<table> </table> <strong><span class="subhead">No laughing matter</span></strong></p><p>Formula 1 driver <strong>Lewis Hamilton </strong>rejected the assertion made by F-1 boss <strong>Bernie Ecclestone</strong> that racist abuse directed at the driver by Spanish and Brazilian fans probably started as a joke. Ecclestone made the comments on a radio interview Thursday, pointing to poor sportsmanship rather than racism.</p><p>Hamilton, Formula 1&#8217;s first black champion, disagreed and said he &#8220;didn&#8217;t see it as a joke.&#8221;</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Vermes, Preki finalists for Hall</span></strong></p><p><strong>Peter Vermes</strong>, technical director for the Wizards, and former Wizards star <strong>Preki </strong>(now a coach at Chivas USA) are among the 25 finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2009. Four other players who spent time with the Wizards, <strong>Mike Sorber, Frank Klopas, Roy Lassiter </strong>and <strong>Mike Burns </strong>also are on the ballot, as is former Kansas City Comets indoor star <strong>Pato Margetic</strong>.</p><p>Vermes spent 1996-2004 in the MLS, including 2000-02 with the Wizards. He was MLS defender of the year in 2000 when the Wizards won the MLS Cup.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Stenson leads HSBC event</span></strong></p><p><strong>Henrick Stenson</strong>, playing in heavy rain, fog and smog, shot a 7-under 65 and held a 1-stroke lead over <strong>Sergio Garcia, Anthony Kim, Phil Mickelson</strong> and <strong>Adam Scott </strong>at the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, China.</p><p>&#8220;Although it was difficult to see, it was very good scoring conditions,&#8221; said Mickelson, the defending champion.</p><p>&#8226;At the Children&#8217;s Miracle Network Classic at Disney, <strong>Troy Matteson </strong>opened with an eagle, ran off three straight birdies at the turn and wound up with a career-low round of 9-under 63. He holds a 1-stroke lead over <strong>Jimmy Walker, Scott Verplank </strong>and <strong>Kevin Streelman</strong>. Walker needs to win this tournament to avoid going back to Q-school.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Golfer on a big-time roll</span></strong></p><p>Amateur golfer <strong>Curt Hocker </strong>of Kappa, Ill., has recorded five holes-in-one in the last week, including two on Saturday. For the year he has seven aces &#8212; five on par-4s &#8212; and two other double eagles.</p><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what to think,&#8221; said Hocker, who works in the pro shop at the El Paso Golf Club. &#8220;After each one I say it&#8217;s over, and it keeps happening.&#8221;</p><p>Fortunately for the 22-year-old, his club membership comes with &#8220;hole-in-one insurance,&#8221; meaning the club &#8212; not Hocker &#8212; has to honor the golf tradition of buying everyone in the clubhouse a drink after an ace is made.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Elsewhere</span></strong></p><p>&#8226;Word around NASCAR is that <strong>Chip Ganassi </strong>Racing with <strong>Felix Sabates </strong>is discussing a possible merger with <strong>Dale Earnhardt </strong>Inc. Ganassi plans to field two cars in Sprint Cup next year. DEI has four cars on the circuit this year.</p><p>&#8226;The forced sale by sealed bid of Horse of the Year Curlin failed to produce an acceptable offer. The next step is to do a private sale of the 20 percent stake in the horse to satisfy a $42 million judgment against the horse&#8217;s minority owners.</p><p>&#8226;The Washington Mystics of the WNBA hired their 11th coach in 12 seasons when they brought <strong>Julie Plank</strong> on board. She was an assistant at Minnesota last season.