Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Ligety, Hirscher set for giant clash at worlds
The giant slalom on Friday is the final chance for American Ted Ligety to defend one of his three alpine ski championship gold medals in what could produce one of the classic battles of the competition. Ligety, the world and Olympic champion in the discipline known as Mr. GS for his domination of the event, has seen his reign challenged by Austrian slalom maestro Marcel Hirscher, who has already claimed the American's combined world title.
Fenninger fastest in opneing leg, Maze fourth
Austria's Anna Fenninger had the fastest opening leg of the women's giant slalom at the alpine ski world championships on Thursday, while Slovenia's Tina Maze set herself up for a fourth medal. Fenninger, who already won gold in the Super-G and silver in the downhill, enjoyed a sizzling opening run of one minute, 8.98 seconds, according to unofficial results.
Pelicans' Davis saving himself for playoff push
New Orleans Pelicans rising star Anthony Davis is disappointed at missing out on a starting assignment in Sunday's NBA All-Star game because of a shoulder injury but the mature 21-year-old is looking at the big picture. With New Orleans 1-1/2 games back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, Davis understands that his health trumps playing in the annual exhibition.
A Vonn-derful worlds despite only one medal
Lindsey Vonn arrived at the alpine ski world championships as the headline act but exited on Thursday having failed to deliver the award winning performance that had been predicted. With her model looks, famous boyfriend and a resume that includes a record 64 World Cup wins making her the most successful women's skier of all time, Vonn commanded the spotlight at Beaver Creek but failed to shine on home snow.
Hicks closes with eagle for share of Pebble Beach lead
Unheralded American Justin Hicks eagled his final hole to equal a career-low round and join compatriot J.B. Holmes at the top of a crowded leaderboard after the opening round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Thursday. Hicks reached the green of the 533-yard par-five 18th in two shots before rolling in an 18-foot putt for an eight-under-par 64, two shots ahead of a group of six golfers that included John Daly, Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker.
Fenninger wins giant slalom; Maze's record bid ends
Anna Fenninger survived a near-wipeout late in her second run to win the women's giant slalom title at the alpine ski world championships on Thursday while Tina Maze's bid for history came to a halt. Austrian Fenninger, who won gold in the Super-G and silver in the downhill, posted a combined time of two minutes, 19.16 seconds, a staggering 1.40 seconds ahead of Germany's Viktoria Rebensburg despite nearly crashing out on a turn.
Chicago Little League champs cry foul after stripped of title
The Chicago Little League team stripped of its national title for fielding ineligible players said on Thursday it will not voluntarily surrender its championship until it conducts its own investigation into whether it was treated fairly. "The story's not over yet," Victor Henderson, an attorney for the team, told a packed news conference a day after the city was stunned by the news that last year's feel-good story had unraveled.
Low on energy, Maze falls short in record bid
Fatigue finally caught up with Slovenia's snow queen Tina Maze as her bid for a rare five-medal haul at the alpine ski world championships was halted in the women's giant slalom on Thursday. Already the winner of two golds and a silver in the Vail Valley, the 31-year-old had to settle for fifth place in her fourth event after finishing the combined two runs 1.74 seconds behind the triumphant Austrian, Anna Fenninger.
No tiebreaker to determine ski queen: Fenninger
Anna Fenninger and Tina Maze each have two golds and a silver from the alpine world championships and while the two have been waging there own battle there will be no tiebreaker to decide the true ski queen. A speed specialist, Fenninger was not at all tempted to try her luck in the women's slalom on Saturday and a chance to go head-to-head with her Slovenian rival and settle the debate on who had the best championships.
Double bonus for dual citizen Schleper at worlds
Dual citizen Sarah Schleper felt twice blessed at the alpine ski world championships on Thursday as she competed in the women's giant slalom in front of her hometown crowds under the flag of Mexico. Born in nearby Glenwood Springs and a product of Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, Schleper represented the United States at four Winter Olympics and five world championships before retiring from the sport in December 2011.
