Miller falters in super-combi

Bode Miller blew his downhill lead by skiing off course in the slalom, allowing Aksel Lund Svindal to win a men’s World Cup super-combi Thursday at Beaver Creek, Colo.

Miller led after the downhill leg, but swerved off course in the slalom after a gate smacked his inside boot, causing him to knock his skis together.

Svindal was only 20th after the morning’s downhill leg, but a blistering slalom run in the afternoon gave him a winning combined time of 2 minutes 6.74 seconds.

It marked Svindal’s first World Cup win in the discipline, though he is famous for his versatility in speed and technical events.

American T.J. Lanning broke his right hand in a crash during the downhill portion of the race and was scheduled for surgery.

Austria’s Renate Goetschl had the fastest time in downhill training sessions for this weekend’s season-opening World Cup women’s skiing events at Lake Louise, Canada.

Downhills are scheduled for today and Saturday, and a super-giant slalom is set for Sunday.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Monson steps down as Minnesota coach

Dan Monson resigned as coach at Minnesota, one day after the Golden Gophers’ fifth consecutive defeat left them with their longest losing streak in more than 40 years.

Assistant Jim Molinari will take over as interim coach. The Gophers fell to 2-5 with a 90-68 loss to Clemson on Wednesday.

Kansas Coach Bill Self got a five-year contract extension that bumps up his annual compensation to more than $1.3 million.

GOLF

Barcelo takes lead at qualifying event

Rich Barcelo shot an eight-under 64 in chilly conditions at PGA West to take a three-stroke lead over Paul Gow after the second round of the PGA Tour’s 108-hole final qualifying tournament at La Quinta, Calif.

Angela Park shot a five-under 67 at LPGA International for a share of the second-round lead with Hye Jung Choi in the LPGA Tour’s 90-hole final qualifying tournament at Daytona Beach, Fla. The 18-year-old Park, from Torrance, had six birdies and a bogey on the Legends Course to match Choi at seven-under 137.

Henrik Stensen shot a five-under 68 for a one-stroke lead over defending champion Jim Furyk at the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City, South Africa.

MISCELLANY

Restrictions to be relaxed on reporters

China will relax restrictions on foreign reporters before the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Foreign Ministry said today.

“As long as you can secure the consent of your interviewee you can go ahead with your interview,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a news conference.

He said the new regulations would take effect on Jan. 1, 2007.

Currently, foreign reporters have to apply to relevant government offices to get permission to interview officials or to travel to certain areas.

The Hawk-Eye video system, which allows players to review and challenge calls, makes its debut today in Davis Cup when Russia plays host to Argentina in the final.

Chicago’s Soldier Field will be the site of next year’s semifinals and final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, soccer’s championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean. The Home Depot Center in Carson will play host to two first-round doubleheaders.

Jeff Pain won the season-opening World Cup men’s skeleton race on his home course in Calgary, Canada, beating Alexander Tretiakov by 0.26 seconds. American Katie Uhlaender won the women’s race in 1:57.59.

James Ulmer, accused of running a gambling ring with former NHL player Rick Tocchet, will plead guilty and agree to cooperate with authorities, according to a report published in the Newark Star-Ledger.

The USC women’s volleyball team advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament with a 20-17, 30-24, 30-23 victory over Mississippi at the Galen Center. In the first match, Brigham Young defeated UC Santa Barbara, 27-30, 30-32, 30-27, 30-21, 15-12.