Tomlinson Is Impressive in Senior Bowl

Texas Christian’s LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 88 yards and a touchdown Saturday as the South defeated the North, 21-16, in the Senior Bowl at Mobile, Ala., thanks to two big special-teams plays in the fourth quarter.

Arizona’s Joe Tafoya blocked a punt, and Kansas State’s Jerrod Cooper scooped it up for a 30-yard touchdown with 3:31 to play.

Cory Bird of Virginia Tech recovered the ensuing onside kick for the South.

There was no chance that Tomlinson would be overshadowed by Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke or runner-up Josh Heupel, as both players withdrew from the game because of nagging injuries.

Marques Tuiasosopo of Washington also was absent because of an injury, while the all-time leading rushers at Michigan (Anthony Thomas) and Tennessee (Travis Henry) suited up but didn’t play.

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Ohio State’s Reggie Germany caught nine passes for 108 yards as the North rallied to beat the South, 31-23, in the Hula Bowl at Wailuku, Hawaii.

Purdue’s Drew Brees completed 10 of 20 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown for the North.

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Butch Davis, in the fourth year of a seven-year contract at the University of Miami, said he had a good meeting with Athletic Director Paul Dee concerning a new contract.

“It’s pretty much a formality. It’s a matter of getting it done,” Davis said of his new contract.

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Cornerback Brock Williams, expected to be a defensive leader for Notre Dame next season, will not return for a fifth season, coach Bob Davie said.

Earlier this month, Williams petitioned an NFL advisory committee to get an idea of where he might be drafted. Davie said the advisory committee projected Williams to go as high as the third round.

He broke up five passes in Notre Dame’s victory over USC.

Winter Sports

Hermann Maier finally won a downhill on the famed Streif course at Kitzbuehel, Austria, one of the most harrowing runs on the World Cup circuit.

Maier was 1.73 seconds ahead of Austrian teammate Hannes Trinkl. Daron Rahlves of U.S spoiled a Austrian sweep, tying Stephan Eberharter for third in his first top-three finish this season.

Felix Gottwald of Australia increased his lead in the World Cup nordic combined standings, winning his third title of the season at Midway, Utah. He finished third in the cross country leg of the competition, unable to catch Todd Lodwick of the U.S., who finished sixth overall.

Regine Cavagnoud of France won a third consecutive super giant slalom at Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy, extending her commanding lead in the World Cup standings. Picabo Street, the 1998 super-G Olympic champion, finished 45th, ending her hope of qualifying for the World Championships after her comeback this season from a leg injury three years ago.

Adam Malysz of Poland extended his winning streak to five, ignoring swirling wind conditions to top the World Cup ski jumping standings at Park City, Utah. . . . World champion Sylke Otto led a German sweep in a World Cup singles luge event at Altenberg, Germany. . . . Germany beat Norway by 14.3 seconds in the men’s 30-kilometer relay race at a biathlon World Cup meet at Anterselva, Italy. . . . Christoph Langen of Germany defeated Christian Reich of Switzerland to win a two-man bobsled World Cup race and the European title at Koenigsee, Germany. . . . Mike Ireland of Canada and Eriko Sanmiya of Japan led after the first day of the speedskating sprint world championship at Inzell, Germany. . . . Alexei Grichin and Dmitri Dashinski gave Belarus a 1-2 finish in aerials at the freestyle skiing world championships in Whistler, Canada, with Joe Pack of the U.S. winning the bronze. Veronika Bauer of Canada won the women’s title.

Pro Football

The Cleveland Browns added Minnesota Viking offensive line coach Mike Tice to the list of candidates they will interview for the head-coaching job this week.

Brown defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel will interview early this week, Tennessee Titan defensive coordinator Gregg Williams on Monday, New Orleans Saint offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy on Tuesday, and San Francisco 49er offensive coordinator Marv Mornhinweg on Wednesday.

Brown President Carmen Policy said he will wait until after the Super Bowl to interview Baltimore Raven defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis.

Dom Capers, defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars, is expected to be introduced today as coach of the Houston Texans, who begin play in 2002.

Miscellany

The Cleveland Indians signed relievers Jerry Spradlin and Scott Radinsky to minor league contracts and invited them to spring training.

Jockey Joy Scott, injured in a five-horse spill Friday at Los Alamitos, remained hospitalized at UCI Medical Center in Orange, where a cast was fitted for her broken right leg. No surgery is planned for Scott, who will need an estimated six weeks to recuperate.

Jean-Louis Schlesser of France took the overall lead in the next-to-last stage of the 2001 Dakar Rally at Dakar, Senegal. . . . Colin McRae of Britain clung to a 3.5-second lead over Finnish rival Tommi Makinen after the second stage of the Monte Carlo rally at Monaco.

Michael Klim of Australia won the 100-meter freestyle at the Arena World Cup at Berlin. Megan Quann of the U.S won the women’s 100-meter backstroke on the opening day of the two-day event.

Lennox Lewis will defend his World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation heavyweight titles April 21 in Las Vegas against Hasim Rahman of the U.S., the Washington Post reported. Rahman, the IBF’s No. 4 contender, has a record of 34-2. Lewis is 38-1-1.

The Ice Dogs were outshot 45-27 in a 3-1 loss to the San Diego Gulls in a West Coast Hockey League game at San Diego.