COURCHEVEL, France — Marlies Schild of Austria flew down the Courchevel course to win her second World Cup slalom of the season Tuesday, while overall leader Lindsey Vonn and rival Maria Riesch crashed out in first runs.
Schild was in second place behind Finland’s Tanja Poutiainen after the first run and laid down a faultless second run to finish in a combined time of 1 minute, 34.95 seconds, 0.78 ahead of Poutiainen.
Vonn and Riesch were among the 23 of 69 skiers who failed to finish the first run on the highly technical Stade Emile Allais course. Vonn successfully negotiated the difficult top section before hooking a tip on a gate and losing her right ski.
“It’s a very tricky course. I mean, honestly, it’s a course that is (meant) to take people out,” Vonn said.
Vonn leads the overall standings with 581 points. Riesch, of Germany, has 578 and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria is third with 366.
Pacquiao to fight Mosley in May.
Manny Pacquiao (52-3-23, 38 KOs) plans to fight Sugar Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) in his next welterweight bout May 7 in Las Vegas.
Promoter Bob Arum said the deal will be done after Mosley’s lawyers approve the final paperwork for the welterweight fight.
Court upholds “Fore” dismissal
ALBANY, N.Y. — Slices, hooks and other errant shots are a common hazard on the links and a golfer can’t expect to get a warning shout of “Fore!” every time a ball comes his way, New York’s top court ruled in dismissing a personal injury lawsuit.
Yanks hit with $18M luxury tax
NEW YORK — The New York Yankees, who lowered spending on players by $12 million this year, cutting payroll by $5 million and slashing their major league-leading luxury tax by more than $7 million, were hit with an $18 million luxury tax by Major League Baseball.
Boston is the only other team that will have to pay. The Red Sox, who missed the playoffs this year, exceeded the payroll threshold for the first time since 2007 and owe $1.49 million.
K-State’s Pullen, Kelly suspended
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Preseason All-America guard Jacob Pullen, who had made 82 consecutive starts for Kansas State, was suspended by the NCAA for three games, and senior forward Curtis Kelly was suspended an undetermined length for receiving impermissible benefits in connection with the purchase of clothing at a local department store.
• Sophomore guard Curtis Dennis said he will transfer from New Mexico to be closer to his home in New York City.
Rockets request player exception
HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets asked the NBA for a disabled player salary cap exception in the wake of Yao Ming‘s season-ending ankle injury.
The disabled player exception would allow the Rockets to acquire a free agent, or trade for a player without having to match salaries, up to the value of the midlevel exception (about $5.75 million).
• Los Angeles Clippers forward Craig Smith will miss at least two weeks with a herniated disc in his lower back.
The Associated Press
