Fast Break

Baseball

World Series into November?

Call it the November Classic.

The start of the World Series is being pushed back an extra day to Oct. 24, meaning Game 7 is scheduled for November for the first time.

Because of extra off-days during the postseason, a team sweeping in the N.L. would have eight days off before its World Series opener.

Major League Baseball had planned to start the Series on a Tuesday beginning this year, then decided to push it back an extra day to Wednesday.

“Starting the World Series in the middle of the week, when television viewership is historically higher, will provide more fans with the opportunity to watch the games,” Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating office, said Monday.

The only time Series games have gone into November was in 2001, when terrorist attacks caused the entire postseason to be delayed a week.

Basketball

Touch of Irish for active troops

A tournament in Kuwait next week will have a Fighting Irish flavor. Some troops will be coached by Notre Dame men’s coach Mike Brey (see photo), who has shipped some Fighting Irish uniforms overseas for them.

Brey is one of several coaches who’ll take part in Operation Hardwood IV, a program aimed at giving troops in the Middle East a break.

The coaches will live in the barracks with the troops and eat meals with them, Brey said. Each will coach a team.

“People tell me when they play that National Anthem for the opening ceremony in that setting, in that gym, if you’re not emotional you’re not human,” he said.

Taekwondo

Hijab ban upheld

Muslim women who participate in competitions sanctioned by the World Taekwondo Federation will not be allowed to wear a hijab.

Monday’s decision came after a request for a ruling from Canada after two Muslim girls were banned from a Quebec competition last month.

The world federation said it does not recognize any religion and would not make any accommodation for the head and body covering.