Monday's sports briefs

Figure skating's governing body hopes to select a new site for its world championships by the end of the week because Japan is unable to be this year's host.

The championships were to have begun Monday in Tokyo but had been postponed because of the earthquake and tsunami. The International Skating Union had offered Japan the possibility of hosting the worlds in October. But the Japan Skating Federation wrote back over the weekend, saying it was handing the competition back to the ISU.

ISU President Ottavio Cinquanta said he has asked members capable of hosting the worlds in late April or early May to send offers by Tuesday, and the ISU council will vote Wednesday or Thursday.

Wisconsin fires coach Stone Lisa Stone was fired as women's basketball coach at Wisconsin after eight seasons and only one appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Stone's record was 128-119. The Badgers lost in the first round of last year's NCAA tournament and went 16-15 this season.

"Our women's basketball program has not reached and maintained the level of success I believe is possible," athletic director Barry Alvarez said.

Decision to cancel is defended The director of women's World Cup races said he has no qualms about Saturday's cancellation of a giant slalom that led to the overall title being awarded to German Maria Riesch without giving American rival Lindsey Vonn a chance to overtake Riesch's small points lead.

Atle Skaardal said skiing a giant slalom on such poor snow -- a thin, icy crust above a soft base -- would have opened up holes that could have been "very dangerous."

"We want to do the races more than anybody, but not at any price," Skaardal said.

Glanville takes UFL job Jerry Glanville, the colorful former coach of the NFL's Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons, is returning to the sidelines as head coach of the UFL's Hartford Colonials.

Glanville joins Jim Fassel in Las Vegas and former Vikings coach Dennis Green in Sacramento as UFL coaches who had previously worked in the NFL.

PGA ponders late-season change The PGA Tour is considering a change to the end of its season in which players who don't make the FedEx Cup playoffs would compete for their cards in a series of tournaments against top Nationwide Tour players.

Under the preliminary plan, the top 125 on the FedEx Cup standings after the Wyndham Championship would advance to the playoffs. Those who don't make the top 125 would have the option of playing a series of three tournaments along with top Nationwide Tour players. Results of those tournaments would determine who gets PGA Tour cards the following season.

Sorenstam gives birth to a boy

Annika Sorenstam announced the birth of William Nicholas McGee via Twitter, writing her first son "is hanging in there fine for being 27 weeks." It's the second child for the retired LPGA great and husband Mike McGee.

NEWS SERVICES