Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — MOTOR SPORTS

Vettel wins F1 title

Sebastian Vettel captured his third consecutive Formula One championship title Sunday, overcoming a first-lap crash to finish sixth in a Brazilian Grand Prix won by Jenson Button under pouring rain in Sao Paulo. “It’s difficult to find the right words,” said Vettel, who at 25 became the youngest three-time champion in F1. “It’s unbelievable. I’m still full of adrenaline. It was an incredible race.” Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, F1’s most successful driver, finished seventh in his final race after 19 seasons. Minutes before the race, he lapped the track with a flag with the words “Thank You.” He used the radio to thank the mechanics and engineers he has worked with as well as his fans watching on TV. Vettel appeared in big trouble after he was bumped shortly after the first lap and spun. He dropped to last place before he could turn his car around and start a difficult pursuit. But he steadily worked his way up the fieldand did what he had to - holding off Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, the only other driver contending for the title. “You are the man, you are a triple world champion,” a team official told Vettel on the radio after he crossed the line. Vettel is the first driver with three titles in a row since Schumacher won five consecutive in 2000-2004. The only other driver to win at least three consecutive championships was Juan Manuel Fangio in 1954-1957. He needed to finish fourth or better to clinch the title regardless of where Alonso crossed the line. The Spaniard would only have a chance by finishing on the podium. Alonso had a superb start on a hectic first lap at Interlagos and finished second, but that wasn’t enough to erase Vettel’s 13-point lead in the standings. Alonso’s Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa was third in front of his home crowd, and cried on the podium after finishing a difficult season on a high note. Lewis Hamilton was leading in his final race with McLaren when Nico Hulkenberg crashed into him while trying to pass on a slippery track with 17 laps to go. Hamilton received a standing ovation from his McLaren team when returning to the garage.

BASKETBALL

McHale’s daughter dies

The daughter of Houston Rockets Coach Kevin McHale has died at 23. Alexandra “Sasha” McHale died Saturday, and the team disclosed no other details Sunday. Kevin McHale has been on leave since Nov. 10 to deal with what the team called a personal family matter. During his absence, Kelvin Sampson has been the interim coach. There is no timetable for Kevin McHale’s return. Team owner Leslie Alexander said in a statement that he extends his “deepest condolences” over the loss of the McHales’ “beautiful daughter.” He called Kevin and wife Lynn “loving and dedicated parents who will need our continued support throughout this very difficult time.” He said the “entire organization is mourning.” Some of the Rockets expressed their support for McHale. James Harden tweeted: “Praying for coach McHale and his family.” Chandler Parsons added on Twitter: “R.I.P. Sasha.” McHale spent several years with the Minnesota Timberwolves as a coach and executive before joining the Rockets following two seasons as a television analyst. “While Kevin was with our organization, we all watched Sasha grow up and become an outstanding young woman,” Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said in a statement. “She will be sorely missed by her family and friends.”

UCLA guard Tyler Lamb has decided to transfer. No. 11 UCLA announced Sunday that Lamb has been released from the basketball team. The junior will leave school at the end of the fall quarter. Lamb started 32 games for the Bruins last season and played in all 34 games as a freshman. He averaged 5.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in two seasons. Lamb played in just one game for UCLA this season following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Oct. 9 and sitting out four weeks. He had fallen behind freshmen Shabazz Muhammad, Kyle Anderson and Jordan Adams for playing time among the Bruins’ swingmen. UCLA hosted Cal Poly on Sunday night.

BOXING

Guerrero wins decision

Robert Guerrero knocked down Andre Berto twice on the way to a unanimous-decision victory in a welterweight bout Saturday night in Oxnard, Calif. Guerrero (31-1-1) floored the former 147-pound champion in the first round and again in the second round before persevering through a physically punishing bout. Berto (28-2) recovered from a slow start to test Guerrero despite a closed right eye from the middle rounds onward. Guerrero’s right eye also closed late in the fight, but the Gilroy, Calif., fighter hung on for his eighth consecutive victory. All three judges at Citizens Bank Business Arena scored the bout 116-110 for Guerrero. Berto complained about the officiating after the fight, his second loss in three outings. Berto failed a doping test earlier this year, wiping out a lucrative rematch with Victor Ortiz.

BASEBALL

Trosky Jr. dead

Hal Trosky Jr., who briefly played in the major leagues and was the son of the late Cleveland Indians great Hal Trosky Sr., has died. He was 76. Mike Trosky, the younger Trosky’s son, said his father died Friday at a hospice house in Hiawatha, Iowa, after being diagnosed with lung cancer in August. Trosky was born in Cleveland and played five seasons in the minors after being signed by the Chicago White Sox out of high school. In 1958, he pitched two games for the White Sox. The Iowa Baseball Hall of Famer stopped playing after the 1961 season. His father played first base for Cleveland from 1933 to 1941 and the White Sox in 1944 and 1946. He hit 216 home runs with Cleveland - the fifth-most in franchise history.

SOCCER

Sexton dies at 82

Dave Sexton, who led Chelsea to FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup triumphs in the 1970s, has died. He was 82. Sexton’s death was announced Sunday by the English Football Association. No date or cause of death was given. During his period as Chelsea manager between 1967 and 1974, Sexton followed up the FA Cup triumph in 1970 with the European success the following year. Sexton, whose managerial career began at Leyton Orient, also took charge of Queens Park Rangers, Manchester United for a trophyless four years from 1977, Coventry and England’s under-21 team. “It is a sad day for English football,” said FA director of football development Trevor Brooking. “Anyone who was ever coached by Dave would be able to tell you what a good man he was, but not only that, what a great coach in particular he was. In the last 30-40 years Dave’s name was up there with any of the top coaches we have produced in England - the likes of Terry Venables, Don Howe and Ron Greenwood. His coaching was revered.”