By Times Staff Writers Times Wires
Published August 4, 2004
A St. Petersburg date was not on the 16-race 2005 Indy Racing League schedule released Tuesday, but the city could still become one of the circuit's first street courses. The league has left plenty of room on its schedule, with no dates between a March 19 race at Phoenix and a late April date in Japan.
IRL spokesman Fred Nation said Monday that St. Petersburg could be added if "serious" discussions among the open-wheel circuit, an as-yet-unnamed promoter and the city yield a deal.
"It should not be viewed to mean that St. Petersburg and the league have lost a mutual opportunity here," he said. "We have a couple of other dates reserved on our schedule and on television for possible events that might come up. An announcement without St. Petersburg does not mean St. Petersburg is out of the running."
The league announced the addition of road courses at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., and Watkins Glen, N.Y.
- BRANT JAMES, Times staff writer
ARENA FOOTBALL: The Kats return to Nashville
Four years after losing its team to Atlanta, where it became the Georgia Force, Nashville is rejoining the league and keeping its old nickname. The Kats, owned by Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams, will begin play in 2005 at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. Former Kats coach PatSperduto, a Storm lineman from 1991-93 and assistant from '94-'95, will coach. The original Kats had a 51-29 record from 1997-2001 and played in ArenaBowls in 2000 and 2001. STORM: The team activated offensive/defensive lineman Jason Starkey from the other league exempt list. Starkey, 6 feet 3, 285 pounds, played with the Arizona Cardinals the past three seasons but is not on an NFL roster. The Storm retains his Arena League rights.
- FRANK PASTOR, Times staff writer
TENNIS: Former doubles partner upsets Federer
Roger Federer's former doubles partner ended his 23-match winning streak Tuesday in the first round of the Tennis Masters Cincinnati. Federer was stunned by Dominik Hrbaty 1-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-4, the two-time Wimbledon champion's first opening-round loss since the 2003 French Open.
"I had a great run," said the top-ranked Federer, who hadn't lost a match since Gustavo Kuerten beat him in the third round of this year's French Open. Federer now has lost in the first round of this tournament in three of his four appearances.
In other matches, Andy Roddick struggled against Max Mirnyi, but held on to win 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. Fifth-seeded Tim Henman and seventh-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero also advanced.
ROGERS CUP: Fifth-seeded Jennifer Capriati of Saddlebrook outlasted Alina Jidkova of Russia 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 to set up a third-round match against Sarasota resident Mary Pierce in Montreal.
No. 15 Chanda Rubin downed qualifier Antonia Matic 6-4, 6-3 and will play another American, qualifier Mashona Washington, who beat Barbora Strycova 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.
ET CETERA
GOLF: Despite the presence of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the made-for-television Battle at the Bridges posted the lowest national and overnight ratings in the history of ABC's prime-time golf telecasts.
SOCCER: Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi criticized Chinese fans for booing and jeering Japan's team and national anthem at the Asian Cup in China, saying sports should be free of politics. Many Chinese remain bitter over Japan's invasion and occupation during World War II, and anti-Japanese sentiment is regularly fueled by the Communist government's state-controlled media. Japan and China will meet in the finals, after Japan defeated Bahrain 4-3 in overtime and China advanced 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw with Iran.
