League Notes

Duno Becomes Third Female To Qualify For This Year’s Indy 500

In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin reports IRL rookie Milka Duno joined Danica Patrick and Sarah Fisher in qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, “the first time three women qualified for the race in the same year” (INDY STAR, 5/20).

FAIR CHANCE: In Philadelphia, Marc Narducci notes 76ers Chair Ed Snider wants the NBA Draft lottery to “revert to its original form, in which the non-playoff teams would earn an equal shot at the No. 1 pick.” Snider: “There should be just one Ping-Pong ball per team. Teams should not be rewarded for being inept.” NBA President of League & Basketball Operations Joel Litvin said, “I think this will be an issue that will be reraised before the [NBA BOG].” When asked about teams losing on purpose to improve their lottery odds, Litvin said that the league “doesn’t believe it took place this season” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 5/20).

LAW ENFORCEMENT: In Cincinnati, Greg Paeth reported Bengals LB A.J. Nicholson was charged with domestic assault Friday after “allegedly punching a woman he lives with during a domestic dispute.” Nicholson was already one of nine Bengals players to be arrested since January ’06. He is the second to be charged this year (CINCINNATI POST, 5/19)....Jets CB Justin Miller was arrested yesterday and charged with third-degree misdemeanor assault after he “allegedly punched a woman” at nightclub in N.Y. Police said that Miller was “swinging at a man, but hit the woman after the man ducked” (ESPN.com, 5/20).