Sat, Oct 31, 2009 - Page 19 News List

Sports Briefs

AGENCIES

■BOXING

Mayweather scared: Pacman

Manny Pacquiao believes the biggest potential fight in boxing will never happen because Floyd Mayweather Jr wants no part of him. Pacquiao is training in Hollywood for his bout with Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14, but the pound-for-pound champion spared a moment on Thursday to consider his chances of fighting pay-per-view king Mayweather in what would be an extremely lucrative bout for both fighters. “I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Pacquiao said. “I’m sure he doesn’t want to fight.” Pacquiao said Mayweather treats boxing too much like a business and doesn’t care about entertainment value for his fans. Pacquiao, from the Philippines, is known for his crowd-pleasing style, while Mayweather is boxing’s most accomplished tactician.

■NASCAR

Driver charged with DUI

NASCAR driver A.J. Allmendinger was arrested on a charge of drunken driving on Thursday. Police in Mooresville, North Carolina, said Allmendinger failed a field sobriety test after he was pulled over. Allmendinger, who drives the No. 44 stock car for Richard Petty Motorsports, said in a statement he had drinks with dinner and made a mistake in driving afterward. “I honestly felt fine, but I obviously should have erred more on the side of caution, particularly given what I do for a living,” Allmendinger said. “It was a bad judgment call and I apologize for that.” Team co-owner Richard Petty said in a statement: “I am deeply disappointed this has happened. A.J. has accepted full responsibility for his actions and will work to make this right.” Allmendinger is a major factor in RPM’s long-range plans, and team officials said Allmendinger was going to be moved into Petty’s famed No. 43 next season. Best Buy is expected to sponsor the car. It’s not clear how his arrest may affect that relationship. Petty routinely shunned alcohol sponsorship, and refused to allow his teams to participate in NASCAR’s second-tier series when it was sponsored by Busch.

■FORMULA ONE

Senna to drive for Campos

A racing official says Bruno Senna will drive next year for new Formula One team Campos. A Brazilian official involved in the negotiations said the 26-year-old nephew of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna finalized a deal to race for the Spanish team last weekend. No other details were disclosed and the official asked on Thursday not to be named as he was not authorized to discuss the deal. Calls to Campos’ Madrid office were unanswered. Senna said during the Brazilian Grand Prix this month he was in talks with three teams, including Campos. It will be the first time in 15 years that the iconic Senna name will be back in F1. Before his death on the track in 1994, Ayrton Senna predicted his nephew would one day be an F1 star.

■CYCLING

ICU lashes out at France

The International Cycling Union has compiled a strongly worded response rebuffing claims by France’s anti-doping agency of lapses and favoritism in drug testing at this year’s Tour de France. The UCI’s report singles out agency president Pierre Bordry for particular criticism, calling him “mischievous and misinformed.” It also says that the team of seven-time champion Lance Armstrong was tested more than others, countering the French agency’s allegations that the American received preferential treatment. The UCI says Astana riders were subjected to 81 doping tests, or more than 10 percent of the total conducted for the three-week race.

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