Chicago OKs Olympics guarantee

The Chicago City Council voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to support the city’s 2016 Olympics bid with a guarantee that would put city taxpayers on the hook for up to $500 million if the Olympic Games’ operating budget lost money.

The council voted, 45-5, in favor of the guarantee sought by Mayor Richard M. Daley, who previously has said no taxpayer money would be used for the Games.

Chicago is competing with Los Angeles to bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, and the U.S. Olympic Committee will choose April 14.

SOCCER

U.S. women win

fifth Algarve Cup

The U.S. women won the Algarve Cup for the fifth time, beating Denmark, 2-0, in the final on goals by Kristine Lilly and Carli Lloyd in Vila Real De Santo Antonio, Portugal.

Valencia defender David Navarro was suspended seven months for his part in last week’s Champions League brawl with Inter Milan -- one of the harshest penalties given by European soccer’s governing body.

Inter’s Nicolas Burdisso and Maicon were suspended for six matches, Ivan Cordova was banished for three and Julio Ricardo Cruz will sit out two. Valencia’s Carlos Marchena was suspended four matches.

Each team was fined $204,000.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

South Carolina recruit

tries to avoid charges

South Carolina recruit Stephen Garcia applied to enter a counseling and community service program rather than face prosecution for two misdemeanor charges.

Garcia, a highly recruited quarterback, was arrested Feb. 17 on charges of drunkenness and failure to stop for a police officer outside a Columbia, S.C., club. Two weeks later, he turned himself in on charges of malicious injury to personal property for allegedly scratching a professor’s car with a key and causing more than $800 in damage.

Garcia was suspended from spring practice and all team activities this semester after the second arrest.

Michigan tailback Mike Hart will miss spring practice because of a “minor arthroscopic procedure,” Coach Lloyd Carr said.

Wide receiver Adrian Arrington, tight end Carson Butler and defensive end Eugene Germany will also miss the drills, with Carr saying only, “They’re not practicing, and they’re not injured.”

PRO FOOTBALL

NFL initiates study

on obesity, cardiac health

The NFL commissioned a study of obesity and other factors on the cardiac health of its players in the wake of several active and retired players dying of heart disease.

Dr. Andrew Lincoln, director of orthopedics and sports health research at MedStar Research Institute, said he will study 700 players. He hopes to submit his findings later this year.

The contract of Cleveland Browns running back Terrelle Smith, 29, was terminated before he was due a roster bonus at the end of the week.

WINTER SPORTS

Mancuso loses steam;

Miller ousted from chase

Julia Mancuso lost ground in her bid to become the first U.S. woman to win the overall World Cup title since 1983 in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, and Bode Miller lost any hope of regaining the overall title he won in 2005.

Mancuso (1,296 points) finished fifth in a downhill, dropping her further behind overall leader Marlies Schild (1,382). She also trails two other Austrians, Nicole Hosp (1,327) and Renate Goetschl (1,300). Goetschl won in 1 minute 22.73 seconds. Schild was second.

Miller, who finished ninth, was eliminated from the chase for the overall title. Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal won in 1:18.97.

MISCELLANY

Leagues to receive

names in drug probe

Names of athletes who bought steroids and other drugs on the Internet will be turned over to their pro sports leagues by the Albany County (N.Y.) prosecutor’s office, a spokeswoman said.

Spanish prosecutors appealed a judge’s decision in Madrid to drop the Operation Puerto probe into doping in cycling.

Clinton Woods will defend his International Boxing Federation light-heavyweight title against Julio Gonzalez on June 23 in Las Vegas.

The New York City Council voted, 40-6, to ban metal bats for high school teams, sending the measure to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who isn’t sure whether he will veto or sign it.

Canada lost to Kenya by seven wickets in the Cricket World Cup in St. Kitts. Australia began its bid for a third straight title with a 203-run victory over Scotland.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning will be the grand marshal of the May 26 Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade and wave the green flag to start the race the next day.

PASSINGS

Helen Dedeaux, 92,

wife of late USC coach

Helen Dedeaux, the wife of longtime USC baseball coach Rod Dedeaux, died Saturday at 92.