Football
NFL MEETING CANCELED: An NFL owners meeting scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in Kansas City has been called off because of the death of New York Giants owner Wellington Mara.
The owners had been scheduled to discuss revenue sharing and negotiations with the players' union. There also was likely to be talk about the status of the New Orleans Saints, temporarily relocated to San Antonio because of Hurricane Katrina.
No rescheduling date has been set.
Auto racing
TRACK ESCAPES WILMA: Homestead-Miami Speedway sustained some damage from the strong winds of Hurricane Wilma, but next month's season-ending NASCAR race will go on as scheduled, the track president said Tuesday.
High winds blew parts of pit row's garage suites across the track and into the grandstand, damaging the seating area, debris fences and some of the track's new $8.5 million lighting system for night racing.
There was no structural damage to the racing surface, site of the Nextel Cup series' Ford 400 on Nov. 20. Speedway president Curtis Gray said he was still waiting for a damage estimate.
"We're scrambling a little bit, but all the rest is under way," Gray said. "We expect to be ready to go in three weeks."
The garage suites, canvas coverings that sit atop the garages, were both a victim and a culprit of the damage. Gray rode out the storm and witnessed the entire quarter-mile long row of suites get picked up and blown away by the wind.
"I was here when it hit, so about 6 in the morning, I hear something almost like an explosion," Gray said. "I looked out and I saw the canvas and it was just mind-boggling, how part of that could be on the back part of the grandstand."
Twelve new light poles lining pit row were taken out by the storm, and debris also damaged one of the tracks new light towers. Some of the grandstand will have to be replaced, Gray said.
Also damaged were the debris fences lining the grandstand area, but the storm spared the track's new tower in turn one, which is still under construction. All of the track's stationary buildings withstood the winds.
Operation teams from Daytona International Speedway, which escaped damage from Wilma, and Talladega Superspeedway were expected to arrive late Tuesday to help with repairs, Gray said.
"That makes it good to have those resources, because most of South Florida was hit by this storm and we don't have long (to make repairs)," Gray said.
Hockey
ECHL HONORS: Mike Pandolfo of the Reading Royals has been named ECHL Player of the Week for Oct. 21-23. In his first ECHL season, Pandolfo, 26, scored two goals, including the gamewinner against Johnstown on its season opener.
Tennis
LYON GRAND PRIX: Top-seeded Andy Roddick of the United States beat wild card Thierry Ascione of France 7-5, 6-3 Tuesday in the first round of the Lyon Grand Prix.
The victory left former U.S. Open champion Roddick 52-13 this year. Two-time Wimbledon finalist has won four ATP titles this season and 19 overall.
Olivier Rochus of Belgium also advanced, beating second-seeded Mariano Puerta of Argentina 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Teenager Gael Monfils of France defeated Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. The 19-year-old Monfils won his first ATP title at Sopot, Poland, on clay in August.
Sebastien Grosjean of France took Victor Hanescu of Romania 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; Thomas Enqvist of Sweden beat Gregory Carraz of France 6-1, 6-4, and Marc Gicquel of France ousted David Ferrer of Spain 6-4, 6-0.
ROSSET RETIRES: Marc Rosset retired Tuesday, saying the Swiss Indoors would be his final pro tennis tournament.
The 35-year-old Swiss player, whose biggest success was winning the Olympic gold medal in Barcelona, turned pro in 1988. His highest ranking in 17 years on the ATP Tour was ninth in 1995, but he has since dropped to 674th.
"My career already ended six months back," said Rosset, who last played singles on tour in October 2004 in St. Petersburg, Russia. "But my friends told me I should do one last lap, do this officially."
Rosset was playing a late doubles match Tuesday.
He has a 433-351 career singles record, with 15 singles and eight doubles titles. He has won $6,811,693 in prize money.
"It's not a sad day. I've had time to accept it," he said. "But it's a bit bizarre. Sort of like announcing your sporting death.
"You feel like you're dead, like you're reading an obit."
Rosset, who has a 37-21 career Davis Cup record and helped Switzerland reach its only final in 1992, delayed his retirement because of his loyalty and commitment to Davis Cup play.
He also served as Switzerland's captain.
"I only continued this year in case I was needed for Davis Cup," said Rosset, who played in three indoor Challenger events but lost in the first round of each.
Rosset was fired as captain before Switzerland's World Group playoff against Britain in September because of a reported breakdown in trust between himself and the players.
In 1998, after losing in the first round of the U.S. Open, Rosset escaped death when a Swissair flight he was originally to take to Geneva from New York crashed and killed all 229 aboard.
Soccer
FC DALLAS HIRES GM: Michael Hitchcock was appointed general manager for FC Dallas.
He was vice president of sales for MLS attendance leader Los Angeles. Hitchcock, hired Tuesday, has been in sales and marketing for MLS teams for eight years.
Hitchcock spent the past two seasons with the Galaxy, which led the league with an average attendance of 24,204. He also has worked for D.C. United and the Colorado Rapids.
Ice skating
KWAN DROPS OUT: Michelle Kwan has withdrawn from the Cup of China, her last chance to skate in the Grand Prix series leading to the 2006 Olympics.
Kwan, who dropped out of Skate America earlier this month, has been sidelined for two weeks with a strained ligament in her right hip. She has resumed training, but will not be fully recovered for another month.
So the five-time world and nine-time U.S. champion withdrew Tuesday from the Chinese tournament Nov. 3-6 in Beijing.
"There has been significant improvement in Michelle's condition over the past two weeks and she is ready to start back with limited on-ice activities," said orthopedic surgeon Leisure Yu, who is treating Kwan. "Over the next weeks, she will continue the rehabilitation process and gradually increase her ice time as the injury continues to heal."
Unless Kwan is a late entry into another Grand Prix event, she won't skate in any significant competitions until the U.S. nationals in January. The two-time Olympic medalist has won the last eight national titles.