SCHLADMING, Austria — Jean-Baptiste Grange of France won a World Cup night slalom Tuesday, finishing 0.04 seconds ahead of two Swedes — Andre Myhrer and Mattias Hargin.
Bode Miller was a late withdrawal. The U.S. team said he plans to miss this weekend’s downhill and super-combined in Chamonix, France, to rest for next month’s world championships.
The top American was Nolan Kasper, who finished 13th after the second-fastest time in the final run. Teammates Ted Ligety and David Chodounsky were 19th and 22nd.
• Doctors in Innsbruck, Austria, started trying to wake Hans Grugger from an induced coma five days after the Austrian skier had brain surgery following a near-fatal downhill training crash. The process is expected to take several days.
• The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association added freeskiing as a new program, hoping to create better training conditions for skicross and two potential Olympic sports — ski halfpipe and slopestyle skiing.
Napoli sent packing — again.
The Texas Rangers traded former closer Frank Francisco and cash to the Toronto Blue Jays for catcher-first baseman Mike Napoli.
The Blue Jays acquired Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera from the Los Angeles Angels on Friday for outfielder Vernon Wells.
• The Houston Astros and left- hander Wandy Rodriguez reached agreement on a $34 million, three- year contract.
• The Minnesota Twins and right-hander Kevin Slowey agreed on a one-year, $2.7 million contract.
Footnotes.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon, whose 24.1-point average leads the team, will be sidelined at least three weeks because of a wrist injury.
• The University of Iowa said 12 football players have been hospitalized for symptoms likely related to offseason workouts. The school did not release the names of the players being treated but said they are responding well to treatment and are in safe and stable condition.
• Former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez will be a guest analyst for CBS Sports during coverage of national signing day Feb. 2.
• Minnesota point guard Al Nolen is scheduled to undergo foot surgery today, and his return this season is uncertain.
• Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick signed his first endorsement contract since his release from prison, inking a two- year deal with Unequal Technologies, a provider of the football pads he wore most of last season.
• ESPN studio analyst Rusty Wallace agreed to a contract extension through the 2014 NASCAR season.
• Michael Waltrip will run a No. 15 car in this year’s Daytona 500 to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of his first Daytona victory — and the death of his late boss and friend, Dale Earnhardt. Waltrip drove No. 15 in the 2001 race.
• Two-time NHRA Nationals champion Ashley Force Hood will not race in the upcoming season after announcing she and husband, Dan, are expecting their first child.
• Vania King is taking the U.S. Fed Cup roster spot originally expected to be filled by Venus Williams at next month’s quarterfinal against Belgium.
The Associated Press
