Moe, Lindh Are Victorious at U.S. Skiing Championships

Tommy Moe talked of future success after winning the downhill Thursday in the U.S. Championships at Sugarloaf/USA in Carrabassett Valley, Maine.

Hilary Lindh’s future involves retiring from competition, after her downhill victory.

The two Alaskans, Moe from Anchorage and Lindh from Juneau, were in the spotlight at the championships, which end the U.S. competitive ski season.

Moe, who has missed the last seven weeks because of a hand injury and who missed most of last season because of a knee injury, covered the downhill course in 1 minute 23.26 seconds, 0.21 seconds ahead of AJ Kitt.

“I think it’s totally solid now,” Moe, 27, said of the hand. “I’m getting psyched for skiing again. I’ve still got a couple of years left. I’m going to go out in style.”

Lindh, 27, announced her retirement last week after 13 years on the U.S. ski team. She finished in 1:26.61, more than a second ahead of Megan Gerety.

Football

Jim McMahon, the 37-year-old free-spirit quarterback who led the Chicago Bears to the 1986 Super Bowl title, but who threw only four passes in a backup role for the Green Bay Packers last season, is retiring.

Baltimore Raven officials and free-agent safety Brock Marion had an embarrassing situation when they reached an agreement on a four-year contract, only to hold a news conference announcing that no deal had been reached after team owner Art Modell said he wanted doctors to take another look at the injured shoulder that sidelined Marion last season with Dallas.

The Packers and center Frank Winters, who has started 75 games in a row, agreed to contract terms. . . . The New York Jets signed defensive end Ernie Logan, a five-year veteran who played in four games for Jacksonville last season. . . . The Ravens signed free-agent offensive lineman Leo Goeas, who played with St. Louis last season. . . . The Miami Dolphins signed free-agent safety George Teague, who played with Dallas last season, to a three-year, $2.1-million contract. To make room under the salary cap, the Dolphins terminated the contract of cornerback Robert Bailey. . . . Because of stadium conflicts with baseball’s Padres, San Diego State has moved its 1997 football opener against Navy to Friday, Sept. 5, at 11:30 a.m.

Tennis

Fifteen-year-old Anna Kournikova, who says Women’s Tennis Assn. limitations on her tournament schedule because of her age have left her rusty, beat Nana Miyagi of Japan, 6-2, 6-0, in the first round of the Lipton Championships at Key Biscayne, Fla.

In men’s play, Andrian Voinea of Romania was a winner by default when Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina angrily slammed a ball that hit a linesman in the stomach. Zabaleta was ahead, 2-1, in a final-set tiebreaker at the time.

Top-seeded Michael Stich overcame an aching shoulder to rally in both sets and beat Omar Camporese of Italy, 6-4, 6-4, in the second round of the St. Petersburg Open in Russia.

Names in the News

Tony Zale, who battled boxing legend Rocky Graziano for the world middleweight championship during the 1940s, died at 83 in Portage, Ind. Family members said Zale had suffered from Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. . . . Boxer Tommy Morrison was arrested in Ft. Scott, Kan., on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, violating the terms of a suspended sentence for carrying a loaded handgun. . . .

A jury in Albuquerque, N.M. found Steven Bartlett guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Jeff Unser, a nephew of former Indianapolis 500 champions Bobby and Al Unser Sr., and Lee Benjamin. Bartlett will be sentenced on May 7. . . . NASCAR Truck series driver John Nemechek remains in a coma in extremely critical condition in a Florida hospital after suffering severe head injuries during a wreck in Sunday’s NASCAR Truck series Florida Dodge Dealers 400. . . . Karch Kiraly will miss the Miller Lite Open beach volleyball tournament at Phoenix March 29-30 because of a shoulder injury. . . . Laker owner Jerry Buss will receive the Starlight Foundation of California President’s Award for his commitment to children at a sports auction April 5. Details: (310) 286-0271.

Miscellany

Easy Goer, Exceller and 1956 Kentucky Derby winner Needles were put up for consideration in the Modern Male category for the National Thoroughbred Hall of Fame. In the Female Horse category, the nominees were Bold ‘N Determined, Bowl Of Flowers and Lamb Chop. Gary Stevens, Jacinto Vasquez and the late Jack Westrope were nominated in the jockey category, and the trainer nominees were Willard Proctor, Phil Johnson and Virgil “Buddy” Raines. In the horse of yesteryear category, the nominees were Endurance By Right, Princequillo and Granville, the first winner of horse-of-the-year balloting in 1936. The names of the inductees will be announced during the week preceding the Kentucky Derby on May 3.

Seville, Spain, was selected by the International Amateur Athletic Federation over Palo Alto as the site for the 1999 world track and field championships.