<table> </table> <strong><span class="subhead">Former Royals backup dies</span></strong></p><p><strong>Todd Cruz</strong>, an infielder who played with the Royals in 1979, died while swimming at the apartment complex in which he lived in Bullhead City, Ariz. He was 52. Cause of death is pending results of an autopsy.</p><p>Cruz played with Philadelphia, Kansas City, California, Chicago, Seattle and Baltimore. He played third base for the Orioles in the 1983 World Series.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Nationwide to roll out new car</span></strong></p><p>NASCAR will conduct a test of its new car for the Nationwide Series next week at Richmond International Raceway. All four auto manufacturers will bring two of the new generation cars for the testing. NASCAR introduced a new car for its Sprint Cup series last year at selected races.</p><p>Nationwide team owners have been reluctant to change cars because of the cost involved in building a new model. Nationwide cars have a shorter wheelbase and less horsepower than the ones used in Sprint Cup.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Soccer team in Cuba</span></strong></p><p>For the first time since an exhibition game in 1947, the U.S. national soccer team is in Cuba. It arrived Thursday in advance of its World Cup qualifier against Cuba on Saturday night. The American flag was among a line of flags flying in front of the team&#8217;s hotel along the Malecon boulevard.</p><p>&#8220;Obviously we wouldn&#8217;t know what to expect, seeing that this is the first time being in the country,&#8221; U.S. defender <strong>Oguchi Onyewu </strong>said after arriving at the hotel. &#8220;I think we&#8217;re all just taking it in, trying to enjoy the experience and taking advantage of every moment.&#8221;</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Lawmaker may challenge LPGA</span></strong></p><p>California state senator <strong>Leland Yee</strong> is seeking a legal opinion to determine whether the LPGA&#8217;s new language requirement is a violation of California laws covering workplace discrimination. Yee noted that California courts overturned a state law requiring hospital workers to speak English.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Elsewhere</span></strong></p><p>&#8226;Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the year, will run in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup later this month at Belmont Park in New York, where he will have a chance to become thoroughbred racing&#8217;s richest horse.</p><p>&#8226;British billionaire <strong>Sir Richard Branson </strong>will try to break the trans-Atlantic speed record for a single-hulled sailboat. The crew, including his son and daughter, will sail a 99-foot yacht &#8220;Virgin Money.&#8221; The record is six days, 17 hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds.