Ligety takes giant slalom, points lead

Ted Ligety won a World Cup race for the first time this season, capturing a giant slalom Friday on one of his favorite hills.

The American finished the Pokoren 3 course in Slovenia in a combined time of 2 minutes, 22.02 seconds, winning the event for a third consecutive year.

Marcel Hirscher of Austria was 0.34 back in second. Bode Miller skipped the race to rest his sore ankle.

Ligety overtook Benjamin Raich of Austria for first place in the GS standings.

• Olympic medal contender Didier Cuche of Switzerland broke his right thumb during the race, putting his participation at the Vancouver Games in doubt. The Swiss ski federation said Cuche will have surgery in Zurich on Saturday.

Vonn extends lead

Burnsville's Lindsey Vonn extended her lead in the overall World Cup standings, skiing a cautious slalom run and placing third in a super combined in St. Moritz, Switzerland, won by Sweden's Anja Paerson.

Paerson, who won back-to-back overall titles in 2004 and '05, moved to third in the overall standings, trailing Vonn by 330.

Government weighing BCS action The Obama administration is considering steps that would review the legality of the controversial Bowl Championship Series.

In the letter Friday to Sen. Orrin Hatch obtained by the Associated Press, Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich wrote that the Justice Department is reviewing Hatch's request and other materials to determine whether to open an investigation into whether the BCS violates antitrust laws.

Weich noted that President Obama, before he was sworn in, had said he was going to "to throw my weight around a little bit" to nudge college football toward a playoff system.

BCS officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The deal was contingent on passing a physical. Nady, 31, had his second elbow ligament replacement surgery in July and appeared in only seven games with the New York Yankees last season.

Nady batted .305 with 25 homers and 97 RBI in 148 games with the Pirates and Yankees in 2008.

• Lefthander Joe Saunders and the Los Angeles Angels agreed to a $3.7 million, one-year deal.

Tracks to get financial help NASCAR has alleviated financial strain on racetracks during the rough economic climate by lowering the fee it charges to hold NASCAR races, a move the racing body said should allow track owners to reduce ticket prices and lower various fees associated with holding a race.

It also will affect prize money, which is largely determined by track profit.

Winter sports: Shaun White's helmet went flying when he struck his head on the halfpipe during an aerial stunt in practice, but he went on to win the title at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo.

Track and field: Bernard Lagat won the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games for the eighth time (3:56.34), breaking the mark he shared with Irishman Eamonn Coghlan.