KITZBUEHEL, Austria — Austrian skier Hans Grugger underwent brain surgery Thursday after crashing during a training run for the World Cup downhill on the demanding Streif course.
The Austrian ski federation said Grugger’s recovery in the next 24 hours will be monitored.
“Until then, it’s impossible to say anything about how Hans is really doing,” said Josef Schmid, the federation’s head of media relations.
Grugger was brought to a hospital by helicopter in nearby Innsbruck with a brain contusion and a chest injury and was “not responsive,” according to federation spokesman Markus Aigner.
Nets in damage control mode
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The post-Carmelo Anthony era started for the New Jersey Nets with an apology.
General manager Billy King addressed the team at practice and apologized for the way he and the Nets handled things over the past few months in efforts to acquire Anthony from the Nuggets.
While King wasn’t around to tell the media exactly what he said to the team, coach Avery Johnson said the general manager was upset how the megadeal was played out publicly and disrupted the lives of so many players.
“Some of it he could have controlled, some of it he can’t,” Johnson said of King. “It’s part of the process. But he’s got a job to do as a general manager for the organization, and he’s going to continue to do it.”
• Charlotte Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas will be sidelined up to two months with a torn meniscus in his left knee.
• The Toronto Raptors completed a buyout of Peja Stojakovic‘s contract, making the former all-star forward a free agent.
Red Wings eyeing Nabokov
DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings are exploring the possibility of acquiring goalie Evgeni Nabokov.
Nabokov, 35, would have to clear waivers in the NHL to sign with the Red Wings because he started the season playing in another league, Russia’s KHL.
Chris Osgood, who backs up Jimmy Howard, had hernia surgery last week and is expected to be out until March. Howard has been slowed by a bruised right knee.
• Penguins centers Sidney Crosby (concussion) and Evgeni Malkin (knee) missed Pittsburgh’s 2-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils because of injuries.
Footnotes.
Outfielder Andruw Jones agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract with the New York Yankees.
• Reliever Javier Lopez and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a one-year contract for $2,375,000.
• Former Negro Leagues player and major-leaguer George Crowe died Tuesday night in Rancho Cordova, Calif. He was 89.
• The University of Michigan regents approved $72 million in sports facility improvements, including $52 million for work at the Crisler Arena basketball venue.
• Cameron Meyer of Boulder-based Garmin-Cervelo seized the overall lead in the Tour Down Under, winning the fourth of six stages in a breakaway in Australia.
The Associated Press
