Jim Leyritz is taken to a Florida hospital

Former major leaguer Jim Leyritz, who is facing trial on DUI manslaughter charges, was taken to a Florida hospital after telling police he was concerned about failing a Breathalyzer test in his car, and was “under a lot of stress” because of his legal problems, authorities said Thursday.

Davie police spokesman Bill Coyne said Leyritz had blown into the Breathalyzer device in his car Wednesday in an attempt to start the vehicle, but the device indicated he had been drinking. Leyritz tried a second time and the device read he had not been drinking. A court ordered the device for Leyritz’s car to monitor him for alcohol when he’s behind the wheel. He must blow in it to start the car, and periodically while driving.

Leyritz told police he was not drinking, and officers noted in the report that there was no evidence of alcohol or drug use. A urine sample was also taken. If the test comes back positive, it would be a violation of his bail conditions.

OLYMPICS

Miller mum about Vancouver

Bode Miller plans to ski next season but won’t commit to the Vancouver Olympics.

The two-time overall World Cup winner disclosed his plans to his ski manufacturer during a long meeting on the Kaprun glacier in Austria.

“He’s planning to continue,” Head’s racing director Rainer Salzgeber said.

Miller declined to comment.

GOLF

Alfredsson’s 62 leads at Sybase

Helen Alfredsson jump-started a career-best, 10-under-par 62 by holing out for eagle from 68 yards on her second hole, and took a two-stroke lead over Brittany Lincicome after the first round of the Sybase Classic at Clifton, N.J.

Three-time defending champion Lorena Ochoa opened with a 71.

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Three-time champion Justin Leonard and Paul Goydos shot seven-under 63s to share the first-round lead in the Texas Open at San Antonio.

Jeff Maggert, Marc Leishman and Ted Purdy were a stroke back.

TENNIS

Murray, Nadal, Federer all win

Defending champion Andy Murray, top-ranked Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer advanced to the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open.

Andy Roddick advanced after Nikolay Davydenko withdrew because of a leg injury. Roddick will next face Federer, who beat James Blake, 6-2, 6-4.

Murray stopped Tommy Robredo, 7-5, 6-1, and Nadal moved up after Philipp Kohlschreiber also withdrew because of a leg injury.

In the women’s draw, top-ranked Dinara Safina overcame a mid-match dip, defeating Lucie Safarova, 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Paulus will play for Syracuse

Greg Paulus is returning home to Syracuse to play football. The former Duke point guard says he’s enrolling in graduate school at Syracuse and will try to make a comeback in football for the Orange.

The decision ends a month of speculation whether the one-time star high school quarterback from Syracuse would resume his football career.

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Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, the Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year, has cancer. Herzlich said he was diagnosed earlier this week with Ewing’s Sarcoma after feeling pain in his leg and will undergo more tests in his home state of Pennsylvania.

ETC.

More clarity for Mayfield test

A day after learning Jeremy Mayfield failed a drug test for something other than a performance-enhancer, NASCAR allowed him to drive a race car at Darlington Raceway at speeds up to 173 mph.

A person familiar with the test results told the Associated Press that Mayfield’s positive test was not for a performance-enhancing drug. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because NASCAR won’t reveal what banned substance was found in the random test.

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Danilo Di Luca of Italy retained the overall Giro d’Italia lead, Lance Armstrong lost time again and Michele Scarponi won the sixth stage on Thursday. Armstrong was 1:15 behind Scarponi. The seven-time Tour de France champion dropped from 22nd to 25th overall, 4:13 behind Di Luca.

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Memphis Grizzlies forward Darius Miles, who was suspended last season for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program, was free on bond after being charged with possession of marijuana. . . . Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch has filed an appeal with the NFL contesting his suspension without pay for the first three games of the season. . . . A New York judge ordered America’s Cup champion Alinghi of Switzerland to face American challenger BMW Oracle Racing in a rare one-on-one showdown in February.