Sports in brief

NFL

Hearing set if season doesn't start on time

If the NFL season does not begin on time, a key court date will take place four days later. After attorneys for the NFL owners filed a motion Monday asking a federal court in Minnesota to dismiss the players' antitrust lawsuit against the league, U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson scheduled a hearing on the motion for Sept. 12. The season is scheduled to begin on Sept. 8 with most games played on Sept. 11.

COLLEGES

USC stripped of title

The Bowl Championship Series stripped Southern California of its 2004 title, leaving that season without a BCS champion.

BCS officials had said USC was in danger of having its championship vacated after the Trojans were hit with heavy NCAA sanctions last year for rules violations committed during the 2004 and '05 seasons.

The NCAA ruled tailback Reggie Bush received improper extra benefits during those seasons and was ineligible when he played.The Trojans will not have to relinquish The Associated Press national championship. -- AP

MMABill a step closer

The bill to legalize mixed martial arts in New York passed a vote by the state Assembly's committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development.

The vote was 16-3, with two Assembly members absent.

The bill now goes to the Codes Committee, said Assemb. Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), a proponent of the sport. Should it pass that committee this week, Murray said the bill will go to the Ways and Means Committee, a place MMA has yet to beat.

"I'm extremely encouraged, especially since two of the people who voted against it last time voted for it this time," Murray said. "They're starting to realize it's not so bad."

NASCARChildress fined $150G

Team owner Richard Childress was fined $150,000 and placed on probation for the rest of the year because of his altercation with Kyle Busch on Saturday. -- AP