GENEVA — Olympic downhill skiing champion Didier Defago is expected to miss the entire alpine season after injuring his left knee in training.
The Swiss ski federation said an MRI exam showed Defago had torn his ACL. He will undergo surgery Saturday.
Defago won his first major career medal at the Vancouver Games in February, skiing the Whistler course 0.07 seconds faster than Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway, while American Bode Miller was another 0.02 back.
Staal, Rangers come to terms
NEW YORK — The New York Rangers agreed to terms with Marc Staal on a multiyear contract, ensuring the defenseman will be at training camp when it opens Friday. Staal had eight goals and 19 assists — both career highs — and a plus-11 rating last season.
• The NHL approved a change in its bylaw that governs how the league breaks ties in the standings at the end of the season.
Under the revised bylaw approved by the NHL Board of Governors, shootout victories will not be included in the tiebreaker for two teams that finish with the same amount of points. That tiebreaker is limited to regulation and overtime victories.
• The Ottawa Senators will host the 2012 All-Star Game on Jan. 29.
Report reveals Pearl’s misdeed
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — reported the misleading information Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl provided to the NCAA related to illegally hosting two recruits at his home in 2008.
According to the report, Pearl hosted prospects Josh Selby and Aaron Craft when they were juniors. The NCAA prohibits off-campus contact between coaches and prospects in their junior year.
Pearl publicly apologized last week for misleading the NCAA. Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton docked Pearl’s salary by $1.5 million over the next five years and banned him from off-campus recruiting for one year.
• Washington sophomore forward Tyreese Breshers ended his playing career for medical reasons. Breshers started 12 games and played in 34 overall last season for the Huskies as a redshirt freshman. He averaged three points and 2.6 rebounds and had 26 blocks.
• Oregon has asked the NCAA for help with a men’s basketball eligibility question spanning the past two seasons.
The university is not releasing the name of the player or players involved, or the circumstances, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
Footnotes.
Peter Velits of Slovakia won the 28.5-mile time trial stage in the Spanish Vuelta, while Vincenzo Nibali regained the overall lead from Joaquin Rodriguez.
• Chris Wondolowski scored his sixth winning goal of the MLS season and ninth overall, nodding home a header in the 69th minute to help the San Jose Earthquakes beat the visiting Philadelphia Union 1-0.
• The Utah Jazz signed former Nuggets center Francisco Elson, who has averaged 3.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in seven NBA seasons.
• The New Jersey Nets signed forward Stephen Graham to a two- year contract.
The Associated Press
