Minnesotan makes U.S. biathlon team

January 11, 2010 at 6:37AM

Wynn Roberts, a 21-year-old from Battle Lake, Minn., was selected to the United States Olympic men's biathlon team.

World Cup points leader Tim Burke of Paul Smith's, N.Y., headlines the team. Burke has had three podium finishes this season, including a second place in the men's mass start race in Oberhof, Germany, on Sunday, a performance that allowed him to retake the lead in the biathlon World Cup.

Joining Burke and Roberts, who will be competing in his first Games, are three others with Olympic experience: Jay Hakkinen of Kasilof, Alaska; Jeremy Teela of Heber City, Utah; and Lowell Bailey, of Lake Placid, N.Y.

The four-member women's team consists of Haley Johnson of Lake Placid, N.Y.; Sara Studebaker of Boise, Idaho; Lanny Barnes of Durango, Colo.; and Laura Spector of Lennox, Mass.

BASEBALL

Reds sign Cuban lefthander Cuban lefthander Aroldis Chapman has agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati Reds, ending one of the biggest questions in baseball this offseason. A person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press about the agreement Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract hadn't been finalized. With a 100 mile-per-hour fastball, he is considered by scouts to be among the top pitching prospects in the world, but questions remain about his readiness for the majors.

BOXING

Pacquiao to fight Clottey Manny Pacquiao will fight March 13 at Cowboys Stadium, but not against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said Sunday he has finalized a deal to match Pacquiao against Joshua Clottey in a welterweight bout at the new $1.2 billion stadium. Arum moved swiftly to land a lucrative fight for his Filipino star after his contentious negotiations for a megafight with Mayweather fell apart.

College football

Tuberville talking big Tommy Tuberville says he is certain he can take Texas Tech to new heights. "There's no doubt in my mind we can take it to the next level," he said Sunday after being introduced as the coach of the Red Raiders. He said he wants to improve Texas Tech's defense and add a "few new wrinkles," to its pass-happy offense. Tuberville replaces Mike Leach, who was fired last month amid allegations he mistreated a player who suffered a concussion. ... Georgia linebacker Rennie Curran said he'll enter the NFL draft.

TENNIS

Roddick wins Brisbane tourney Top-seeded Andy Roddick survived a second-set collapse to win the Brisbane (Australia) International title, beating defending champion Radek Stepanek 7-6 (2), 7-6 (7) after the Czech player double-faulted on match point. ... Marin Cilic retained the Chennai (India) Open title, defeating Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3).

AROUND THE HORN

Endurance racing: Two-time World Rally champion Carlos Sainz stretched his overall lead in the Dakar Rally with a second-place finish behind Stephane Peterhansel in the eighth stage from Antofagasta to Copiapo in the Atacama desert.

Soccer: Togo withdrew from a continentwide soccer tournament and its players reluctantly left Angola, two days after a deadly ambush on the team bus killed three and injured eight. It took a call from Togo's president, who feared for their further safety, to persuade the players to leave the African Cup of Nations.

Olympics: NBC Universal says it expects to lose money on the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver. NBC Sports chief Dick Ebersol says advertising sales for the games have picked up over the past few months. He said the loss is more due to the heavy rights fee NBC paid to show the games. NBC won the rights to broadcast the Vancouver Olympics and the 2012 Summer Games in London for $2.2 billion.

Nordic skiing: Bill Demong and Todd Lodwick made U.S. Nordic combined history, finishing 1-2 to become the first Americans in the sport to mount a World Cup podium together.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

about the writer

about the writer

More from Sports

card image
card image