In brief: U.S. secures semifinal berth at world juniors
The United States beat Finland 6-3 Tuesday, setting up a semifinal match against two-time defending champion Canada at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship in Mora, Sweden.
Sweden defeated the Czech Republic 5-1 in another quarterfinal and will play Russia in the semis today.
The Americans led 2-0 after Pat Kane’s goal two minutes into the second period. Finland tied it eight minutes later with goals from Jesse Joensuu and Oskar Osala.
Horse racing
Barbaro moving ahead
Barbaro’s right hind leg keeps getting stronger and should eventually be healthy enough to allow the Kentucky Derby winner to live a comfortable, happy life.
“The right hind has healed well enough that we are optimistic about that possibility,” Dean Richardson, chief surgeon at the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa., said. “However, Barbaro’s left hind foot, which had laminitis, remains a more formidable long-term challenge. The foot must grow much more for him to have a truly successful outcome.”
Baseball
D-Rays acquire Harris
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays obtained infielder Brendan Harris from the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named later or cash.
The 26-year-old Harris has 110 at-bats in 52 major league games over portions of the last three seasons with the Reds, Chicago Cubs and Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals.
“George Sisler Jr., a former president of the International League and executive of three minor league baseball teams, has died. He was 89.
Sisler, the son of Hall of Famer George Sisler, had Alzheimer’s disease and died Sunday at Sunrise, an assisted-living facility in suburban Worthington, Ohio.
Miscellany
Gibson dies at 101
Johnny Gibson, who in 1927 set the world record for 400-meter hurdles, has died. He was 101.
Gibson, who coached Seton Hall’s track team from 1946 to 1972, died Friday after spending the past several years at the Barn Hill Care Center, a nursing home in Newton, N.J.
Gibson set the world record of 52.6 seconds for the 400-meter hurdles on July 2, 1927, at the national championships in Lincoln, Neb.
“Former U.S. Open and Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis said he requires right knee surgery after tearing cartilage during a Hopman Cup match in Perth, Australia.
The injury rules out the 30-year-old Australian as a potential wild-card entry into the Australian Open beginning Jan. 15 in Melbourne.
“Major League Soccer has agreed to send Clint Dempsey to Fulham of the English Premier League for what would be the largest transfer fee in MLS history – if the New England Revolution midfielder can obtain a British work permit.
“Jim Karvellas, a longtime broadcaster of NBA games and the Cosmos soccer team, died at 71. He died at his home in Tampa, Fla., on New Year’s Day of complications from prostate cancer.