Cowan may skip spring practice

UCLA quarterback Patrick Cowan’s availability for spring practice is questionable after he had arthroscopic surgery Friday to remove a piece of cartilage from his left knee.

Cowan, who will be a senior, has started 13 games over the last two seasons. But he was limited to five games in 2007 because of hamstring and knee injuries, a collapsed lung and a concussion.

Cowan’s status for spring practice, which begins April 3, will be determined during his rehabilitation.

Ben Olson, UCLA’s other senior quarterback, is coming off a knee injury. Kevin Craft, a transfer from Mt. San Antonio College, junior Osaar Rasshan and redshirt freshman Chris Forcier will also compete for the quarterback spot during spring practice.

-- Chris Foster

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MOTOR RACING

Earnhardt, Waltrip Nationwide cars illegal

Two high-profile Nationwide Series teams owned by drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip probably will be penalized after NASCAR inspectors found technical violations.

Inspectors impounded Earnhardt’s No. 5 Nationwide car Thursday night at Daytona International Speedway after spotting an illegal modification to his rear spoiler.

Officials confiscated the carburetor from the No. 99 Nationwide car driven by David Reutimann, who drives for Michael Waltrip Racing. The carburetor’s venturis were too large, providing a potential horsepower advantage.

Tony Stewart won the pole for today’s Nationwide Series race with a fast lap of 180.937 mph in a Toyota. Clint Bowyer was second at 180.101 in a Chevrolet.

Todd Bodine, driving a Toyota, held off a late push from Kyle Busch and Johnny Benson to win the season-opening NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series race at Daytona International Speedway. It took him 34 tries at NASCAR’s most famous track to get a victory.

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TENNIS

Querrey beats Spadea to reach semifinals

Third-seeded Sam Querrey defeated Vince Spadea, 6-2, 6-4, to reach the semifinals of the Delray Beach International in Florida. He will next play qualifier Ken Nishikori, who beat Bobby Reynolds, 6-2, 6-4.

Top-ranked Justine Henin defeated Alisa Kleybanova, 6-4, 6-3, to reach the semifinals of the Diamond Games at Antwerp, Belgium. She will next play Timea Bacsinszky, who advanced when third-seeded Daniela Hantuchova retired because of a thigh injury while trailing, 6-2, 4-6, 4-1.

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WINTER SPORTS

Poutiainen posts first Cup win of season

Tanja Poutiainen of Finland earned her first World Cup victory of the season by winning a slalom at Zagreb, Croatia. She finished in a combined time of 1 minute 52.83 seconds. Marlies Schild of Austria was timed in 1:53.35 and Veronika Zuzulova of Slovakia was third in 1:53.51.

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GOLF

Sorenstam’s 67 puts her into tie for lead

Annika Sorenstam birdied five of the final seven holes for a five-under-par 67 and a share of the lead in the LPGA Tour’s season-opening SBS Open at Kahuku, Hawaii.

She made an uphill 11-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th to match Erica Blasberg (68) at seven-under 137. They will enter the final round a stroke ahead of Momoko Ueda (67), Jane Park (68), Laura Diaz (68) and Cristie Kerr (69).

Loren Roberts, Fuzzy Zoeller, Tom Kite and Bruce Fleisher shot seven-under 65s to share the first-round lead in the ACE Group Classic at Naples, Fla.

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SOCCER

Hospital: Ronaldo might not play again

Surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in Ronaldo’s left knee went well, but it is too early to say whether the Brazilian striker will play professional soccer again, according to the hospital.

After a two-hour operation Thursday night, Ronaldo was to remain at Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in Paris for eight days of physical therapy, the hospital said.

The Galaxy re-acquired one of its original players when it traded midfielder Quavas Kirk, 20, to D.C. United for former U.S. international defender Greg Vanney, 33, who spent six seasons with the Galaxy before leaving to play for Bastia in the French league in 2002.

-- Grahame L. Jones

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PRO FOOTBALL

Former Patriots worker seeks NFL protection

The lawyer for former New England Patriots employee Matt Walsh said his client is willing to turn over videotapes he made for the team if the NFL guarantees Walsh protection from lawsuits or other legal action.

Walsh is said to have taped the St. Louis Rams’ walkthrough practice the day before they played the Patriots in the 2002 Super Bowl. The Patriots won, 20-17.