Sport

Leicester City fans love to sing “Jamie Vardy is having a party,” but little do they know the star striker quite literally almost became a party promoter. Foxes manager Craig Shakespeare said Vardy considered quitting playing soccer for a life of promoting parties in Ibiza. It was the 2012/13 season, Vardy’s first with Leicester after arriving from Fleetwood Town, and the forward was having trouble finding much success. Having mustered four goals…

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was in the mood for a little reminiscing Monday, thinking back to Tuesday’s date and the site of this weekend’s NASCAR races. It was on April 4, 1998, that Earnhardt got his first career victory on NASCAR’s secondary series — Xfinity today but known as the Busch Grand National Series back then — at Texas Motor Speedway in 1998. To commemorate the 19th anniversary, Earnhardt, 42, tweeted…

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Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print comment What will be the most notable fallout from the NHL’s decision not to go to the Olympics? Craig Custance: As much as the NHL said it considered this case closed, there are definitely people on the players’ side who haven’t given up hope that an 11th-hour deal can still be struck. So perhaps the fallout is that the NHLPA or IOC will…

Given that the vast majority of the NASCAR industry lives and works in the Metro Charlotte area, there was much rejoicing Monday night when North Carolina defeated Gonzaga 71-65 in Phoenix to win the NCAA men’s college basketball championship. NASCAR XFINITY Series regular Elliott Sadler was at the game with his spotter Brett Griffin. Cora Sadler, the daughter of Elliott’s brother Hermie,  is one of the North Carolina…

8:57 PM ET Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print comment For weeks we’ve been chiding the NHL for pussyfooting around the Olympics-participation issue. We knew NHL owners hated the Olympics. And we heard over and over about how we shouldn’t assume the NHL was going to agree to show up in South Korea for the 2018 Olympics. But, come on, this was all about leverage, right? About the owners…

Pump the brakes on a partnership between Bellator and NASCAR. NASCAR says it does not have a partnership with Bellator after the MMA promotion announced earlier today that it had partnered with NASCAR and Monster Energy to bring fights to four racing events later this year during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. “NASCAR does not have a partnership with Bellator,” NASCAR told USA TODAY Sports’ Brant James. ESPN reported…

Can we talk about how well stage racing has gone for NASCAR this season? Oh, you don’t agree? That’s OK. Bear with me for a moment and let’s see if I can convince you of one of the best additions to big time stock car racing in recent memory. And I’ll be honest. As a moderate NASCAR traditionalist, I’m always hesitant to change, just because the sanctioning body…

RELATED: Read more Inside Groove Talk about being sent to voicemail. Dale Earnhardt Jr. declined a post-race phone call from pal and neighbor Ryan Blaney after the two were involved in an on-track incident Sunday at Martinsville, and then let the whole world know about it — or at least his more than two million Twitter followers. Too soon ol boy. @BubbaWallace @Blaney #StillSprint #Declined #BYOB pic.twitter.com/81Dq340aVO — Dale Earnhardt…

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8:57 PM ET Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print comment For weeks we’ve been chiding the NHL for pussyfooting around the Olympics-participation issue. We knew NHL owners hated the Olympics. And we heard over and over about how we shouldn’t assume the NHL was going to agree to show up in South Korea for the 2018 Olympics. But, come on, this was all about leverage, right? About the owners…

The Olympic rings symbol is seen in Gangneung, near the venue for the ice hockey events, as preparations continue for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images The Olympic rings symbol is seen in Gangneung, near the venue for the ice hockey events, as preparations continue for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty…

8:00 AM ET Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print comment MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Kyle Busch didn’t think too highly of Ricky Stenhosue Jr. giving him a tap just prior to the end of the second stage at Martinsville Speedway. The tap allowed Stenhouse to get by Busch and remain on the lead lap — and allowed Chase Elliott to win the stage, earning what could be a valuable playoff…

Sam Ard, a two-time champion of NASCAR’s second-tier series, died Sunday. He was 78. Ard died in South Carolina. NASCAR called Ard “a tough-as-nails racer” in a statement confirming his death, but gave no details. Ard won titles in what is now known as the Xfinity Series in 1983 and 1984. He won 22 races in three seasons — just 92 career starts — and his average finishing…

Quick, Americans, name a retired soccer legend. To the large number of you who said “Pelé” — olé. He and his manager Paul “PK” Kemsley are teaming with Bunim/Murray Productions for a scripted limited series based on the Brazilian fútbol diety’s life. The untitled program will focus on his life in New York while playing for the NASL’s Cosmos alongside other international footballers in the mid-1970s. Considered arguably the greatest soccer player…

PLYMOUTH, Mich. — The best women’s hockey players in the U.S. can now make a living playing the sport they love thanks to a landmark agreement with USA Hockey reached after a threat to boycott the world championship. The deal will likely help their counterparts north of the border make more money in their next Olympic agreement with Hockey Canada. Even those who will benefit, though, acknowledge the off-ice fight…

Texas Motor Speedway underwent a necessary evil this offseason by repaving its racing surface. Drivers prefer the older surfaces. Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, made his preferences known at Martinsville Speedway. Yes, the same — and only — driver who blamed Goodyear tires for his disappointing run at the season-opening Daytona 500 in February. “I hate repaves,” said Busch, a two-time winner at Texas. “But it’s part…

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STP 500 Sunday At Martinsville Speedway Martinsville, Va. Lap length: 0.526 miles (Start position in parentheses) 1. (4) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 500 laps, 0 rating, 55 points. 2. (10) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 500, 0, 52. 3. (2) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 500, 0, 50. 4. (5) Joey Logano, Ford, 500, 0, 33. 5. (20) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 500, 0, 34. 6. (30) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 500, 0, 31. 7. (8) Clint…

As the IOC moves the goalposts in the 2024 Olympic contest, bid leaders from Los Angeles and Paris head to a campaign event in Denmark on Tuesday unsure of exactly what they are shooting for. While both cities are bidding for the 2024 Games, the 2028 hosting rights are also in play, according to IOC President Thomas Bach. LA and Paris will send 12-member delegations to lobby and make 10-minute…