Associated Press
BALTIMORE ó Michael Phelps is starting his own charity and the swimmer who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics made the first donation by committing the $1 million bonus he earned for his golden haul.
The Michael Phelps Foundation will launch an eight-city U.S. tour in collaboration with Speedo, Phelps’ swimsuit sponsor that paid him the bonus, to visit children and share his Olympic experiences.
The tour will feature an education program called “Dream, Plan, Reach” to give children a game plan to lead healthy, active lives.
“My goals reach beyond the pool, to helping others realize their dreams, and continuing to grow the sport I love so much,” Phelps said.
Speedo announced last week that it will donate an extra $200,000 to Phelps’ foundation in honor of his eighth gold medal.
NASCAR
RICHMOND, Va. ó NASCAR rolled out the first Car of Tomorrow for the Nationwide Series on Monday as it started two days of testing at Richmond International Raceway, and the COT’s debut drew positive reaction from drivers for its handling and sporty look.
“I think it looks pretty cool,” said Carl Edwards, only 14 or so hours after he won the lastest Nationwide Series race on the 0.75-mile oval of Richmond International Raceway.
“I hadn’t seen the car all finished and sitting on the ground. It’s good. It drives really well. It feels a lot like the car we’re racing now. Compared to when we first ran the Car of Tomorrow in the Cup series, this is a lot smaller change for us to go to this car,” he said.
– CHARLOTTEó Lowe’s Motor Speedway owner Bruton Smith says someone is trying to undo his $80 million incentives deal.
The Charlotte Observer reported Monday that the 81-year-old billionaire said he no longer trusts Concord and Cabarrus County officials.
Smith insists the deal means his company must be compensated within two to three years for fronting the cost of major road upgrades around the track. About three weeks ago, Cabarrus and Concord officials said it could take up to 40 years to repay most of those costs.
Smith said no timetable had been discussed, and anyone who says otherwise “is a liar and a cheat.”
COLLEGE HOOPS
SOUTH BEND, Ind.ó Notre Dame will renew basketball rivalries with UCLA and Indiana this season.
Notre Dame ended UCLA’s NCAA-record 88-game winning streak in 1974. The Irish will face the Bruins for the first time since 2005 when they play at Pauley Pavilion on Feb. 7. Indiana, which returns only one scholarship player, will play Notre Dame for the first time since 2004 as part of the Maui Invitational on Nov. 24.