Fast Break

SKIING

Mancuso hits rare peak on slopes

Julia Mancuso had two long-term goals growing up as a skier – winning an Olympic gold medal and hoisting the overall World Cup trophy.

The Californian accomplished one at last year’s Turin Olympics, winning the giant slalom. And on Sunday, the second moved closer to reality.

Mancuso moved atop the overall World Cup standings for the first time by finishing third in a super-giant slalom, her third straight top-three result of the weekend at Tarvisio, Italy. It was the first time in 24 years that an American woman had led the standings at any time during a season.

“It was always my dream to win the Olympics. My other dream was to win the overall as a kid, maybe that’s why it’s happening,” she said.

Renate Goetschl and Mancuso are tied with 1,199 points each with six races remaining this season.

BASKETBALL

Jackson, Pippen discuss reunion

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson says he has talked to 41-year-old Scottie Pippen about making a comeback with the team.

“I did get in touch with Scottie,” Jackson said before the Lakers played the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, “but it was just preliminary talk about how he’s doing, where he’s at and how he feels.”

Jackson coached Pippen with the Chicago Bulls during their title years. Jackson said Pippen is interested in coming to Los Angeles.

BASKETBALL

PETA balks at chicken treatment

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is upset by Kansas State students’ custom of throwing live chickens onto the floor behind the bench before basketball games against rival Kansas, making fun of the Jayhawk mascot.

According to media reports, PETA raised an objection in a letter to the university, calling chickens “very intelligent and inquisitive animals.”

It described the conditions the chickens are subjected to as “deafening noise, bright lights, terror, abusive handling and likely death for the sake of amusement.”

The university is trying to put a stop to chicken throwing.

BASEBALL

He loves Cards

Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton, a St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan, doesn’t want too many extras when he is making a movie, but apparently there is one standing request.

“The only thing that I always ask for on a movie – I don’t ask for much, but I have to have satellite TV in the trailer because every break, I’m straight to the trailer to check on the game,” Thornton said in an interview broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio.