Sports briefs

Last update: May 13, 2008 - 1:43 AM

WORLD HOCKEY

U.S. wraps up qualifying with rout

New York Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky scored three goals, and the Americans scored three times in each period as they wrapped up their qualifying round at the world hockey championships with a 9-1 victory Monday over Norway in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The United States (3-2) locked up third place in Pool F. The Americans next will play Finland, which lost to Canada 6-3 on Monday.

The U.S. also got goals from former Gophers Paul Martin and Phil Kessel.

In other games, Russia remained unbeaten with a 5-3 victory over Switzerland, Denmark upset Belarus 3-2, and Germany beat Latvia 5-3.

COLLEGES

Indiana seeks to avoid further NCAA penalties

Indiana University told the NCAA that its own self-imposed penalties should be enough keep the organization from having to punish the school for improper phone calls made by Kelvin Sampson before he resigned as men's basketball coach. New coach Tom Crean inherited a one-year extension of recruiting restrictions on phone calls and the loss of one scholarship for the 2008-09 season.

GOLF

Woods says rehab is going well

Tiger Woods hopes to play in the Memorial in two weeks. But even if he can't compete until the U.S. Open, he doesn't expect the same result as his last mid-season layoff.

Two years ago, Woods missed nine weeks while coping with the death of his father. He returned in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot and missed the cut for the only time in a major.

"That was a totally different mental situation than I am now," Woods said. "Everything in my life is doing great. I'm just trying to get the leg organized enough to where I can play." Woods had surgery on his left knee April 15 to clean out some cartilage.

FOOTBALL

Bears make Gould highest-paid kicker

Robbie Gould became the highest-paid kicker, agreeing to a five-year, $15.5 million contract extension with the Chicago Bears that includes a $4.25 million signing bonus. The deal runs through 2013. ... In San Diego, long snapper David Binn, 36, signed a four-year contract.

• Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh will meet separately with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) today to discuss New England's videotaping of opposing coaches' playcalling signals in violation of league rules.

AROUND THE HORN

Tennis: The U.S. Open will move from USA Network to ESPN and the Tennis Channel next year under a six-year agreement with the USTA. Coverage on ESPN2, Tennis Channel and current network partner CBS will increase by nearly 100 hours.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Recent Sports stories

Lucky number turns out to be three for diver - May 13, 2008

Lucky number turns out to be three for diver - Turns out the third time was indeed the charm for Sarah McCrady. The senior diver from Eagan finished in third place at last week's Class 2A swimming and diving state meet. She finally got near the top after two previous years of advancing to state. She missed the finals as a sophomore and finished seventh a year ago. After receiving her medal last weekend, she spoke with the Star Tribune's Brian Stensaas. More