Oracle Reaches Final

Oracle of San Francisco advanced to the America’s Cup challenger final by defeating Seattle’s OneWorld Challenge by 1 minute 4 seconds today to sweep their best-of-seven semifinal repechage at Auckland, New Zealand.

Oracle will face Alinghi of Switzerland in the final starting Jan. 11.

OneWorld is eliminated, though it is still awaiting the resolution of a case in front of the Cup’s international jury that questions the legality of a military radar system used by Oracle in all of its races.

OneWorld led by 48 seconds halfway through the 18.5-nautical-mile race. On the fourth leg of the six-leg race, OneWorld headed to the right of the course while Oracle bore away and chose to sail closer inshore.

The yachts reached a maximum separation of more than a kilometer, a hazardous prospect for the leading yacht. The decision was made worse when Oracle sailed into a fuller breeze.

“We had to gamble because there were only two legs to go,” Oracle starting helmsman Peter Holmberg said. “It was tricky out there. The left was winning all day. We got round the top mark and the right started to come back and we gained.”

Oracle steadily reduced OneWorld’s lead, then drove past to an advantage of 38 seconds at the second leeward mark, a single-leg turnaround of 1:26.

The breeze stabilized, leaving OneWorld with few tactical options. Oracle was able to lead around the last mark, by 41 seconds, and finished more than 300 meters ahead.

Baseball

Count out Robin Roberts from the proposed meeting between Commissioner Bud Selig and the Hall of Fame’s 58 living members regarding Pete Rose’s possible reinstatement.

“I don’t really want to be a part of it,” the former Philadelphia pitcher said. “That’s something to be worked out between the commissioner and Pete. Until he’s off the banned list, there’s no point talking about it.”

The Hall already has started contacting its members, hoping to set up a meeting Jan. 17 in Los Angeles.

All-Star reliever Ugueth Urbina signed a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers. Urbina went 1-6 with 40 saves and a 3.00 earned-run average for Boston last season.... Former Gold Glove infielder Neifi Perez signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants.... The Colorado Rockies re-signed free-agent pitcher Scott Elarton to a one-year contract.

Winter Sports

Bode Miller of the United States won a World Cup giant slalom at Alta Badia, Italy, holding onto a first-run lead for his first victory of the season.

Miller’s combined time of 2:33.81 seconds was more than a second ahead of runner-up Davide Simoncelli of Italy (2:34.87) for his fifth World Cup win. Christian Mayer of Austria was third, 1.07 seconds behind.

Olympic champion Janica Kostelic won a World Cup slalom and combined after almost failing to make it down the course because of wet goggles at Lenzerheide, Switzerland.

The Croatian won easily in 1:42.97, finishing 1.23 seconds ahead of Tanja Poutiainen of Finland. Claudia Riegler of New Zealand was third.

Sven Hannawald of Germany won a World Cup ski jump event for the first time this season, soaring 133 meters, followed by an effort of 132.5 for 282.9 points at Engelberg, Switzerland.

Miscellany

Tommy Haas will sit out the Australian Open next month after undergoing shoulder surgery.

The German, a semifinalist at the Grand Slam event last January, had the operation last week after tearing a tendon in his right shoulder.

The Long Beach Ice Dogs ended a seven-game winless streak with a 3-2 shootout victory over the host Bakersfield Condors in a WCHL game. Jamie O’Leary and Tyler Willis scored the Ice Dog goals in regulation.

The U.S. earned a spot in the world junior softball championships next year in China by defeating Canada, 2-0, to win the gold medal at the Americas region qualifier at Hermosillo, Mexico.