VONN OUT WITH KNEE INJURY AFTER CRASH
VAIL (AP) – Lindsey Vonn’s publicist says the reigning Olympic downhill champion partially tore a ligament in her surgically repaired right knee during a training crash less than three months before the Sochi Games. Lewis Kay said in an email Wednesday that along with a mild strain in the same knee Vonn hurt in a high-speed fall at the world championships in February, she has “minor facial abrasions” and a bruised shoulder blade. What was not immediately clear: When Vonn might be able to compete and how this week’s injuries might affect her Olympic hopes. Kay says Vonn will rest for a few days, “then will pursue aggressive physical therapy,” before deciding when to try to race. Vonn had been aiming to return to World Cup action next week.
MANNING SITS OUT WEDNESDAY PRACTICE
ENGLEWOOD (AP) – It’s now been more than a month since Peyton Manning practiced on a Wednesday. The 37-year-old quarterback who hates missing any snaps has had to make some concessions in the backstretch of his stellar career and this is the latest one. His last Wednesday practice came back on Oct. 16. Manning still participates in the Wednesday morning walkthroughs when the passing plan is introduced. What he misses out on is the team’s lone padded practice of the week where the running plans are installed. Also sitting out this week Wes Welker (concussion) and Julius Thomas (knee). The Broncos (9-1) visit the Patriots (7-3) Sunday for Manning’s 14th meeting with Tom Brady.
NBA/NUGGETS
Denver—The Denver Nuggets host Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls tonight at the Pepsi Center. Tip off is at 8:30.
NHL / AVS
Phoenix, AZ—The Colorado Avalanche are in Phoenix tonight to take on the Coyotes.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORTS….
ATLANTA (AP) – The Falcons and Saints are squaring off tonight in the NFL Thursday Night game. The Saints are in the midst of a 6-3-1 season while the Falcons have had a tough go of things this year, going just 2-8. The Saints won the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – In the lone Top-25 football game this evening 17th-ranked UCF is home to Rutgers. The Knights are 8-1 and 5-0 in the American Athletic Conference while Rutgers is 5-4 and 2-3.
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) – In a Top-25 football game last night, No. 20 Northern Illinois wrapped up the Mid-American Conference West championship with a 35-17 win over Toledo. The Huskies remain one of six undefeated major college football teams with wins in all 11 of their games.
DETROIT (AP) – There was a blockbuster off-season trade in baseball yesterday between the Tigers and Rangers. Detroit is getting second baseman Ian Kinsler while the Rangers land first baseman Prince Fielder. Detroit signed Fielder to a nine-year, $214 million contract in 2012 and he didn’t have the kind of numbers the Tigers had hoped for in 2013, hitting .279 with 25 home runs, his lowest home run total over a full season.
UNDATED (AP) – Portland and San Antonio remain the hottest teams in the NBA with eight straight wins apiece. Last night the Blazers beat the Bucks 91-82 while the Spurs shot down the Celtics 104-93.
