Reichelt wins World Cup super-G while Miller falters
Hannes Reichelt of Austria won a super-G race Thursday for his first World Cup victory less than nine months after tearing knee ligaments, and Bode Miller skied off course in snowy and windy conditions.
Miller failed to navigate a gate about halfway down the Birds of Prey course at Beaver Creek, Colo. It was the third straight disappointing showing for the reigning super-G and overall World Cup champion, who was 18th and 22nd in two races at Lake Louise, Alberta.
Taking advantage of a break in the swirling, 50 mph winds when he skied the section of the course that gave so many others trouble, Reichelt finished in 1 minute, 17.33 seconds. Erik Guay of Canada was second, only 0.04 seconds behind, and Daron Rahlves of the United States was fifth.
Miller, among 17 entrants who failed to finish the race, avoided reporters at the bottom of the hill.
Baseball
Phillies, Gordon reach deal
Tom Gordon and Philadelphia reached a preliminary agreement on an $18 million, three-year contract, The Associated Press learned.
Gordon also was negotiating with the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians before agreeing to the deal with the Phillies, which is pending a physical. He is likely to take that physical Saturday, according to a person close to the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized yet.
“The Boston Red Sox have asked a judge to let them keep the ball that Doug Mientkiewicz caught for the final out that clinched Boston’s World Series title.
“Reliever Tim Worrell is returning to San Francisco after agreeing to a $4 million, two-year contract. Worrell, who pitched in San Francisco from 2001-03, spent the past two seasons in Philadelphia and Arizona.
“Free-agent catcher Sal Fasano, 35, who spent most of last year with Baltimore, agreed to a $425,000, one-year contract with Philadelphia.
College basketball
OSU extends John’s contract
Fourth-year Oregon State men’s basketball coach Jay John has been awarded a five-year contract extension, athletic director Bob De Carolis said.
Last season, OSU finished 17-15 overall and 8-10 in the Pacific-10 Conference. It was the team’s first winning season since 1989-90.
Horse racing
Afleet Alex ends career
Afleet Alex’s gritty recovery to win the Preakness after nearly crumpling to the dirt was a dazzling highlight in the colt’s career. The frightening collision also may have played a role in the horse’s early retirement, announced from Philadelphia.
Afleet Alex was retired because of a new injury discovered before the horse was shipped to Gulfstream Park in Florida this week. Another ankle injury had already sidelined Afleet Alex since his June 11 victory in the Belmont.
Afleet Alex retires with eight wins in 12 starts and earnings of $2,765,800. He nearly became the sport’s 12th Triple Crown winner, finishing third in the Kentucky Derby by a length and winning the Preakness and Belmont.
Golf
Miyazato thrills fans
Ai Miyazato gave her large media gallery plenty to write home about, shooting a 3-under-par 69 in cool, blustery conditions to build a three-shot lead after two rounds of the LPGA Tour qualifying tournament at Daytona Beach, Fla.
Miyazato, a six-time winner on the Japan LPGA this year, made two bogeys on her first four holes before recovering with five birdies to finish at 135.
Morgan Pressel, 17, who shared the lead with Miyazato after the first round, wound up with a 75, putting her in a tie for third. Pressel, the U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, tied for second at the U.S. Women’s Open.
“Michael Allen, 46, shot a 4-under 68 to build a six-shot lead after two rounds of PGA Tour men’s qualifying at Winter Garden, Fla.
Miscellany
Canada tops U.S. women
Gillian Apps scored on a pass from Hayley Wickenheiser with 3:40 to play, and Canada beat the United States 3-1 Thursday night in women’s hockey in Chicago. It was Canada’s seventh win in the last eight games between the sport’s longtime powers.
“John McEnroe, 46, will team with Jonas Bjorkman at the SAP Open in an ATP men’s tennis doubles event in San Jose, Calif., in February, his first on United States soil since the 1992 U.S. Open.
“Pat Putnam, 75, an award-winning boxing writer at Sports Illustrated and other outlets died Sunday at a hospital in upstate New York of complications from stomach surgery, friends told the Los Angeles Times.