In brief: Herpes outbreak halts high school competition
Minnesota high school wrestling programs were suspended Tuesday because of a widespread herpes outbreak.
The Minnesota State High School League banned competitions and direct contact between wrestlers in practice until Tuesday after 24 cases of herpes gladiatorum were reported by 10 teams. The virus is spread by skin-to-skin contact, and symptoms include lesions on the face, head and neck.
The Minnesota Department of Health has been tracking the virus, caused by herpes simplex Type 1, the same strain that causes cold sores. Officials first became aware of the outbreak at a tournament in Rochester in late December.
Soccer
U.S. women beat China
Lori Chalupny and Natasha Kai scored and the United States beat China 2-0 to win the Four Nations women’s tournament in Guangzhou, China.
It was the United States’ record fifth Four Nations title. The U.S. drew two games – 1-1 against England and 0-0 vs. Germany – before beating China.
The four-team tournament is a warmup for the World Cup in China in 7 1/2 months.
“Ronaldo joined AC Milan from Real Madrid, with the clubs agreeing to a $9.73 million deal until 2008 for the 30-year-old Brazilian striker.
Tennis
Spain picks Nadal
Second-ranked Rafael Nadal will represent Spain at the Davis Cup against a Swiss team without top-ranked Roger Federer.
Other top players, including Andy Roddick, James Blake, Ivan Ljubicic and Tommy Haas, will also be playing in the first round on Feb. 9-11.
The Americans, who have won the Davis Cup a record 31 times, will face the Czech Republic on clay in Ostrava.
“ESPN and The Tennis Channel will share U.S. cable TV and multimedia rights for the French Open and Australian Open through 2011 under an agreement announced.
Miscellany
Swogger gets invite
Former Montana quarterback Josh Swogger has been invited to play in the inaugural “Texas vs. the Nation” all-star football game Saturday in El Paso, Texas.
The Texas team will be coached by UTEP head coach Mike Price, while the Nation team will be coached by veteran NFL coach Buddy Ryan.
“Oscar De La Hoya has chosen Freddie Roach as his trainer for a May 5 super welterweight title fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
“Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich said he will give a DNA sample in Germany but objects to use of a saliva sample taken in Switzerland. Bonn prosecutors want to compare the saliva sample Ullrich gave to Swiss authorities in September to blood samples seized in a Spanish doping investigation.
“Olympic champion Benjamin Raich won a World Cup slalom in Schladming, Austria, the last race before the world championships. The Austrian skier had a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 42.55 seconds.