Phelps voted top male athlete

SWIMMING: Michael Phelps has added another triumph to his list of accomplishments: The Associated Press male athlete of the year.

The retired swimmer edged out LeBron James in voting announced Thursday, a fitting payoff for winning four golds and two silvers at the London Games, as well as recognition for becoming the most decorated Olympian ever.

Phelps finished with 40 votes in the media balloting, winning the award for the second time.

James had 37, followed by track star Usain Bolt with 23.

Associated Press

Free admission at Whitworth

Men’s basketball: Whitworth University is offering area basketball fans an early Christmas present with free admission to Saturday’s game when the 11th-ranked Pirates host Simpson College of Iowa at 7 p.m.

Whitworth is coming off three straight wins in California that extended the Pirates’ winning streak to eight in a row.

Simpson is making its first trip to Eastern Washington.

Packers hiring fans to shovel

Football: The Green Bay Packers are looking for help.

The NFL’s only publicly owned team is asking for as many as 600 people to clear snow from Lambeau Field today.

The first big storm of the winter has already dumped 6 inches of snow on northeastern Wisconsin, with up to a foot expected before it tapers off.

The Packers host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Shovelers need to be at least 15 years old, and the Packers will pay $10 per hour.

The job comes with a shovel but, sorry, not a spot on the 53-man roster.

Associated Press