Monday's sports briefs

Oklahoma fired men's basketball coach Jeff Capel on Monday after he followed a trip to the NCAA tournament's regional finals with the program's first back-to-back losing seasons since 1967.

Capel was 96-69 in five seasons with the Sooners but just 27-36 over the past two after Blake Griffin entered the NBA draft early and became the No. 1 overall pick.

"This isn't about our current team or the record of this past season. This is, again, looking at the entire program and our ability to be successful going forward," athletic director Joe Castiglione said.

Oklahoma went 13-18 in 2009-10, then lost three McDonald's All-Americans to early departure to the NBA. A 14-18 record followed this season, and attendance dropped two years in a row. The program also is being investigated by the NCAA for recruiting violations.

Tressel says he's sorry Ohio State coach Jim Tressel apologized several times during his first public speaking engagement since being suspended and fined for violating NCAA rules.

Speaking to a crowd of 400 in Canton, Ohio, Tressel charmed a pro-Buckeyes audience during a 40-minute speech focused on handling adversity.

"I can tell you this," he said. "I sincerely apologize for what we've been through. ... I also apologize because I'm going to have some sanctions. But the mission doesn't change. That's the pledge I have to you. The mission I've always had is we make sure we help young people change their lives."

Leader setting a record pace With teams in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race entering the final stretch for Nome, musher John Baker is on pace to break the race record.

Race judge Jake Berkowitz said that if Baker can keep his pace, he will shatter Martin Buser's 2002 record of covering the 1,150-mile race in eight days, 22 hours and 46 minutes.

Baker was the first musher out of the Elim checkpoint on Monday morning. The only other musher reported to leave Elim, Hans Gatt, was about two hours behind Baker.

Rash of arm pain breaks out Sore arms abounded Monday in major league baseball's spring training.

Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge will rest for several days because of tendinitis in his right biceps. Coaches said Lidge typically has soreness in spring but would be held out to be cautious.

Oakland closer Andrew Bailey left a spring training game against Cleveland after facing three batters because of elbow discomfort.

Seattle lefthander Nate Robertson will have arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow.

Yankees pitchers Joba Chamberlain and Sergio Mitre will be sidelined for a few days because of muscle soreness in their upper bodies.

World meet moving from Tokyo Accepting that Tokyo could not host the World Figure Skating Championships next week, the sport's governing body stepped up efforts to find a new venue and dates for its marquee event.

The worlds were scheduled for March 21-27. The International Skating Union is expected to announce a backup plan this week.

Tennis: Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki opened the second week of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., with a 6-1, 6-3 victory in the third round against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. On the men's side: fourth-seeded Robin Soderling fell to No. 32 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 (8), 6-4.

Amateur athletics: Olympic champion Evan Lysacek won the Sullivan Award, becoming the fourth figure skater to be honored as the top amateur athlete in the United States.

NEWS SERVICES