Fast Break
X Games
Motocross freestyler dies of injury
Jeremy Lusk, an American freestyle motocross rider, died of head injuries Tuesday after crashing while trying to land a back flip in competition. He was 24.
Jorge Ramirez, chief of the intensive care unit at Calderon Hospital in San Jose, Costa Rica, where Lusk was taken, said the motocross racer suffered severe brain damage and a possible spinal cord injury.
Lusk won a gold medal at the 2008 X Games. He was injured Saturday night when he failed to complete a full rotation while attempting a Hart Attack back flip and slammed headfirst into the dirt. Lusk crashed in almost identical fashion at the 2007 X Games but was not hurt.
He had a successful 2008 season, winning Freestyle gold at the X Games and silver in Best Trick when he landed the first double-grab Hart Attack back flip.
He won a bronze helmet in Freestyle at the Moto X World Championships in his hometown of San Diego.
Ramirez said Lusk died with his parents and his wife Lauren at his side.
Skiing
Freak injury may sideline Vonn
Two-time gold medalist Lindsey Vonn had tendon surgery on her right thumb after cutting it on a champagne bottle, and could miss Thursday’s giant slalom at the world championships in Val d’Isere, France.
Vonn, who needed four stitches Monday night after injuring the thumb while celebrating her downhill victory, traveled to Innsbruck, Austria, on Tuesday and the surgery was performed by Dr. Christian Fink.
Quincy said Vonn was still a possible starter for the giant slalom but will be ready to compete in Saturday’s slalom.
At the victory party, Vonn couldn’t open a champagne bottle open because the cork had broken. Someone then used a ski to get the remaining cork out, with a piece of the bottle breaking off in the process. Vonn grabbed the bottle not realizing it was cut.
NBA
Mayo, Durant will horse around
Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant and O.J. Mayo, a favorite for this season’s award, highlight the field for the H-O-R-S-E competition during All-Star Saturday night.
Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson is the other competitor in TNT’s special event, the network announced.
The contest will take place outdoors at the NBA’s All-Star Block Party on Saturday in Phoenix before TNT televises the All-Star Saturday night festivities.
If a player makes a shot in H-O-R-S-E, the next competitor must make the same shot or receive a letter. A player gets an ‘H’ for his first miss and is eliminated once he has all five letters of the word.
Players will have 24 seconds to execute their shots, and an NBA referee will rule if they’re done properly. Dunking won’t be allowed.