IN BRIEF

MOTOR SPORTS

NASCAR is satisfied with safety standards

Despite injuries to fans from flying debris, NASCAR is satisfied with its safety standards, saying the fence at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway did what it was supposed to do Sunday -- keep Carl Edwards' car out of the grandstands.

In a spectacular last-lap accident, Edwards' car sailed upside-down into the frontstretch fence, which bowed but held, before the battered vehicle returned to the track. Blake Bobbitt, one of seven injured by debris, remained hospitalized Monday with a broken jaw.

"One of our primary goals over the years is to build a retaining fence that keeps the cars and parts and pieces out of the spectator areas. Nothing is bullet-proof," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said. "The retaining fence did what it's supposed to do."

Also: Mike Skinner won the rain-shortened O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 trucks race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.

Skinner was in the pits when the race was called after 132 laps -- 35 short of the finish -- for his 26th NASCAR truck series victory.

FOOTBALL

Lions' top pick spoofs his pick for Letterman

Detroit Lions top pick Matthew Stafford appeared on Monday night's "Late Show with David Letterman," reading the Top Ten list.

The quarterback, who starred for three years at Georgia, was taken with the first pick by the Lions in the NFL Draft on Saturday. Stafford will try to help the Lions overcome the first 0-16 season in NFL history.

"If the Lions win one game this year, I'm a hero," Stafford joked on the show.

Also: San Diego Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips was cited for misdemeanor battery for allegedly striking a security guard in the face at a downtown hotel Sunday morning.

After going undrafted, quarterback Graham Harrell of Texas Tech has agreed to attend the Cleveland Browns' rookie minicamp this weekend. The record-setting passer does not have a contract with the team.

Running back Chris Perry was released by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Former UNLV offensive lineman John Asiata signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears.

Former Kansas City Chiefs coach Frank Gansz died in a Dallas hospital. He was 70.

Gansz coached in the NFL for 24 years. He was coach of the Chiefs from 1987-88.

Former Michigan quarterback Steven Threet plans to transfer to Arizona State, according to a person familiar with Threet's decision who requested anonymity because details are being worked out.

MISCELLAENOUS

UNLV women's golf receives NCAA invite

The UNLV women's golf team will be seeded 11th in the 21-team NCAA West Regional in Tempe, Ariz., on May 7-9.

The Rebels will compete in their seventh straight NCAA regional. Host Arizona State is the No. 1 seed.

Also: Greg Page, a former heavyweight boxing champion who suffered a severe brain injury in a 2001 fight, died at his Louisville, Ky., home. He was 50.

The one-time World Boxing Association champion died in his bed of complications related to injuries he suffered in a March 9, 2001 fight against Dale Crowe.

Mississippi State forward Jarvis Varnado has declared for the NBA Draft but won't hire an agent, allowing him to change his mind and to return to the Bulldogs.