Vikings’ Smith Retires at the Top of His Game

The agent for Robert Smith confirmed Wednesday that the 28-year-old running back is retiring after eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He is leaving the NFL at the top of his game, much like a 31-year-old Barry Sanders before the 1999 season, and at the height of his earning power as an unrestricted free agent.

Smith, who announced his decision in a brief statement Tuesday to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, let his reasons for leaving remain a mystery. In the statement, Smith thanked his family and friends, fans and the Viking organization.

“I also wanted to thank my teammates and coaches for believing in me throughout my career,” he said.

Smith, the Vikings’ first-round pick in 1993, led the NFC in rushing last season with 1,521 yards in his first complete 16-game season. He broke the organization’s all-time rushing record held by Chuck Foreman, with 6,818 yards.

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The XFL’s Memphis Maniax aren’t changing their name despite criticism that it is a slap at the mentally ill. “Maniac is a person who has unbridled enthusiasm. . . . We’re just trying to have a little fun,” General Manager Steve Ehrhart said. . . . Cincinnati Bengal defensive back Tremain Mack was released from jail in Cincinnati after serving one month for violating his probation on drunken-driving convictions.

Baseball

Catcher Gregg Zaun won his salary arbitration case against the Kansas City Royals and will get $1.15 million instead of the Royals’ $850,000 offer. . . . The Detroit Tigers won their arbitration case against Chris Holt and will pay the right-hander $1.85 million this season. . . . Catcher Brad Ausmus’ $5-million option for 2002 was exercised by the Houston Astros, who agreed to a new team option for the 2003 season. . . . Second baseman Luis Castillo of the Florida Marlins agreed to a one-year, $2.2-million contract just before the scheduled start of his arbitration hearing. . . . Reliever Rick White and the New York Mets agreed to a one-year, $1.15 million contract, nearly double his $610,000 salary last season. . . . A third crack has been found in the rail system that will support movable parts of Miller Park’s retractable roof in Milwaukee, but stadium officials describe the problem as minor. . . . The Dominican Republic defeated Mexico, 5-3, to win the Caribbean World Series.

Miscellany

Hannes Trinkl beat Austrian teammate Hermann Maier to win the men’s downhill, the showcase race of the skiing world championships at St. Anton, Austria.

Trinkl, who won the bronze medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, dethroned his superstar compatriot on a shortened and badly rutted course, winning in 1 minute 38.74 seconds. Maier’s time was 1:38.94.

Meanwhile, U.S. skier Caroline Lalive will sit out the rest of the world championships because of a bruised left knee.

USC football Coach Pete Carroll announced that Kennedy Pola will coach special teams in addition to linebackers. The Trojans have only one more coaching vacancy, the tight ends coach.

Mary Pierce, the reigning French Open champion, was booed by hometown fans in Paris as she was eliminated in her first match of the Gaz de France tournament by Anne Kremer of Luxembourg.

Pierce, ranked eighth in the world, fell to Kremer, 6-3, 6-3, in the second round. Pierce, who had a first-round bye, lasted only 64 minutes against Kremer, ranked 35th in the world.

Boris Becker admits to being the father of a 10-month-old girl born to a Russian model living in London. A paternity test sought by the three-time Wimbledon champion corroborated the claim by the mother, Angela Ermakova, 33, that he was the father, Becker said in a statement.

Ian Burnham had 18 kills as UCLA defeated USC in men’s volleyball, 27-30, 30-24, 30-26, 30-19.

Long-time enemies Pele and Ricardo Teixeira, president of the Brazilian Soccer Confederation, have indicated they will suspend their feud and join forces to save the country’s national pastime.

Pele, widely considered the best soccer player of all time, said President Fernando Henrique Cardoso had asked him to join a “pact to save Brazilian soccer,” which has had its prestige battered by confused schedules, congressional investigations and charges of corruption.

The Spanish Soccer Federation has launched an investigation into the authenticity of passports of foreigners playing in Spain’s first and second division leagues.

The investigation was launched in response to FIFA’s appeal to national soccer associations to crack down on players who illegally obtain passports from European Union countries in order to play in top continental leagues.

The Chicago Fire announced that Hristo Stoitchkov has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2002 season.

With the finish about three days away, Michel Desjoyeaux of France led Ellen MacArthur of Britain in the Vendee Globe solo round-the-world yacht race.

Desjoyeaux was expected to arrive Saturday in the French port of Les Sables d’Olonne, organizers said.

Georgia Athletic Director Vince Dooley has agreed to a new contract that calls for him to retire at the end of 2003.

Two cars from the A.J. Foyt-George Snider race team that were stolen about a mile from Indianapolis Motor Speedway in September were recovered by police.

Jason Holland, 23, of Indianapolis was arrested on preliminary charges of theft and is to appear in court Tuesday.

William A. Burke, president and co-founder of the L.A. Marathon, will be recognized as race director of the year at the Competitor Magazine Endurance Sports Awards on Saturday at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla.

The Ice Dogs lost to the Tacoma Sabercats, 5-1, at the Tacoma Dome.