Hambletonian champ, co-owner unhurt in Pa. crash
Standout trotter Deweycheatumnhowe and award-winning trainer and co-owner Ray Schnittker were unhurt when their pickup and trailer flipped on an icy road in north-central Pennsylvania.
Schnittker told the Associated Press that his truck hit an icy patch near Jersey Shore, Pa., Monday morning.
The truck and horse trailer carrying the Hambletonian champion flipped and slid about 30 feet down an embankment.
•Breeders’ Cup reverses decision to cut purses: The Breeders’ Cup has changed its decision to cut financial support for certain stakes races at about 40 North American tracks after getting a barrage of complaints from the industry.
While the organization is making no long-term commitment to the stakes program, which affects 121 races, a news release announced it would continue at least for one more year.
Tennis
Nadal, Jankovic honored
Top-ranked Rafael Nadal and Jelena Jankovic were honored as the International Tennis Federation’s world champions of 2008.
Nadal, who overtook Roger Federer at the top of the men’s rankings shortly after beating the Swiss star in the Wimbledon final, is the first Spanish man to receive the honor.
Jankovic finished the year as the top-ranked women’s player despite failing to win a Grand Slam title in 2008 – she lost in the U.S. Open final to Serena Williams.
But the 23-year-old Serb still managed to win more matches than any other player on tour, and claimed WTA titles in Rome, Beijing, Stuttgart and Moscow.
•USTA picks Birmingham to host Davis Cup: The city of Birmingham, Ala., will host the 2009 first-round Davis Cup matches between the United States and Roger Federer-led Switzerland on March 6-8.
It’s the first time a Davis Cup match will be played in Alabama.
Auto racing
Gillett Evernham scales back Nationwide program
Gillett Evernham Motorsports will lay off about 65 employees in several departments as part of scaling back its Nationwide Series program next season.
The No. 9 Dodge will run a partial schedule in the second-tier NASCAR series in 2009.
The team will continue to field at least three Sprint Cup Series teams – for Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and Reed Sorenson – and is in talks with Petty Enterprises to merge with that organization and house its famed No. 43.
Olympics
CBS, Turner may make Olympics rights bid
CBS Corp. and Time Warner Inc. executives have discussed joining forces to bid on rights to televise the Olympics in 2014 and 2016, turning that competition into an even greater clash of media titans.
TV empires headed by incumbent NBC, Fox and ABC-ESPN have all said they expect to bid on the U.S. rights to the games.
Baseball
Mets deny sale rumors
The New York Mets say the money lost by their ownership group in Bernard Madoff’s alleged Ponzi scam will not affect team operations. Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said some individual partners lost money. He said the case does not affect the new Citi Field stadium and that the Mets are not for sale.
•Padres outfielder Giles sued by ex-girlfriend: San Diego Padres outfielder Brian Giles is being sued by his former girlfriend for more than $10 million, alleging he battered her while she was pregnant and caused her to have a miscarriage.
NBA
Celtics streak now 16
At Atlanta, Kevin Garnett scored 10 of his 18 points in the final quarter, and Atlanta’s Joe Johnson missed a late free throw that would have tied it, helping the Boston Celtics beat the Hawks 88-85 for their 16th straight victory.
•Paul set NBA record: Chris Paul set an NBA record with a steal in his 106th straight regular-season game and had 19 points and 12 assists to lead the New Orleans Hornets to a 90-83 comeback victory over the visiting San Antonio Spurs.
Miscellany
Bolt voted L’Equipe’s athlete of the year
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt was honored as French sports daily L’Equipe’s athlete of the year, beating out U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps and Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal.
Bolt, who won gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters and 100 relay at the Beijing Olympics in August, all in world-record times, was selected as L’Equipe’s “Champion of Champions” for 2008.
Phelps, who made history by winning eight golds for the United States at Beijing, finished second.
Nadal was third after winning the French Open and Wimbledon to take over the world No. 1 ranking.
•NFL owners approve restructured Steelers deal: NFL owners have approved a restructured ownership plan in which Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney and his son will buy most of the shares owned by other family members.
•O’Reilly’s goal gives U.S. 1-0 win over China: At Detroit, Heather O’Reilly scored off a rebound in the 34th minute, helping the U.S. soccer team beat China 1-0. The victory gave the U.S. a record of 33-1-2 for 2008, extending its record for wins in a calendar year. The Americans won 28 of 34 matches in 2004.