BAGHDAD, Iraq — Gunmen killed the coach of Iraq's national wrestling team in a botched abduction attempt Thursday but a player escaped, police said.
The attackers grabbed the coach, Mohammed Karim Abid Sahib, and one of his players as they left the sports center in the northern neighborhood of Kazamiyah, where the team was preparing to leave Friday for a tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
Both men tried to flee, but Sahib was shot to death during the attempt, police Capt. Mohammed al-Waili said.
The player escaped and informed authorities about the attack, but his name wasn't immediately available.
Iraqi wrestling federation chief Abdul Karim Hamid confirmed the death.
The victims were Sunni Arabs from the nearby neighborhood of Azamiyah.
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AUTO RACING
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Danica Patrick has dreamed of winning the top prize for open-wheel drivers since she was a little girl, a goal that remains unchanged.
But NASCAR features similar fervor on a weekly basis with more money and challenges. With only six races left in her contract with Rahal-Letterman Racing, Patrick said Thursday a driver has to look at all the options.
"It's not a lie that I'm interested. It's definitely something that I look at because it's racing. I'm a race car driver. It's what I do. It's so big it's hard to ignore," Patrick said of NASCAR.
SOCCER
ZURICH, Switzerland — FIFA said Thursday it opened disciplinary proceedings against Marco Materazzi for his conduct in Italy's victory in the World Cup final.
World soccer's governing body said it opened the investigation because of statements by France's Zinedine Zidane, who was sent off Sunday for head-butting Materazzi in the chest.
Zidane claimed he was provoked by insults from Materazzi, an Italian defender.
FIFA said it also summoned both players to attend a hearing of its disciplinary committee July 20.
● Former Italy and AC Milan midfielder Roberto Donadoni was installed as manager of World Cup champion Italy on Thursday, a day after Marcello Lippi resigned despite guiding the Azzurri to a fourth title and widespread calls to stay.
FOOTBALL
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville coach Bobby Petrino signed a new 10-year contract Thursday that will earn him $1.6 million each year plus bonuses.
The contract calls for Petrino to receive $1 million bonuses for every three years he stays with the team beginning in 2007.
If he is still with the team in 2015, his annual pay would increase to $2.6 million and he would receive a $2 million bonus.
● The New Orleans Saints signed fullback Mike Karney to a four-year extension, keeping him under contract for the next five seasons. Karney was drafted by the Saints in the fifth round of the 2004 draft out of ASU.
● Linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who starred at Virginia for three seasons but was kicked off the team by coach Al Groh, was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of Thursday's supplemental NFL draft.
Brooks, a first-team All-ACC linebacker as a sophomore in 2004, played only six games last season because of injury, then was dropped by the team just before spring practice this year. He subsequently applied for the draft.
Six other players who applied for the supplemental draft were not chosen.
Basketball
BOISE, Idaho — Boise will host first- and second-round games in the 2009 NCAA men's basketball tournament instead of 2010.
Boise is swapping years with Spokane, Wash., which originally was to host first- and second-round games in 2009, but now will do so in 2010.
The games in Boise will be played March 20 and 22, 2009.
NHL
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Coyotes have re-signed defenseman Dennis Seidenberg and forward Fredrik Sjostrom to two-year contracts, the club said Thursday.
Seidenberg, who played for Germany in the last two Winter Olympics, played in 34 games for Phoenix last season after being acquired in the trade that sent Petr Nedved to Philadelphia in January. He had one goal and 10 assists for Phoenix.
Sjostrom appeared in 75 games for the Coyotes in 2005-06, with six goals and 17 assists and 42 penalty minutes.
TRACK & FIELD
NEW YORK — Bank records connect star sprinter Marion Jones to an alleged check-counterfeiting scheme that led to criminal charges against her coach and ex-boyfriend Tim Montgomery.
Documents filed in a federal court in Manhattan show a $25,000 check made out to Jones was deposited in her bank account from a Virginia man whom prosecutors have accused of enlisting friends and business partners to help launder the proceeds of the multimillion-dollar plot.
