Crabtree out after surgery on Achilles tendon
NFL: The San Francisco 49ers suddenly have a huge void in their receiving corps as they chase another Super Bowl berth: Michael Crabtree is sidelined after surgery on his right Achilles tendon.
San Francisco’s leading wide receiver underwent surgery Wednesday, though the team is optimistic he will return at some point in 2013. Crabtree was operated on at Stanford by Dr. Tim McAdams one day after suffering the injury during 7-on-7 drills in an organized team activity.
“Michael Crabtree underwent surgery to repair his Achilles tendon that he tore yesterday,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Surgery was successful and we do not anticipate it will be season-ending for Michael. It was completely torn, and completely repaired.”
Harbaugh would not speculate when Crabtree might return to play.
The 25-year-old Crabtree, the team’s 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Texas Tech, had career highs last season with 85 receptions for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns for the NFC champion Niners, who lost 34-31 to the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl.
Krzyzewski returning as U.S. Olympic coach
Basketball: A person with knowledge of the decision says Mike Krzyzewski has agreed to return as U.S. men’s Olympic basketball coach.
Krzyzewski was originally expected to step down but instead will attempt to lead the Americans to a third straight gold medal.
His return will be announced today at a press conference.
Winterhawks win to gain semifinals
Miscellany: The Portland Winterhawks came up with a big third period for the second game in a row and advanced to the semifinals of the Memorial Cup with a 4-2 hockey victory over the host Saskatoon Blades.
Chase De Leo, Brendan Leipsic and Ty Rattie scored in a span of 6:08 of the third to turn a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining.
Portland will play the winner of tonight’s tiebreaker between London and Saskatoon.
• Canucks fire Vigneault: The Vancouver Canucks fired coach Alain Vigneault. The Canucks also fired assistants Rick Bowness and Newell Brown.
Vigneault, the Canucks’ all-time leader in coaching wins, led the NHL club to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. But Vancouver was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in the past two seasons.
• Jarrett honored by NASCAR: Former Sprint Cup champion Dale Jarrett and master mechanic Maurice Petty headline the latest group of inductees in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Drivers Tim Flock, Jack Ingram and Fireball Roberts were also elected.
• Visconti wins 17th stage: Giovanni Visconti won the 17th stage of the Giro d’Italia and Vincenzo Nibali retained the overall cycling lead.
• Reyna hired: Former U.S. national team captain Claudio Reyna has been hired as director of soccer for the new New York City FC of MLS.
• Del Porto sidelined: Seventh-ranked Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina has pulled out of the upcoming French Open tennis tournament because of a respiratory virus.