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SPORTS Friday 1 February 2019

In this Sept. 21, 2018, file photo, Los Angeles Angels' Shohei
Ohtani lines out against the Houston Astros during the fourth in-
ning of a baseball game in Houston.
Associated Press
Angels' Ohtani In this Feb. 27, 2011, file photo, Jeff Gordon celebrates winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto

progressing, won't be race at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. Associated Press

ready for opening day JEFF GORDON not grow up in the South, get up to speed. His first
Continued from Page 17
that grew up racing in the victory came in his second
Gordon won four champi-
dirt, he really changed that season, his first champion-
onships, his 93 victories rank whole outlook for owners. ship a year after that. He
By GREG BEACHAM appointment with Dr. Neal third all-time and his savvy A lot of opportunities came won 10 races the next sea-
AP Sports Writer El Attrache went "really brand management made through those doors that son but lost the champion-
AL Rookie of the Year well," according to Eppler. him one of the most recog- he opened." ship to his teammate, and
Shohei Ohtani has been Ohtani was cleared to be- nized drivers in the world. He On Friday night, Gordon will Gordon recovered to reel
medically cleared to re- gin weight training Friday changed the way NASCAR be inducted into NASCAR's off 23 victories in claiming
sume full strength training as the right-hander rebuilds was marketed, brought in Hall of Fame. He was a first- the 1997 and 1998 titles.
on his right arm following strength on his right side. Fortune 500 companies as ballot selection but fell shy "He was just the whole
Tommy John surgery, al- The Angels expect Ohtani sponsors and became the of the first unanimous pick package. Jeff could do
though he will not be ready to be their designated hit- first driver to appeal to a in the 10-year history of the anything he wanted, he
to hit for the Los Angeles ter at some point in 2019, broader sports audience Hall at 96 percent. He will had that kind of talent,"
Angels by opening day. but he will not be active as a pop culture reference be inducted with NASCAR said Hall of Fame team
Angels general manager when the Angels open and an entertainer. team owners Roger Pen- owner Rick Hendrick, who
Billy Eppler provided a posi- the regular season in late Gordon was the face of ske and Jack Roush. Also will induct Gordon.
tive update Thursday on March, Eppler says. Ohtani NASCAR from his 1993 rook- inducted will be Davey Alli- "You see a lot of guys with
the recovery of his two- is not expected to pitch ie season until his 2015 re- son and Alan Kulwicki, driv- talent, but I haven't seen a
way star. Ohtani's latest again until 2020.q tirement. ers killed in aviation acci- lot of guys who had it all. He
He made NASCAR attrac- dents two months apart at could go to Wall Street and
Keys, Collins tive and viable to an en- the prime of their careers. meet people, walk into a
tire generation of current Gordon had just six Cup boardroom and sell a pro-
among U.S. Fed Cup stars. Seven-time NASCAR starts against Kulwicki and gram, give him a script be-
champion Jimmie Johnson his debut in the 1992 sea-
fore he's got to go on stage
got his break from Gordon, son finale was the race in and he glances it over and
team vs Australia and reigning champion which Kulwicki won his only just walks out there and
championship. nails it. He's on the cover
Joey Logano grew up a NASCAR
Gordon fan. Current NAS- Gordon shared the track of 'Fortune,' and hosts 'Re-
CAR star Kyle Larson has with Allison 17 times and gis and Kelly' and 'Saturday
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — in Asheville, North Carolina. photos meeting his child- finished sixth in the final vic- Night Live' and just nails it.
No. 17 Madison Keys and The U.S. will face No. 14 hood hero. Without Gor- tory of Allison's career. Everything he does, he's a
No. 23 Danielle Collins Ashleigh Barty and No. don, Hendrick Motorsports It's impossible to know if pro and he took us from a
will lead the U.S. Fed Cup 46 Daria Gavrilova, along maybe isn't one of the most Gordon's on-track resume regional sport to national
team against Australia next with Priscilla Hon, Kimberley successful teams in all of would be as strong if Alli- sport to an international
month. Birrell and Astra Sharma on sports. son had not died in a 1993 sport and he put Hendrick
Sofia Kenin and Nicole a hard court at U.S. Cellu- "IndyCar was always on helicopter crash at Talla- Motorsports on the map."
Melichar will join them lar Center. The 22-year-old my radar growing up on dega Superspeedway. Al- Gordon is now a NASCAR
on the team announced Barty is coming off a quar- the West Coast but then lison was 32 and coming analyst for Fox Sports, in-
Wednesday by the U.S. terfinal appearance at the here's this guy with a really off consecutive third-place volved in numerous other
Tennis Association and Australian Open. bad mustache making his finishes in the Cup stand- ventures and the father of
team captain Kathy Rin- The U.S. is 9-5 all-time vs. way in stock car racing," ings. He was on the cusp two children who've trav-
aldi. The 25-year-old Collins the Aussies. The Americans Johnson recalled. "My dad of becoming the driver to eled the world with him and
recently reached her first won their last meeting in is a huge sprint car-midg- challenge Dale Earnhardt's wife Ingrid Vandebosch.
Grand Slam semifinal at the 2016 World Group Play- et fan and it's like 'Oh my reign and carry NASCAR for He's also a key member of
the Australian Open. off. The winner will face gosh, that's Jeff Gordon, the next decade. Hendrick's executive team
The first round of the World Germany or Belarus in the right?' ... The doors that he The job fell to Gordon and and the listed owner of
Group will be held Feb. 9-10 semifinals on April 20-21.q
opened for drivers that did it didn't take him long to Johnson's car. q