Emotional Maier Earns First Win Since Accident

Hermann Maier wept after the race, his lip trembling as he spoke of all he has gone through since almost losing his leg in a motorcycle accident.

The Austrian star captured a World Cup super giant slalom Monday at Kitzbuehel, Austria, a victory that he ranked among his finest triumphs and it came nearly two years after he last won.

“I never thought I would win again so quickly,” he said. “I’m over the moon. I am totally moved.”

Maier, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time overall World Cup champion, sliced through the heavy snow that shrouded the Streifalm course in 1 minute 20.48 seconds. He led an Austrian sweep of the top five places.

Christoph Gruber was runner-up in 1:20.59. Stephan Eberharter, the reigning World Cup overall, downhill and Super G champion, was third in 1:20.63. Eberharter regained the World Cup overall lead from Bode Miller, who shared 12th place.

Maier was injured in August 2001 and returned two weeks ago. His previous victory was a giant slalom in March 2001 in Are, Sweden. This win was the 42nd in his World Cup career.

“It’s one of my best victories,” he said. “It’s definitely on par with the Olympics and world championships.”

The victory virtually guarantees Maier a berth at the world championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Feb. 2-16.

“You just can’t be envious,” said Hans Knauss, who finished fifth. “He’s the big boss again. It’s one of the greatest performances he’s ever given.”

Maier was thrown into a ditch after a car hit his motorcycle in Radstadt, Austria. He had seven hours of surgery and doctors said he was close to kidney failure and having his right leg amputated.

In the overall standings race, Miller trails Eberharter by eight points. Miller could move back into the lead in tonight’s slalom in Schladming, which he won a year ago. American teammate Jakub Fiala was 15th and Daron Rahlves was 22nd.

Baseball

Brian Daubach was among seven players who agreed to minor league contracts with the Chicago White Sox and were invited to spring training as non-roster players. Chicago also signed pitchers Gil Heredia, Esteban Loaiza and Brian Cooper to minor league deals.

Daubach, a 30-year-old infielder and outfielder, hit .266 with 20 home runs and 78 runs batted in for the Boston Red Sox last season. He became a free agent when Boston failed to offer a 2003 contract by the Dec. 20 deadline.

Outfielder Ruben Sierra agreed to a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers and was invited to spring training as a non-roster player. Sierra, 37, hit .270 with 13 home runs and 60 RBIs in 122 games for Seattle last season.... The New York Yankees agreed to a minor league contract with 32-year-old reliever Juan Acevedo, who had a career-high 28 saves as the Detroit Tigers’ closer last year. Acevedo went 1-5 with a 2.65 earned run average last season.... The Minnesota Twins agreed on a minor league contract with reliever Mike Fetters, 38, and invited him to spring training.... Right-hander Pat Mahomes agreed to a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was invited to spring training.

Tennis

Top-seeded Jiri Novak and U.S. Open semifinalist Sjeng Schalken lost in the first round of the Milan Indoors at Milan, Italy. Novak was beaten by Czech countryman Radek Stepanek, 6-4, 6-3, while the second-seeded Schalken was eliminated by Thomas Enqvist, 6-4, 6-3.

Seventh-seeded Nicolas Escude of France also was eliminated, falling to Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. Escude lost the first set after wasting three consecutive break points in the 10th game.

Goran Ivanisevic was selected to play in next month’s Davis Cup matches against the United States. He will be joined by Ivan Ljubicic, Lovro Zovko and Mario Ancic for the Feb. 7-9 matches in Zagreb, Croatia, captain Nikola Pilic said.

Darrell Rideaux, a senior defensive back on USC’s Orange Bowl-winning team, has signed to run the 50-meter dash in the 43rd Los Angeles Invitational indoor track meet Feb. 15 at the L.A. Sports Arena. Rideaux is a former state sprint champion from Long Beach Poly High.

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T.J. Simers has the day off.