by The Toronto Star

Leafs, Raptors at bottom of Ultimate Standings

The Maple Leafs and Raptors sit near the bottom in ESPN: The Magazine's seventh annual Ultimate Standings - ranking 120 and 105, respectively, out of the 122 teams in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.

The rankings, which are determined "by how much they give back to fans for all the emotion, money and time fans invest in their favourite teams," had the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at No. 1 and the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 122.

The ranking news was better for the Blue Jays, which are No. 31, up from No. 67 last year. The Raptors were No. 44 last year, while the Leafs were No. 121.

Auto racing

Petty, Earnhardt among first nominees for hall

Stock car racing giants ranging from Bill France Sr. and Junior Johnson to Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt are among the 25 nominees for NASCAR's first hall of fame class.

A panel of people in the sport and a fan vote will decide the first class of five inductees, which will be announced in October. Induction will take place in conjunction with the hall's opening in May.

Cricket

Canada trails Scotland by 77 after opening day

Canada held Scotland to 185 runs all out yesterday in the first day of competition of the ICC Intercontinental Cup, but the host side responded by limiting the Canadians to 108 runs while collecting seven wickets.

Canada's weak first innings left them 77 runs behind Scotland after Day 1 of the four-day match.

Swimming

Rodgers named head of

high-performance centre

Australian coach John Rodgers has been hired to head up the University of Toronto's new national high-performance swimming centre, and to assist to long-time Varsity Blues' head coach Byron MacDonald, the school's athletic department announced yesterday.

Rodgers has been head coach of Albany Creek Swim Club in Brisbane, Australia, since 1999 and has helped train eight Olympic medallists in a 25-year coaching career.

Boxing

More evidence points to Arguello death as suicide

Investigators have released new evidence that points to suicide in the death of former boxing champion and Managua mayor Alexis Arguello.

Arguello died at his home of a single gunshot to the chest early Wednesday.

Assistant judicial police chief Glenda Zavala says traces of gunpowder were found on Arguello's hands, suggesting he shot himself. There were no other signs of violence near where he was found.

Football

Jets' linebacker Pace banned four games

The NFL suspended New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace for four games without pay yesterday for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

In a statement issued by the Jets, Pace said the ban is a result of him taking an over-the-counter dietary supplement that he was unaware violated the NFL's policy.

Soccer

Zidane match in doubt after freak injury

Zinedine Zidane's charity soccer match tomorrow in Vancouver is in danger of being cancelled after the former French star suffered a freak injury.

Nick Smith, a spokesman for the game organizers, said Zidane injured his back while bending down to pick up his child Wednesday night as he was watching Vancouver's Canada Day fireworks display.

Star wire services

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