VONN HOPING TO RETURN TO THE SLOPES NEXT WEEK
VAIL(AP) – Lindsey Vonn says she is not sure yet what effect her latest knee injury will have on her Sochi Olympics hopes.Asked in an interview on NBC’s “Today” show Wednesday whether she can put the kind of pressure on the knee she’ll need to train and make it to Sochi in February, Vonn replied: “To be honest, I don’t know.”The 2010 Olympic downhill champion says she plans to ski again in the coming days and “if things go well,” she will race next week in World Cup events in Canada. She adds: “If they don’t, then I’m going to have to reassess and kind of see where I stand and if I can make a comeback for this season.”Vonn crashed during a downhill training run last week and partially tore a reconstructed ligament in her right knee.
BRONCOS D-LINEMAN DONE FOR THE YEAR
DENVER (AP) – The Denver Broncos have placed defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson on season-ending injured reserve with a dislocated hip and have signed Sione Fua. Vickerson was injured in the Broncos’ loss at New England Sunday night. He’s the second Denver defensive starter to get hurt this month, joining safety Rahim Moore (leg), who was put on recallable IR. Vickerson was in the midst of a solid season, helping Denver rank fourth against the run and collecting 22 tackles and one sack, which came against Tom Brady in the first quarter Sunday night before he got hurt. Fua is a third-year pro who played in 27 games, including a dozen starts for Carolina, over the last three seasons. He was waived by the Panthers Nov. 12.
ROCKIES HIRE NEW COACHES
DENVER (AP) – The Colorado Rockies have brought in Blake Doyle to take over as hitting instructor for Dante Bichette. This will be Doyle’s first season as a major league coach after spending years overseeing the Doyle Baseball Academy in Florida. He also played nine seasons in the minor leagues for the Baltimore and Cincinnati organizations. Bichette stepped away from the team after one season for family reasons. Michael Cuddyer won an NL batting title last season under his watch. The team also announced Tuesday that former Rockies player Eric Young Sr. was joining the staff as a baserunning/outfield and first base coach. He played for Colorado from 1993-97.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORTS….
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – San Antonio takes its 11-game winning streak and franchise record-tying 13-1 start to a season on the road to Oklahoma City. By comparison, the 9-3 Thunder have a modest four-game winning streak going into tonight’s play. San Antonio has won 10 of the last 13 meetings between the two.
PHOENIX (AP) – The last time Portland had a 13-2 start to an NBA season was 14 years ago. The Trail Blazers try to improve on that start and win their 12th in a row when they travel to Phoenix tonight. The Suns have dropped five of their last seven games.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Indiana’s 13-1 start to the season is the best in franchise history. The Eastern Conference leaders and NBA’s top defensive team roll into Charlotte tonight to take on the Bobcats riding a four-game winning streak.
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) – Eighth-ranked Syracuse and No. 18 Baylor meet in a clash of unbeaten in the Maui Invitational title game. The Orange have claimed wins over previously unbeaten Minnesota and California to make it to the championship game. Syracuse has won the tournament title in its previous two trips to Maui, in 1990 and 1998.
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) – Hard charging Chicago rolls into Calgary riding an 11-2-1 streak in its last 14 games. Patrick Kane has scored six goals and nine assists to help fuel the run during a streak of 11 games with at least a point.
