Casino backs away from suing NBA

A Las Vegas casino said Sunday that the NBA should not have been included in a $50,000 lawsuit filed this month for an unpaid convention bill from the 2007 All-Star week.

Jennifer Dunne, a spokeswoman for Wynn Las Vegas, said Sunday that the lawsuit seeking payment from the NBA and a player’s charity should have been filed only against Alonzo Mourning Charities Inc., not against NBA Entertainment and NBA Properties.

Dunne said an “administrative error” led to the mistake, and it would be promptly corrected this morning.

Alonzo Mourning Charities did not immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment.

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SOCCER

2010 World Cup backup plan confirmed

FIFA President Sepp Blatter confirmed for the first time that a contingency plan exists to move the 2010 World Cup from South Africa in the event of a natural catastrophe.

The 2010 tournament has been plagued by stadium construction delays, security fears, transport problems and the possibility of power outages, leading to concerns that the first World Cup staged in Africa might have to be shifted to another country.

“I would be a very negligent president if I hadn’t put away in a drawer somewhere a Plan B,” Blatter said. “However, only a natural catastrophe would change things. If we had to activate the Plan B, we would take our decision after the Confederations Cup.”

The Confederations Cup will end this time next year.

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MOTOR RACING

Herbert gets emotional victory in NHRA

Doug Herbert raced to an emotional top-fuel victory in Norwalk, Ohio, at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, a win he dedicated to his two young sons killed in a highway accident in January.

Herbert powered his dragster to a 4.636-second run at 311.70 mph to beat Brandon Bernstein, who posted a 4.611 at 313.58. It was Herbert’s 10th victory and first of the season.

Tony Pedregon drove his Chevy Impala to his third funny car win of the season and moved to second in the Powerade Series points standings by outrunning top qualifier Robert Hight.

Pedregon earned his 39th victory with an effort of 4.882 seconds at 306.26 mph, and Hight trailed in a Ford Mustang with a 4.903 at 304.74.

Greg Anderson earned his fourth pro stock win of the season and 55th of his career in a Pontiac GXP when local favorite Larry Morgan had a red-light start.

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MISCELLANY

Washington dismisses two football players

Junior running back J.R. Hasty and senior cornerback Jordan Murchison were told by Washington football Coach Tyrone Willingham they won’t have their scholarships renewed for this season.

Hasty is the son of former Washington State safety and NFL player James Hasty. Hasty briefly quit the team last year and Murchison was suspended for five games after it was learned he was wanted on assault charges and also discovered he had been arrested on domestic violence charges.

A Washington spokesman said Willingham would have no comment on their departures.

Steffen Peters of San Diego took the national Grand Prix dressage championship and earned one of four Olympic berths by winning the freestyle event aboard Ravel at the Olympic dressage trials in San Juan Capistrano.

Leslie Morse of Beverly Hills earned an Olympic berth as an alternate despite finishing sixth aboard Kingston, a Dutch Warmblood stallion.