In brief: Nadal seeded second behind Federer
Clay-court king Rafael Nadal poses the biggest threat to Roger Federer’s reign on grass – at least based on Wimbledon seedings announced Wednesday.
Despite a modest 3-2 career record at the All England Club, Nadal is seeded second behind three-time defending champion Federer.
In determining the seedings, Wimbledon took past performances on grass into account. But the formula still left Nadal ahead of Andy Roddick, seeded third despite finishing second to Federer the past two years.
The three highest-seeded women will seek their first title at Wimbledon, which begins Monday. Australian Open champ Amelie Mauresmo, U.S. Open winner Kim Clijsters and French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne are 1-2-3.
Colleges
North Dakota plans move to Division I
The University of North Dakota plans to begin switching all of its athletics programs to the NCAA’s Division I in two years.
The move follows North Dakota State University’s decision to move from Division II, where NDSU had been a football power, to Division I.
“South Carolina State reached into its successful past, choosing former star center Jamal Brown as its men’s basketball coach. Brown has been an assistant at Tennessee State the last three seasons.
Horse racing
Hollypark will install synthetic surface
Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., will replace its dirt main track with a synthetic surface in July, making it the first California track to do so.
The state’s other major thoroughbred tracks – Santa Anita, Del Mar, Los Alamitos, Bay Meadows and Golden Gate – face a Dec. 31, 2007, deadline by the California Horse Racing Board to install synthetic surfaces.
Twelve inches of material will be removed from the existing track. A new drainage system with more than 4 1/2 miles of pipe will be installed. Then, a porous base will be added over the drainage system, topped by 9 inches of a waxed synthetic surface made from a combination of synthetic fibers, elastic fiber and granulated rubber coated with a blend of wax.
Miscellany
Injury forces Park’s withdrawal from Open
Grace Park has withdrawn from the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament next week in Rhode Island because of a neck injury.
“Cincinnati Bengals rookie defensive end Frostee Rucker has been charged in Los Angeles with two counts of spousal battery and vandalism. The misdemeanor charges were filed Tuesday after an alleged fight between Rucker, who played at USC, and his girlfriend at a party he was hosting in Los Angeles last August, said the city attorney’s office.
“The St. Louis Rams have acquired quarterback Dave Ragone from the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick. The left-handed Ragone is expected to compete for the No. 3 quarterback job.