LEVI, Finland — Bode Miller lost to Jean-Baptiste Grange by 0.79 seconds Sunday in the men’s World Cup slalom opener.
The Frenchman, who led Ted Ligety of the U.S. by 0.25 and Miller by 0.26 after the first run, had a two-run total of 1:44.49.
It was Grange’s fourth career slalom victory. He won three races last season. For Miller, it was the first podium finish in slalom since he won in 2004 in Sestriere, Italy.
Ligety made a big mistake about halfway down the run and finished 22nd.
Djokovic wins Masters title
SHANGHAI, China — Third-ranked Novak Djokovic won his first Masters Cup title with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Nikolay Davydenko in the season-ending tournament.
It was Djokovic’s first victory since he won the Rome Masters in May, leaving him just 10 points behind No. 2 Roger Federer in the rankings.
Robinson canned by Syracuse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse football coach Greg Robinson was fired with the Orange nearing the end of a fourth straight dismal season under his leadership.
Robinson, who will coach the final two games of this season, is 9-36 overall and 3-25 in the Big East.
• Wide receiver Michael Floyd and linebacker Brian Smith, key players for Notre Dame, will miss the final two regular-season games because of knee injuries.
Pedregon wins funny car title
POMONA, Calif. — Cruz Pedregon won his second NHRA funny car season championship, and first in 16 years, with a victory in the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in Southern California.
Larry Dixon (top fuel), Greg Anderson (pro stock) and Chris Rivas (pro stock motorcycle) also claimed race victories.
Calling it quits for Curlin
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Reigning horse of the year Curlin will be retired next year and may already have run his last race.
The 4-year-old colt is considered a leading contender to win horse of the year honors again despite a fourth-place finish in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic last month.
Footnotes.
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong plans to meet with Tour officials before deciding to compete in the 2009 race.
Armstrong had expressed doubts over whether he would try for another Tour title because of problems he might encounter with French organizers, journalists and fans.
• Darryl Sydor returned to the Dallas Stars in a trade of veteran defensemen that sent Philippe Boucher to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• The San Antonio Spurs signed guard Blake Ahearn, who played for the Miami Heat last year.
• Shani Davis of the U.S. won the 1,000 meters at a World Cup speedskating meet in Heerenveen, Netherlands.
The Associated Press
