Auto racing
SI, VALVOLINE APOLOGIZE: Sports Illustrated and Valvoline Co. have apologized for an advertisement in this week's issue opposite a photograph showing a sheet-covered body on a bloody grandstand at Lowe's Motor Speedway in North Carolina.Three spectators were killed and eight other fans were injured May 1 when debris from a crash during the Indy Racing League VisionAire 500 flew over a 15-foot catch fence and into the crowd.
On the opposite page, a full-page Valvoline ad shows five men working under the hood of a car, with the caption, "You're born. You die. In between you work on cars. We should all be so lucky."
Football
BETTIS UNDERGOES SURGERY: Steelers star running back Jerome Bettis underwent emergency surgery to remove his appendix following a workout.
Bettis, 27, experienced sudden pain Tuesday while training and had the operation at the UCLA Medical Center.
Bettis was recovering at the hospital Wednesday and should be ready for Pittsburgh's training camp, which begins July 29.
CHIEFS SIGN DISHMAN: Veteran cornerback Cris Dishman has agreed to terms with the Kansas City Chiefs and says both he and the team have something to prove.
Dishman, who turns 34 in August, made the Pro Bowl in 1997, but had what he acknowledges as his worst season in 1998 with the Washington Redskins. Washington released him last month, in part to save on his $2.7 million salary.
Business
POLLIN TO SELL CAPS, WIZARDS: Abe Pollin announced plans to sell the NHL's Washington Capitals and his minority interests in the NBA's Washington Wizards and the MCI Center to America Online executive Ted Leonsis.
Leonsis, along with partners Jonathan Ledecky and Capitals president Dick Patrick, are investing about $200 million in the sale. About $85 million of that is the price for the money-losing Capitals.
Golf
NICKLAUS COMING BACK: Jack Nicklaus announced he will play in the Senior PGA Tour's Bell Atlantic Classic next week, his first competitive round since undergoing hip surgery.
Nicklaus, 59, underwent replacement of his left hip in January, forcing him to miss his first Masters in 40 years. Doctors had predicted that the six-time Masters champion wouldn't be able to return to tournament golf for six months.
VENTURI NAMED CAPTAIN: Ken has been named captain of the U.S. President's Cup Team. Venturi, the 1964 U.S. Open champion and a golf analyst for CBS Sports for 31 years, will take charge of a team that looked lifeless in a 20 1/2-11 1/2 loss to the International team last year at Royal Melbourne in Australia.
Basketball
UCLA'S DAVIS GOING PRO: UCLA point guard Baron Davis announced he will forgo his last two years of eligibility to enter the NBA draft.
Tennis
ITALIAN OPEN: At Rome, Pete Sampras' struggles on clay continued as he was beaten by Fernando Meligeni 6-3, 6-1 in the second round of the Italian Open.
Andre Agassi had a far more successful day, routing clay-court specialist Alberto Berasategui 6-1, 6-2 to reach the third round.
GERMAN OPEN: At Berlin, top-seeded Martina Hingis easily advanced at the German Open with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Gala Leon Garcia.
Two seeds lost, however, as No. 2 Jana Novotna was upset by Ruxandra Dragomir 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, and No. 5 Mary Pierce pulled out of the clay-court event with a thigh injury.