Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Sports Briefs: Picabo Street out for season

Picabo Street's season-ending knee injury leaves the women's World Cup ski circuit without its most dynamic downhill performer and the U.S. Ski Team minus its free-spirited ringleader.

Street, the two-time World Cup downhill champion, tore ligaments and cartilage in her left knee in a downhill training crash Wednesday in Vail, Colo., requiring surgery that will sideline her at least six months.

Street, 25, of Sun Valley, Idaho, suffered a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, partial tears of several other ligaments, including the medial collateral, and mild cartilage damage.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Steadman said surgery will be postponed "until at least next week, because the swelling is so bad. I don't expect her to be back on snow for at least six months."

Street, who injured the same knee in February 1989, also bruised her left elbow as a result of slamming into a safety catch fence.

The injury was a blow to the World Cup hopes of the U.S. team, which has started slowly this season. In five women's and five men's races, Street's fourth-place finish in a downhill last weekend in Lake Louise, Alberta, was the only top-15 result by an American.

Chicago State coach returns

Chicago State basketball coach Craig Hodges has returned to the team after missing just one game in what the university had said was an indefinite leave of absence. The former Chicago Bulls guard was on the bench Wednesday night for the Cougars' 107-82 loss to Loyola of Chicago. He missed Monday night's loss at Maryland, turning the team over to assistant Phil Gary. The university said Sunday that Hodges was given an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons and his job would be re-evaluated after the season. The school said Wednesday that the statement was inaccurate. Spokesman Mark Durham said Hodges asked for a leave to deal with a family matter, but told university President Dr. Dolores E. Cross on Tuesday that the matter was resolved.

Helping Olympians

The taxman might soon be helping U.S. athletes get ready for the Olympics. Citing high public interest and a shift in leadership on Capitol Hill, U.S. Olympic Committee officials say the time is right to again seek a checkoff for Olympic funding on federal income tax returns. USOC president William Hybl and executive director Dick Schultz said the checkoff is part of a new package aimed at raising an added $25 million over the next four years. While the committee's $395 million budget for 1997-2000 is balanced and and there's a hefty surplus in the bank, its financial picture is about to take an abrupt change. For the last six years, the USOC has profited from sponsorship and marketing deals linked to the Atlanta Olympics. Those games -- and that money -- are over, and the budget for the next four years is about $30 million less than the one now running out.

Suzuki leads Daikyo

Japan's Toru Suzuki shot a back-nine 29 today for a 6-under-par 65 and a one-stroke lead over countryman Toru Nakamura in the Japan PGA's season-ending Daikyo Open. Suzuki, who began the opening round at the Daikyo Country Club course with a par 36, chipped in twice and had only 10 putts on the back nine. American David Ishii, Colombia's Eduardo Herrera and Taiwan's Lin Chie-hsiang opened with 67s. Jumbo Ozaki, the tour leader with eight victories and $1.88 million in earnings, is skipping the tournament.

Suns, Bucks trade

The Phoenix Suns traded forward Chucky Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks for swingman Darrin Hancock and a conditional second-round pick. Brown, who averaged 3.4 points in 10 games for Phoenix, joined the Suns in the deal that sent Charles Barkley to Houston.

Eagleson loses civil suit

Former NHL players' association head Alan Eagleson, facing criminal charges in Canada and the United States, lost a civil suit filed by former Boston player Mike Gillis. In a decision handed down by Ontario Court Justice Joseph O'Brien, Eagleson was ordered to reimburse Gillis $41,250 plus interest dating to 1986. Eagleson also was ordered to pay $30,000 Canadian in damages. Eagleson, 63, was charged Tuesday by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with eight counts of fraud and theft. He is fighting extradition to the United States, where a grand jury in Boston indicted him in 1994 on 32 counts of fraud, racketeering and embezzlement.

Cowboys replace Lett

The Dallas Cowboys signed five-time Pro Bowl tackle Ray Childress to shore up their defensive line following the drug suspension of Leon Lett. Childress, 34, has not played in the NFL since Houston cut him in February. Lett was suspended for a year Tuesday for a second violation of the NFL's drug policy.

Hendrick indicted

Rick Hendrick, whose cars have won the last two NASCAR Winston Cup titles, was indicted in Charlotte, N.C., on federal charges of conspiring to bribe Honda executives to get more cars and dealerships. Hendrick was indicted by a grand jury in Asheville on 13 counts of money laundering, one count of conspiracy and one count of mail fraud. His younger brother, John Hendrick, was charged with one count of conspiracy. Hendrick Automotive Group is the largest Saturn and Honda dealer in the country and a major distributor of General Motors parts.

UNLV player picked

UNLV sophomore first baseman Kevin Eberwein is one of 66 amateur baseball players in the country invited to the 1997 USA baseball team trials Jan. 8-12 in Tampa, Fla.

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