won three junior Grand Slam tournaments. She was the junior champion at the Australian Open and the U.S. Open in 2006 before winning the 2007 Australian Open. She was also a runner-up at the junior French Open. “She’s been very consistent, and she’s definitely young and she’s got great potential,” Zvonareva said. “I’m sure we will see her a lot in the future.” The Russian teenager lived two years in France and said her favorite surface is clay. “I really like France. Actually, I like Paris,” she said. “French Open is my favorite Grand Slam. So, yeah, of course my goal is to do really well here and it’s a dream to win Roland Garros once.” After Zvonareva’s exit, No. 4 Victoria Azarenka is the highest-seeded player remaining in the women’s draw. No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and No. 2 Kim Clijsters both lost in the third round. “Everyone is talking that we don’t really have a leader right now in women’s tennis, because it’s like up and down in terms of results,” Pavlyuchenkova said. “It’s not like No. 1 or top 5 are winning, like in men’s tennis.” Zvonareva was bidding to reach the quarterfinals of the French Open for only the second time. She had to save a match point against Sabine Lisicki in the second round and said she didn’t play her best tennis at Roland Garros this week. “I know what I have to work on and what I have to improve,” she said. “But I should be satisfied. I could have played much better, but I still made it to the fourth round. “Of course when you play less than 50 percent of your potential, it’s very tough to win the fourth round of a Grand Slam.”
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Lisa Leslie says she’s ‘not coming back’ to W nba (AP)
NEW YORK (AP)—Just because Sheryl Swoopes is back in the WNBA this season
don’t look for Lisa Leslie to join her. The nine-time All-Star and three-time MVP is too busy enjoying her retirement. “No
I’m not coming back
” the 38-year-old said Tuesday before receiving the Pioneer Award at the league’s sixth annual Inspiring Women Luncheon. “I have no complaints. It’s been great. I’m a little young to truly be retired
but the transition has been awesome.” Leslie has kept herself busy raising two children—daughter Lauren
who turns 4 on June 15
and a 1-year-old son
Michael—and worked on Los Angles Lakers broadcasts this past season. “It’s a phenomenal opportunity as a mom and a role model for me to continue on in broadcasting
” she said. “I love covering the Lakers … and I hope to go national. I would love to be with TNT and cover more NBA basketball.” But as far as playing goes
Leslie said she doesn’t miss it. “No
I don’t. I was in the gym the other day working out for 20 minutes
and I saw a ball
” she said. “I was tempted to pick it up and shoot it
but some guys were sort of shooting around. I looked at the ball
I had the thought but I kept going.” The face of the WNBA from its debut in 1997 until her retirement two years ago
Leslie left as the league’s top career scorer (6
263 points) and rebounder (3
307)
and second in blocks (822). However
she was passed on the scoring list last year by Tina Thompson (6
413)— the only player to have appeared in every WNBA season. Leslie was honored Tuesday along with Katie Couric
who received the league’s Inspiration Award. Couric
the first woman chosen to solely anchor a network evening newscast
stepped down from the “CBS Evening News” last Thursday. “The Pioneer Award is just fitting
” Washington Mystics star Alana Beard said of Leslie. “She’s done so much for women’s basketball
for the WNBA. She was there from the beginning.” The New York Liberty’s Plenette Pierson added: “That’s another great athlete that’s now doing bigger and better things. That also ties into us
makes us strive for excellence and to do more
even after our careers.” WNBA President Laurel Richie
in her second week on the job
also praised Leslie. “She’s been a role model in terms of a player
and she’s been a role model off the court
” Richie said. “She continues to stay engaged and I think she’s one of the best ambassadors for the league.” Swoopes
also a three-time MVP
signed with Tulsa in March to rejoin the league for her 12th season after two years away. She helped Houston win the WNBA’s first four titles
but was let go after a back injury cut short her 2007 season at just three games. She joined Seattle the following year and averaged 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 23 games. “I didn’t think Sheryl left the game in the way that she should have
” Leslie said. “I hope that she’s healthy and it works out for her. … I hope she goes out on top.” That’s something Leslie herself was able to do.
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Latecomer Kenseth steals a victory at Dover (NASCAR.com)
Latecomer Kenseth steals a victory at Dover
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NFL Wildcard Playoff Betting Trends
NFL playoff handicapping trends for football bettors
Filed under: stories
