10B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008
BRIEFS
BRIEFS Pitcher Nomo released by Kansas City Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals released Hideo Nomo on Tuesday, possibly ending the Japanese right-hander's big league career.
The Royals designated Nomo for assignment on April 20, then requested unconditional release walvers five days later.
The 39-year-old Nomo had an 18.69 ERA in three relief appearances, allowing nine runs and 10 hits, including three home runs, in 4-1-3 innings. Nomo had not pitched in the majors since 2005 before making a comeback this year with the Royals.
Nomo's 123 victories in the majors is the most by any Japanese pitcher. He was the 1995 NL Rookie of the Year with the Los Angeles Dodgers and threw two no-hitters in his career.
Stern not to testify in SuperSonics case
NEW YORK — NBA commissioner David Stern will not be ordered to testify in a case brought by the city of Seattle to try to keep the SuperSonics from moving, though a federal judge may consider ordering the testimony in the future.
U. S. District Judge Loretta Preska rejected most of the requests of the lawyers for the city of Seattle, saying she didn't think some of the information they were seeking from the NBA was necessary to press their claims.
Preska had been asked to decide what evidence the city can seek from the NBA before a June 16 trial in federal court in Seattle to decide whether the Sonics must complete the final two years of a lease agreement for Seattle's KeyArena, the NBA's smallest venue.
Turkoglu named NBA's most improved player ORLANDO, Fla. — Hedo Turkoglu, whose 19 points, five
rebounds and five assists per game helped the Orlando Magic win their first division title in 12 years, was selected as the NBA's most improved player.
Turkoglu's numbers marked career highs in each category, and dramatic improvements from 13 points, four rebounds and three assists last season. He earned back-to-back Eastern Conference player of the week awards in late January and early February and was named player of the month for April.
Commissioners discuss Bowl Championship
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — As they kicked off three days of meetings at an oceanfront resort, the Bowl Championship Series overseers appear to have a better chance of getting a sunburn than making any major changes in the controversial system.
Still, the commissioners of the 11 major college football conferences, along with Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White, will have their most detailed discussions to date of the plus-one model, which could use two bowls as semifinals and another as a national title game, with the four participants seeded.
That conversation will take place Wednesday, with Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive leading it.
Smyth may not play for Game 3 because of injury
Game 3 because of injury DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche expect to have center Peter Forsberg and defenseman Scott Hannan back for Game 3 against the Detroit Red Wings, but forward Ryan Smyth is out with a foot injury.
"He skated well yesterday, so we think that everything could work out for him playing tonight," Colorado coach Joel Quenneville said.
Quenneville said Smyth might have been injured when he blocked a shot in Game 2.
Associated Press
》 NASCAR
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart waves to the fans at the Texas Motor Speedway during introductions before the NASCAR Sprint Cup series Samsung 500 auto race April 6 in Fort Worth, Texas. Stewart is apparently testing the free agent market, in search of a deal that likely would make the two-time champion NASCAR's highest paid driver — but also could drive him out of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Stewart may leave Joe Gibbs Racing
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If winning really and truly is the most important thing to Tony Stewart, then he'll be hard pressed to find an acceptable reason to leave Joe Gibbs Racing.
But his decision to test the free agent market is based on so much more than wins and losses, and that's why Stewart might very well walk away from a team that has currently established itself as the best in NASCAR.
The two-time NASCAR champion embarked on a whirlwind media tour to explain his decision, joking at one point he'd talked more with reporters at Talladega Superspeedway last weekend than he'd spoken to his own mother over the past two years.
He's won 32 races and a pair of championships with crew chief Greg Zipadelli by his side and car owner Joe Gibbs stunchly in his corner — no matter the drama and distractions.
Even Stewart, who was humble and humorous during media availability last weekend, was adamant there is no compelling reason to leave JGR when his contract expires at the end of 2009.
"It's not that we're looking to leave, there's nothing wrong," he said. "Nothing's broke, nothing needs to be fixed. Everything is really good where we're at right now."
Stewart has been smart with his money and has enough tucked away to retire today and still maintain his current
But it's not so crazy for Stewart to listen to offers, with many dangling team ownership options.
requires money, and by exploring free agency, Stewart is driving up his selling price. No matter where he lands, it's going to cost Gibbs or any other team a ton of cash to sign him — certainly enough for Stewart to support his diverse business portfolio for a long time coming.
TONY STEWART
NASCAR driver
Then comes the ownership aspect. Being in charge appeals to him, and running a race team
Now whether he actually takes one of the offers — which could make him NASCAR's highest-paid driver and give him a guaranteed role in the industry long after he hangs up his helmet — remains
"To the best of my knowledge, I've never seen or heard about offers like this."
"I think we're stupid to not look at what's being offered," he said. "It doesn't cost a dime to listen, so we're definitely interested in some of the offers that have come across. To the best of my knowledge, I've never seen or heard about offers
like this. It's something that I feel like, to be 0right to ourselves, we have to take the opportunity to at least explore those options and listen to what everybody has to say."
lifestyle. But he's also built a small empire, collecting a handful of race tracks and fielding cars for four different drivers at Tony Stewart Racing.
He also has his own public relations firm in True Speed Communications, plus other business interests. Running all that
"I never thought (ownership) would even be an option, but I have to admit — that is something that has been intriguing about this so far
gives Stewart a challenge away from his own race car.
is the possibility," he said. "I enjoy the challenge of trying to help a part of something that grows, and we've been a part of that as a driver at Joe Gibbs Racing.
Fair enough.
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"The idea that there's that potential, that we might have that opportunity to be a car owner, is something that is very exciting. There's not just one, but there's a couple offers out there that have offered that. To me, I don't remember anybody being in that situation and to me, it's pretty humbling."
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Taking on that responsibility also would assure Stewart a place in the garage when he decides to stop driving.
Technically, Stewart has two years to decide what he wants to do. He's yet to ask to be released early from his contract, and Gibbs has indicated the team isn't quite willing to part with Stewart before the end of 2009.
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"It's been a great ride," Gibbs said, "and we don't want it to stop."
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