Vonn will decide today if she can ski

The Minnesota native is battling a concussion.

February 8, 2011 at 5:39AM
Lindsey Vonn
Lindsey Vonn (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Lindsey Vonn has overcome a long list of injuries in her storied skiing career. This latest one -- a concussion that at times disrupts her mental focus -- might prove her most challenging.

"This injury is a lot different than anything I've ever faced before," Vonn said Monday, a day before she's due to defend her gold medal in the super-G that opens the world championships.

"It's not like it's the knee injury or you have a bruise," she added. "There's no pain. It's just I don't have any focus and concentration and it's very difficult. I've had a lot of pain before I can fight through it, but this is not the same."

Vonn landed on her head during a spectacular fall in giant slalom training in Austria last week and pulled out of Friday's World Cup slalom. She'll make a decision on competing here moments before Tuesday's race.

"I feel pretty good right now, but I think the main problem for me is skiing," the Minnesota native said during a news conference Monday. "I'm having a difficult [time] maintaining concentration from the top of the course to the bottom."

Vonn finished 18th in Sunday's giant slalom in nearby Zwiesel.

"I felt good until about three-fourths of the way down the hill, and then I just sort of lost focus and stopped attacking, stopped skiing basically," she said. "In both runs I lost almost a second in the last 15-20 seconds and I feel like that's mostly because of my head."

Nadal, Vonn win Laureus Sports Awards

Rafael Nadal and Lindsey Vonn won this year's individual Laureus Sports Awards, with Spain's World Cup champions taking the team prize. The winners are chosen by 46 sports stars who make up the Laureus sports academy. Proceeds from the awards ceremony benefit the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which supports 83 community sports projects around the world.

BASEBALL

Rangers' Young wants to be traded Michael Young has asked the Rangers to trade him, a request the AL champions are willing to oblige for their career hits leader who is unhappy about his changing role.

General Manager Jon Daniels, however, said "nothing is imminent" and that the Rangers would trade Young only if they could improve the team in doing so.

After signing free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre last month, the Rangers said Young would become the primary designated hitter and serve in a utility role where he could fill in at every infield position. Young, the team's longest-tenured player after 10 seasons, initially agreed to that plan.

"Our first choice would be to continue with our offseason plan and go to camp with Michael and him playing pivotal role on the club," Daniels said Monday. "He's changed his mind, had a change of heart about that role, and if we can accommodate his request, and in doing so upgrade the club, we certainly would like to do that."

Young still has about $48 million and three years left on his contract.

In other baseball news: Third baseman Eric Chavez and the Yankees agreed to a minor league contract. Injuries limited him to 33 games last year after he played in only 23 in 2008 and eight in 2009.

AROUND THE HORN

Auto racing: Formula One driver Robert Kubica was brought out of an induced coma and moved his fingers after surgery for serious injuries he suffered in a rally car crash. The 26-year-old Polish driver likely will need further surgery to his elbow and shoulder. ... NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Michael Annett was charged with driving while impaired following a two-car accident.

College hockey: Tommy Cross scored on a power play with 3:17 gone in overtime as Boston College beat Boston University 3-2 to advance to the title game of the Beanpot tournament. Northeastern beat Harvard 4-0 in the early game.

College football: Authorities say Ohio State football recruit Chris Carter won't face criminal charges stemming from his arrest last week on an allegation that he fondled a girl while pretending to measure her for an ROTC uniform. A full review found there was not enough evidence of sexual contact or conduct.

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