Brooklyn Dodgers hero Podres dies

Johnny Podres, who pitched the Brooklyn Dodgers to their only World Series title in 1955, died Sunday at the age of 75 in Glens Falls, N.Y.

A spokesman for Glens Falls Hospital confirmed Podres’ death but said he didn’t know any details.

The left-hander was picked for four All-Star games and was the first most valuable player in World Series history. He became a hero to every baseball fan in Brooklyn when the Dodgers ended decades of frustration by beating the New York Yankees to win the World Series.

It was the first time a team had won a best-of-seven World Series after losing the first two games, and it was Brooklyn’s only World Series victory. The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles after the 1957 season.

The Dodgers lost the first two games at Yankee Stadium, then won the third, 8-3, at Ebbets Field. Podres, going the distance on his 23rd birthday, scattered seven hits.

In the climactic seventh game, at Yankee Stadium, Podres shut out New York, 2-0, on eight hits, relying on his fastball and a deceptive changeup.

As the story goes, Podres told his teammates to get him just one run and the Dodgers would win Game 7. They got him two, and the franchise celebrated its first and only championship while playing in Brooklyn.

Podres’ career spanned 15 years with the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres. His lifetime record was 148-116.

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SKIING

Miller ties Mahre’s U.S. World Cup record

Bode Miller always wanted to be the best American skier. With one more win, he will be.

Miller matched Phil Mahre’s U.S. record of 27 World Cup victories by winning the Lauberhorn downhill for the second year in a row, charging through the lower part of the course to win in 2 minutes 30.40 seconds in Wengen, Switzerland.

With two downhill victories in a row and a sudden rediscovery of his slalom form, the 30-year-old is a good bet to pass Mahre before the season ends.

“I remember when I was young it was one of my goals. I wanted to be the best American skier ever,” Miller said. “I think that’s what I am. It’s nice to have the numbers to back that up.”

Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark won a record 86 World Cup races during his career.

Didier Cuche of Switzerland was second, 0.65 of a second back, and Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada was third.

Miller’s win also thrust him back into the race for the overall World Cup title.

The winner in 2005, Miller has 611 points and trails only Benjamin Raich of Austria in the overall standings.

He is also only a point behind Cuche in the race for the downhill title.

Austria’s Nicole Hosp won a World Cup slalom race in Maribor, Slovenia, for the 11th victory of her career.

Hosp, who led after the first leg, finished in poor weather conditions in a two-run combined time of 1:40.55. Veronika Zuzulova of Slovakia took second, 0.46 behind Hosp, to match her career-best result. Marlies Schild of Austria posted the fastest time in the second leg and finished third.

American Lindsey Vonn was 17th, and teammate Julia Mancuso was 24th.

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FOOTBALL

Patriots’ Dimitroff hired as GM by the Falcons

Tom Dimitroff was hired as general manager of the Atlanta Falcons; he had been director of scouting for the New England Patriots.

Dimitroff, 40, will report to President Rich McKay, the Falcons’ former GM.

Dimitroff’s hiring probably will end the Falcons’ interest in USC Coach Pete Carroll. Carroll has said he would have interest in an NFL job only if given the authority in personnel decisions.

West Virginia running back Steve Slaton will forgo his senior season to make himself available for the NFL draft.

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MISCELLANY

Clemens won’t commit to a House deposition

Roger Clemens’ attorney wouldn’t commit to having the pitcher give a deposition to congressional investigators, even as he said the seven-time Cy Young Award winner remains willing to testify Feb. 13 in open session before a House committee investigating denials that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

Rusty Hardin wouldn’t directly answer questions about a deposition.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James was ticketed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol for driving 101 mph in a 65-mph zone on an interstate highway near Medina at 2:43 a.m. on Dec. 30 -- his 23rd birthday. A hearing was scheduled for Feb. 11.

Athletes who become pregnant or have other medical conditions moved closer to NCAA protection of their scholarships under legislation approved, 46-5, by the Division I management council in Nashville.

The Division I board of directors will consider the change today on the final day of the NCAA convention.

The other hot topic will come today when NCAA President Myles Brand presents Georgia President Michael Adams’ proposal for an eight-team playoff for Division I football.

Mexico City’s Club America won the InterLiga soccer tournament by defeating crosstown rival Cruz Azul, 5-3, in penalty kicks in the second game of the championship doubleheader at the Home Depot Center on Saturday night.

Club America qualified for the Copa Libertadores, South America’s most prestigious club tournament. Atlas of Guadalajara, which beat San Luis, 3-0, in the first game in Carson, will face Bolivia’s La Paz FC in a playoff for a berth in the tournament.