LIBEREC, Czech Republic — A late sprint gave Todd Lodwick of Steamboat Springs a slim lead after the cross country portion of the opening nordic combined event Thursday at the nordic skiing world championships.
Lodwick, who left the sport in 2006 but returned a year and a half later, pulled away down the stretch to finish in 24 minutes, 49.7 seconds. Tino Edelmann of Germany was 4.6 seconds back, and Bill Demong was 5.2 back in third.
The ski jumping portion was postponed because of strong winds and heavy snow. Organizers said they would try to get the round in today.
Titans put franchise tag on Scaife
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans slapped the franchise tag on tight end Bo Scaife, a graduate of Mullen High School who led the Titans with a career-high 58 catches last season. He will earn $4.46 million for 2009.
• All-pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha re-signed with the Oakland Raiders, agreeing to a three-year contract worth nearly $30 million for the first two seasons alone, making it among the biggest given to a defensive back.
• The Carolina Panthers placed the franchise tag on defensive end Julius Peppers moments after signing left tackle Jordan Gross to a six-year deal worth more than $30 million in the first three seasons.
• Offensive tackle Max Starks was designated as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ franchise player. Also, the NFL fined receiver Santonio Holmes $10,000 for using the football as a prop during his postcatch celebration during the Super Bowl.
• Chet Bulger, a lineman on the last Cardinals team to win the NFL championship (1947), died from natural causes in Fairfax, Va. He was 91.
Leipheimer retains lead
PASO ROBLES, Calif. — Mark Cavendish won a stage for the second straight day and two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer kept his race lead for the fourth straight day after the 134.3-mile fifth stage of the Tour of California.
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, finished 19th in the main field. He remained in fourth place, 30 seconds behind Leipheimer.
Footnotes.
Phil Mickelson fired an 8-under-par 63 for a one-stroke lead over Scott McCarron after the first round of the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles.
• Robert-Jan Derksen made eight birdies to shoot an 8-under 64 and take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth, Australia.
• Texas Tech and football coach Mike Leach agreed on a contract through 2013 after months of contentious negotiations.
• Paul Chodora, a crew member for Jeremy Mayfield‘s team, has been suspended indefinitely for violating NASCAR’s new substance abuse policy. NASCAR did not reveal what substance was detected.
• The Ottawa Senators will be without Daniel Alfredsson for at least a week after their captain fractured his jaw during Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime loss in Colorado.
• Light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson‘s rematch with Antonio Tarver has been postponed after Dawson injured his hand during training.The Associated Press
