It’s a Big Victory for Maier

Hermann Maier won a World Cup downhill Saturday at Beaver Creek, Colo., barely two years after a motorcycle accident that nearly cost him his right leg.

Maier claimed his second victory of the season and 44th overall by finishing nearly a second ahead of teammate Hans Knauss to lead an Austrian sweep of the top three places.

Maier was clocked in 1 minute 39.76 seconds; Knauss was timed in 1:40.71. Andreas Schifferer was third in 1:40.95 on the difficult Birds of Prey course.

Daron Rahlves of Sugar Bowl, Calif., who won Friday’s downhill, was fourth in 1:41.01. Klaus Kroell and Michael Walchhofer were fifth and sixth as the powerful Austrian team claimed seven of the top nine places.

Maier, whose comeback began with a victory last season in a super-giant slalom in Kitzbuehel, Austria, drew motivation from what he called a disappointing fifth-place finish Friday.

The 1998 Olympic gold medalist was fast on the gliding section at the top of the course and maintained his quick pace to the finish.

Bode Miller of Bretton Woods, N.H., made a mistake for a second straight day. Miller, who was thrown back on his skis and crashed Friday, lost control on a jump and missed a gate.

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Carole Montillet of France won her second consecutive World Cup downhill on a course at Lake Louise, Canada, that was shortened because of dangerous wind and snow conditions.

She finished in 1 minute 24.18 seconds after bad weather delayed the start of the race for two hours. Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria was second in 1:24.30, followed by Renate Goetschel of Austria in 1:24.41.

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Olympic champion Janne Lahtela of Finland and Kari Traa of Norway won season-opening mogul races at a World Cup freestyle meet at Ruka, Finland.

Lahtela beat Jeremy Bloom, who plays football at Colorado, with a more difficult first jump despite a slower run, 23.80 seconds against 23.10. Lahtela had 24.90 points to Bloom’s 24.57.

Traa totaled 25.43 points and was followed by Jennifer Heil of Canada (24.72) and American Hannah Kearney (23.73).

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Roar Ljokelsoy of Norway won a World Cup ski jumping event at Trondheim, Norway, jumping 130 and 121 meters for 254.3 points on the 120-kilometer hill to beat Janne Ahonen of Finland, who had jumps of 129 and 121.5 meters, by 4.4 points.

Golf

Jim Furyk shot a four-under-par 68 to win the PGA Grand Slam by eight strokes over Mike Weir at Poipu Beach, Hawaii.

Furyk, the U.S. Open winner, earned $400,000 of a $1-million purse in the 36-hole event for the winners of this year’s four majors. He finished at nine-under 135 on the 7,081-yard Poipu Bay course.

Weir, who won the Masters, closed with a 71 to earn $250,000. PGA champion Shaun Micheel shot a 70 to finish 10 strokes back and collect $200,000. British Open champion Ben Curtis was another shot behind after a 73 and made $150,000.

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Mathias Gronberg shot a one-under-par 71 to take a three-stroke lead after the fourth round of the PGA Tour qualifying tournament at Winter Garden, Fla.

Gronberg is at 14-under 274. Dan Olsen (69), Michael Allen (70), John Riegger (70) and Danny Ellis (72) are tied for second at 11 under.

The top 30 players and ties after the sixth round Monday will receive 2004 PGA Tour cards, and the remaining players will get exempt or conditional status on the Nationwide Tour.

Pro Football

Pittsburgh Steeler Coach Bill Cowher was fined $10,000 by the NFL for criticizing replay official Dale Hamer after last weekend’s loss to Cincinnati.

Cowher was fined for violating the NFL rules that prohibit public criticism of game officials and league personnel. He declined to comment on the fine but has apologized publicly and privately to Hamer.

Hamer did not call for a review of a play in which Steeler quarterback Charlie Batch fumbled at the Bengal 10-yard line in the closing seconds of the first half of the 24-20 loss.

Soccer

Brazilian stars Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo scored goals as Spanish league leader Real Madrid beat archrival FC Barcelona, 2-1, in front of 98,000 for its first league victory at Barcelona in 20 years.