Serena: Blood clots nearly fatal
EASTBOURNE, England, June 13 (UPI) -- U.S. tennis star Serena Williams said Monday she's grateful for a second chance at tennis after blood clots in her lungs nearly killed her in March.
Williams told reporters in Eastbourne, England, clots resulting from a freak foot injury she suffered after winning Wimbledon last July put her on her "death bed at one point -- quite literally. I've had a serious illness but at first I didn't appreciate that."
Williams, who will make her long-delayed debut this week at the AEGON International in Eastbourne, said the ordeal has made her grateful for what she has, CNN reported.
"I'm really honored to have a chance to walk out on the court, because 3 1/2 months ago I didn't think I would have that chance again," she said.
"I just thought, if I can just pull through and survive, then wow, I would be really excited for that."
Williams was injured in a Munich restaurant after stepping on some broken glass -- a wound that required 18 stitches to close. After spending nearly five months in a cast, doctors said the inactivity resulted pulmonary embolisms, in which blood clots blocked arteries in her lungs.
Williams faces Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria Tuesday in her first match since the injury.
Gibbs team, Busch face NASCAR penalty
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., June 13 (UPI) -- The No.18 Joe Gibbs Racing team and driver Kyle Busch were penalized by NASCAR Monday for rules violations at Pocono Raceway.
The infractions were discovered after Sunday's 500-mile Sprint Cup race at Pocono, during which Busch finished third.
NASCAR said race officials found the left-front end of Busch's Toyota was below the required minimum height. It was judged to be 1/16th of an inch too low.
As a result, crew chief Dave Rogers was fined $25,000 while Busch and team owner Joe Gibbs were penalized six points each in the championship standings.
"We brought the No.18 car back to our race shop and have identified the problem, which caused us to measure low during the post-race inspection process in Pocono yesterday afternoon," the team said in a statement. "We have made NASCAR aware of our findings, and we accept the penalty they have issued today."
With the penalty, Busch fell to 31 points behind leader Carl Edwards, still good for fifth place.
Dykstra pleads not guilty in fraud case
LOS ANGELES, June 13 (UPI) -- Former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra Monday pleaded not guilty to bankruptcy fraud in a Los Angeles federal court.
Dykstra, 48, stands accused of stripping his $18.5 million mansion of chandeliers, artwork, high-end furniture and granite before declaring bankruptcy.
The former three-time all-star, who was a member of the Mets' 1986 World Championship team, was represented by a public defender at the hearing after declaring financial hardship, the New York Daily News reported.
The former player-turned-financial adviser appeared at the hearing in orange jail jumpsuit.
He had been arrested and charged last week with two dozen counts of fraud, grand theft and drug possession in an unrelated state case, the newspaper said. In that case, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said Dykstra and two other men tried to lease high-end automobiles from local dealerships by allegedly providing fraudulent information and claiming credit through a bogus business.
Dykstra could spend up to 12 years in state prison if convicted on those charges.
The outfielder was a career .285 hitter with 1,298 hits and 404 RBI in a 12-year career with the Mets and Philadelphia.
Fickell takes over Ohio State football
COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 13 (UPI) -- Luke Fickell has been appointed the head football coach at Ohio State, replacing Jim Tressel, who resigned two weeks ago amid a NCAA rules scandal.
Fickell, 37, had been the assistant head coach at Ohio State. He played for the Buckeyes from 1993-96 and has been a member of the coaching staff since 2002. He is the 23rd head coach in 121 years of Ohio State football.
"Ohio State is so much bigger than any team, player coach or situation," Fickell said Monday. "We all understand that change is inevitable. It's growth that's optional. And this is a time of growth for all of us."
Athletic Director Gene Smith said Fickell, who will have a base pay of $775,000 this season, is considered an interim coach. He will, however, be a candidate for the full-time position when a search is conducted following the season.
Ohio State is coming off a 12-1 season which gave Tressel a 106-22 record since he took over the program in 2001. The Buckeyes won seven Big Ten championships in that period.
But Tressel resigned May 30 amid allegations that he knew of potential NCAA rules violations, including players receiving improper benefits. Ohio State officials this summer go before the NCAA Committee on Infractions and Tressel could face severe sanctions if the committee determines he lied to investigators.
