Miller bumbles his way to 15th-place finish
Bode Miller is on the verge of being shut out for the second straight year at a major championship.
Miller hit a gate with his head during an error-filled second run on new skis in the giant slalom at the world championships Wednesday in Are, Sweden, finishing 15th in a race won by Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal. Ted Ligety was fourth, but the American men lack a medal with the championships drawing near a close.
Miller, one of the top skiers on the World Cup circuit, came into the championships as a medal contender in several events.
Football
Weis testifies at trial
Despite the potential risks, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis decided to have gastric bypass surgery because he was afraid he would one day “drop dead” if he didn’t lose weight.
Weis, who suffered life-threatening complications and nearly died after the June 2002 surgery, testified in his medical malpractice case in Boston against two surgeons that he has struggled with his weight all his life.
Weis claims in his suit that Massachusetts General Hospital physicians Charles Ferguson and Richard Hodin acted negligently by failing to recognize life-threatening internal bleeding and infection two days after the surgery.
•The San Diego Chargers began their coaching search so quickly that the first candidate to be interviewed ran into the guy he hopes to replace.
Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary met with team executives less than 48 hours after Marty Schottenheimer was fired. The former Chicago Bears great said he crossed paths with Schottenheimer, who was still cleaning out his office.
•Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen will serve two days in jail for driving under the influence of alcohol.
The sentence came after the defensive end pleaded no contest in Leawood (Kan.) Municipal Court.
•Ray Anderson, the NFL’s senior football executive, has been promoted to executive vice president of football operations.
•Bob Connelly, who spent four years coaching the offensive line at Alabama, has been hired for the same job at UCLA.
Soccer
Italy rises to No. 1
World Cup champion Italy ended Brazil’s 4 1/2-year stay at the top of FIFA’s world rankings, taking the No. 1 spot for the first time since 1993.
The United States rose three places to 28th following last week’s 2-0 victory over Mexico.
•The United States will play Argentina, Paraguay and Colombia in the first round of this summer’s Copa America at Caracas, Venezuela.
Boxing
Vazquez sets defense
Israel Vazquez (41-3, 31 knockouts) will defend his WBC super bantamweight championship against Rafael Marquez (36-3, 32 KOs) on March 3 in Carson, Calif.
•Manny Pacquaio was honored as fighter of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America, while his trainer, Freddie Roach, was the trainer of the year.