Chargers set to interview four

The San Diego Chargers received permission Tuesday to interview Norv Turner, Mike Singletary, Ron Rivera and Rex Ryan for their head coaching job.

Turner, offensive coordinator for the Chargers in 2001, holds that position with the San Francisco 49ers, for whom Singletary is assistant head coach. Rivera and Ryan are defensive coordinators -- Rivera with the Chicago Bears and Ryan with the Baltimore Ravens.

USC Coach Pete Carroll declined to address speculation that he was a candidate.

“I’ve got nothing for you,” Carroll said through a school spokesman. “I’m not talking about it.”

-- Gary Klein

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Return specialist Chad Morton, a former standout at USC, was released by the NFL’s New York Giants.

Morton played two years with the Giants, averaging 9.2 yards on punt returns and 21.6 yards on kickoff returns last season.

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Joe Cullen, a Detroit Lions assistant coach arrested and accused of driving nude then drunk on separate occasions a week apart, was sentenced to two years’ probation and must attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings twice a week.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

USC still investigating possible violation

USC compliance officials are still investigating whether a violation occurred in the recruitment of running back Joe McKnight, a spokesman said.

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Former Arkansas quarterback Mitch Mustain is scheduled to visit USC today as he seeks a school to transfer to.

-- Gary Klein

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Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky, who played at North Hollywood High, was in fair condition because of an undisclosed problem, though his family said his hospitalization was not caused by alcohol or “illicit drugs.”

SKIING

Hosp ends Paerson’s winning streak at three

Anja Paerson’s remarkable three-race winning streak at the world championships ended when she fell in the giant slalom, which was won by Nicole Hosp at Are, Sweden.

Olympic champion Julia Mancuso, who led after the opening run, slipped to fifth after struggling on the second run. She said she would skip the slalom that is the last individual race at the championships because of exhaustion.

Maria Pietilae-Holmner won the silver medal in 2 minutes 32.57 seconds. Denise Karbon earned the bronze in 2:32.69.

JURISPRUDENCE

Weis’ malpractice trial begins in Boston

The lawyer for Notre Dame football Coach Charlie Weis said that doctors failed to recognize life-threatening complications after Weis’ gastric bypass surgery, allowing him to bleed internally for more than a day.

Weis’ lawyer, Michael Mone, made his comments at the start of the coach’s malpractice trial in Boston.

MISCELLANY

NASCAR looking at track in Denver

Denver could be NASCAR’s next destination.

International Speedway Corp., which owns several raceways, including California Speedway in Fontana, said it’s looking at building a motorsports track near Denver International Airport that could seat about 75,000.

“Denver is a great sports market ... and would be a good market for NASCAR if it comes on line,” said NASCAR Chairman Brian France, whose family also controls International Speedway.

Neither he nor the company estimated when the facility might be completed.

-- Jim Peltz

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Dusty Baker, who spent 33 years in the major leagues as player and manager, including eight as an outfielder with the Dodgers, has been hired as a studio analyst by ESPN for its “Baseball Tonight” program. He occasionally will also work as a game analyst.

-- Larry Stewart

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Third-seeded Andy Murray opened defense of his lone title with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Kevin Kim in the SAP Open at San Jose.

Fourth-seeded Marat Safin also advanced to the second round with a 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory over wild card Scott Oudsema.

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Roy and Gretchen Jackson, owners of Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner euthanized last month, started a $3-million endowment at the University of Pennsylvania’s veterinary school to study equine diseases.

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Sports officials from North and South Korea failed to reach any agreement on forming a single team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, South Korea’s Olympic committee said.

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Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong said he plans to return to the New York City Marathon this year. He ran the marathon for the first time in November.

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The United States will open the Copa America on June 28 against Argentina in Caracas, Venezuela.