Maier Earns His First Gold Since Crash

Skier Hermann Maier let out a scream around the finish at the world championships, a major title finally his again.

His victory in the giant slalom Thursday at Bormio, Italy, was another inspirational step in his recovery from a 2001 motorcycle accident in which he nearly lost a leg.

This was the Austrian’s first gold medal at the world championships since he won two in 1999 in Vail, Colo.

“It’s a great feeling for me because so many things have happened since this time six years ago,” said Maier, who won the event in 2 minutes 50.41 seconds.

Another Austrian, Benjamin Raich, finished second, 0.25 of a second back, and Daron Rahlves of the United States won the bronze.

Defending champion Bode Miller needed two stitches on his chin after he lost control on the first run and slammed into an advertising banner.

Pro Football

Philadelphia put the franchise tag on former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Corey Simon, meaning the Eagles would have seven days to match any offer made to him.

If Philadelphia declines to match the offer, it will receive two first-round draft picks as compensation. Unless he re-signs for the long term, Simon will play next season under a one-year deal for the average of the five highest-paid players at his position.

Tennis

Andre Agassi overcame a slow start to defeat Kenneth Carlsen, 7-5, 6-1, to reach the quarterfinals of the SAP Open for the 12th time in 13 appearances at San Jose. Andy Roddick also advanced, defeating Korean Hyung Taik-Lee, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Unseeded Taylor Dent beat second-seeded David Nalbandian, 7-6 (3), 6-2, in the second round of the Open 13 at Marseille, France.

Second-seeded Amelie Mauresmo beat Mary Pierce, 6-4, 6-3, in a second-round match at the Open Gaz de France in Paris.

Rafael Nadal beat Potito Starace, 6-1, 6-3, to become the fourth Spaniard to reach the quarterfinals of the ATP Buenos Aires tournament in Argentina.

Baseball

Boston Red Sox third baseman Bill Mueller had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and might be ready by opening day, the team said.

Meanwhile, pitcher Curt Schilling donated the bloody sock he wore during the World Series to the Hall of Fame for a Red Sox exhibit celebrating the team’s 2004 title.

Kyle Lohse and the Minnesota Twins went before arbitrators in the first hearing of 2005. After going 9-13 with a 5.34 earned-run average, Lohse asked for a raise from $395,000 to $2.4 million. Minnesota offered $2.15 million.

Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt settled his case and accepted a $16.9 million, two-year contract. He had asked for $7.8 million and the Astros had offered $6 million.

Miscellany

Former Washington football coach Rick Neuheisel acknowledged in court that he hadn’t told then-Washington athletic director Barbara Hedges that he had talked extensively in 2003 with then-San Francisco 49er general manager Terry Donahue or that Donahue had offered him $3 million a year to coach the team. Neuheisel is suing Washington and the NCAA, alleging he was wrongly fired from his job as coach in June 2003.

Oklahoma assistant Bo Pelini, Chicago Bear defensive line coach Karl Dunbar and Middle Tennessee defensive coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto joined the staff of Louisiana State football Coach Les Miles.

King center Sean Avery and Ottawa’s Bryan Smolinski have signed to play for the Motor City Mechanics of the United Hockey League, a league source said.

Avery and Smolinski join Detroit Red Wings Derian Hatcher, Chris Chelios and Kris Draper, who already play for the Detroit-area team.

Swimming’s world governing body FINA, which stripped the world championships from Montreal because of financial concerns, decided to give the July 17-31 event back to the city, citing, among other things, the government’s support and travel arrangements made by the teams.