Sports briefs for August 31, 2005

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005 | 9:40 a.m.

North Dakota appeals to NCAA

The University of North Dakota has formally appealed the NCAA's decision to restrict the use of its Fighting Sioux nickname and said it has no intention of covering up arena logos at a spring hockey tournament.

North Dakota is among 17 schools whose nicknames are considered "hostile or abusive," under a new NCAA policy. Those schools are barred from hosting NCAA tournaments and from using the names or imagery in the postseason.

"We had no choice but to respond to this group that says we're 'hostile or abusive,' " university president Charles Kupchella said Tuesday. "We decided we had to go after them -- and that's what we did."

Kupchella said the appeal is based on the arguments that the university uses the nickname and logo with respect and has the support of many American Indians. He also said the school believes it is unreasonable for the NCAA to change the terms of its contract for holding the regional Division I men's hockey tournament next spring.

Building officials estimate at least 3,000 Fighting Sioux logos are scattered throughout Ralph Engelstad arena.

Figure skating official shot and killed

A former Russian sports official allegedly linked to the fixing of figure skating results at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics has been shot and killed, a prosecutor said.

Chevalier Nusuyev, former president of the Russian youth sports federation, was fatally shot late Monday in Moscow, Alexei Grigoryev, the top prosecutor in southwest Moscow, said on NTV television.

Citing unidentified city police officials, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported that Nusuyev died shortly after being taken to a hospital following the attack, which NTV said took place outside a restaurant he owned as he was getting into his car.

Sorensen's crew chief suspended

Busch Series driver Reed Sorenson's crew chief was suspended for six races for soaking tires at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Brian Pattie was fined $35,000, suspended until Oct. 26 and placed on probation until the end of the year. Crew member Brandon Stafford also was suspended for six races and Sorenson was docked 50 points in the series standings.

NASCAR officials caught Stafford rubbing an unapproved substance on Sorenson's tires on Friday before qualifying at Bristol. The practice is called "soaking tires" and is generally done to improve grip on the track.

-- Sun wire services