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Goodell casts doubt on Limbaugh bid

BOSTON, Miss., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Rush Limbaugh's "divisive comments" may put him out of the running as owner of the St. Louis Rams, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday.

Goodell, speaking during a trip to Boston for a National Football League owners meeting, said any decision is still a long way away, The Washington Post reported. Limbaugh is part of a group bidding for the Rams that also includes Dave Checketts, chairman of the St. Louis Blues hockey team.

"I've said many times before we're all held to a high standard here, and I think divisive comments are not what the NFL is all about," Goodell said. "I would not want to see those comments coming from people who are in a responsible position in the NFL, absolutely not."

In 2003, he lost a commentator's spot on ESPN when he said Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles was overrated by "media" who wanted a successful black quarterback.

Any buyer needs the approval of three-quarters of the owners. Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, said Limbaugh seemed like a "nice guy" at their one meeting but added he found some of his comments "incendiary."

NFL moves 2 Nov. 1 kickoff times

NEW YORK, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- The possibility of the Philadelphia Phillies playing in the World Series led the NFL on Tuesday to change the starting times of two Nov. 1 games.

If the Phillies defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, Game 4 of the World Series would be in Philadelphia the evening of Nov. 1 -- the same date the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles are scheduled to have a home game against the New York Giants.

The Phillies and Eagles play in separate stadiums but the facilities are next to each other and share a parking lot so the NFL moved the Eagles-Giants game from a 4:15 P.M. EST start to a 1 p.m. EST kickoff.

The NFL also moved the start of the Minnesota Vikings-at-Green Bay Packers game from 1 p.m. EST to 4:15 p.m. EST. That game marks the return of quarterback Brett Favre to Green Bay's Lambeau Field.

All the games involved are to be broadcast on the Fox television network.

Preakness required to stay in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, Md., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- The bankrupt owners of the Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park say bidders in an auction will be required to keep the Preakness in Maryland.

Court documents indicate that Magna Entertainment Corp., in seeking permission from a bankruptcy judge to auction off the properties, is requiring that bidders agree to keep the cherished horse race in the state, The Baltimore Sun reported Tuesday.

The revelation comes as a relief to state officials who had feared losing the famous annual thoroughbred event, the second jewel in racing's Triple Crown, the newspaper said.

"I am pleased that Magna recognizes the importance of keeping the Preakness here in Maryland, where it belongs and has been for over 100 years," Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley said in a statement. "Maryland has a rich tradition of horse racing and horse breeding and these industries generate thousands of jobs and millions of dollars for our local economy each year."

The Canadian company pulled back an earlier proposal to auction the track and is now reportedly seeking a Jan. 8 auction date, with a deadline for application set for Nov. 2.

Pennetta cruises to Linz first-round win

LINZ, Austria, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Flavia Pennetta dropped just two games in breezing through a first-round win Tuesday at the $220,000 Generali Ladies Linz tournament in Austria.

Pennetta lost 10 points over seven service games while piling up five breaks in a 6-1, 6-1 rout of Meghann Shaughnessy. Pennetta won 74 percent of the points on her serve and 73 percent when Shaughnessy failed to get her first serve in.

Sixth-seeded Sorana Cirstea was ousted 6-3, 6-3 by Julia Goerges but the other seeded players scheduled Tuesday advanced to the second round. No. 7-seeded Lucie Safarova was on the court just 52 minutes in a 6-2, 6-1 romp over Patricia Mayr and eighth-seeded Sara Errani took a 6-2, 6-3 decision from Arantxa Parra Santonja.

Anna-Lena Groenefeld topped Roberta Vinci 7-5, 6-1; Tatjana Malek got past Aravane Rezai 7-5, 7-5; and Olga Govortsova was a 6-2, 6-7 (7-9), 6-2 winner over Petra Martic in Tuesday's other matches.