In brief: Dominant U.S. skiers win two more races
It’s been a big week for Americans in the Alps. Too bad it came 10 months too late for the Turin Olympics.
Bode Miller won a super-giant slalom in Hinterstoder, Austria, on Wednesday, 90 minutes after Lindsey Kildow and Julia Mancuso finished 1-2 in a downhill at Val d’Isere, France. Those successes gave the U.S. team five wins and an unprecedented nine podium results in the past six days.
The U.S. squad’s podium finishes in the past six days have come in all disciplines – slalom, giant slalom, super-G and downhill. It is the most impressive streak for the American team since 1983.
“Chad Hedrick won the 10,000 meters to finally beat Shani Davis, but it didn’t stop Davis from capturing his fourth consecutive U.S. Allround Long Track Speedskating Championship at West Allis, Wis.
Hedrick, of Spring, Texas, finished in 13 minutes, 38.22 seconds to 13:40.43 for Davis.
Boxing
MGM Grand lands fight
The highly anticipated Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight that figures to be one of boxing’s richest will be held at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 5.
The designation of the site by Golden Boy Promotions was made five weeks after an announcement saying the pair would meet for De La Hoya’s 154-pound WBC title in Las Vegas or Los Angeles.
“Koki Kameda of Japan defeated Juan Landaeta of Venezuela by a unanimous decision to retain the WBA light flyweight title in Tokyo.
Baseball
Salary average soars
Baseball salaries were booming even before the free-agent escalation that began more than a month ago.
The average salary shot up 9 percent this year to $2,699,292, according to final figures released by the Major League Baseball Players Association. The increase was the highest since a 12.8 percent rise in 2001 and makes it likely the $3 million mark will be broken next year or in 2008.
“Second baseman Marcus Giles agreed to a one-year deal with the San Diego Padres worth $3.75 million, with a club option for 2008.
College football
Carr stalker pleads
A man who allegedly stalked and sent threatening e-mails to Michigan coach Lloyd Carr will stay out of jail under a probationary order.
Tobi Akinmusuru entered a no-contest plea to a charge of using a computer to commit a crime, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine, a court administrator said.
“Arkansas coach Houston Nutt named Casey Dick as the starting quarterback against No. 6 Wisconsin in the Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl, but said Mitch Mustain would go into the game for Arkansas’ third series.
“Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball has been ruled academically ineligible for the Gator Bowl. Cornerback Kenny Scott also is academically ineligible, the school said.