Briefs | Soccer: Diego Maradona opens coaching career with win

Soccer

Maradona wins first game as coach: Diego Maradona began his international coaching career with a 1-0 victory over Scotland in Glasgow, the city where he scored his first goal for Argentina 29 years before.

Dressed in a navy blue tracksuit, winter jacket and wearing diamond studs in both ears, the 48-year-old was welcomed onto the Hampden Park pitch Wednesday night by photographers' flashbulbs and loud cheers from the 40,000 spectators.

"I'm a very proud manager tonight," Maradona told reporters after the game. "I can assure the Argentinean people that these players will give their lives for the shirt. They will not leave anything on that field when they play for Argentina."

Maradona's appointment as replacement for Alfio Basile, who quit on Oct. 17 after two-time world champion Argentina lost a World Cup qualifier to Chile for the first time, was seen as a risk because his only management experience comprised a two- month stint as player-coach of Deportivo Mandiyu in 1994 and the same role for four months at Racing Club the following year.

Voted the best player of the 20th century in a worldwide poll of fans, Maradona struggled with cocaine addiction, alcoholism, obesity and heart problems after his 21-year playing career ended in 1997. His experiences may help him deal with the players, he said.

"They understand what I've been going through, and we really are in this together," the coach said. "It's a squad full of real men."

U.S. beats Guatemala in World Cup qualifier: Freddy Adu scored his first goal in a U.S. jersey and Jozy Altidore assisted on Kenny Cooper's sliding shot, leading the Americans to a 2-0 win over Guatemala in a World Cup qualifier in Commerce City, Colo.

The Americans improved to 27-1-7 in home qualifiers since May 1985. The win also prevents Guatemala (1-3-2) from advancing out of Group 1.

With a spot in next year's regional finals already assured, the U.S. national team (5-1) went with a largely inexperienced lineup, leaving Landon Donovan and Carlos Bocanegra out.

Golf

LPGA goes with three fewer events for 2009: Even while insisting next year will be "solidly profitable," the LPGA Tour announced that it will offer three fewer tournaments in 2009 than this year, all because of sponsorship loss. Prize money also will dip by about $5 million.

The 2009 schedule has 31 events — 20 in the United States and 11 internationally — not including the Solheim Cup. Tournaments off the schedule include the ADT Championship, which starts today and closes this year's slate.

Purses will be around $55 million, about $5.25 million down from 2008.

"It's no secret that the road ahead, particularly 2009, is going to test our mettle," LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens said. She added that the LPGA Tour is confronting challenges facing not only "other sports and entertainment organizations, but by every business enterprise of any kind in all corners around the world."

Tennis

Wimbledon gains total control of All England Club: Wimbledon organizers will pay $83 million to regain total control of the All England Club, buying back the 50 percent it gave away in 1934.

The amount will be paid to Britain's Lawn Tennis Association in installments over a likely five-year period from 2013, after the existing agreement expires, All England Club chairman Tim Phillips told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Under the 40-year deal, which will go to a vote on Dec. 10, the All England Club will keep 10 percent of the profits instead of giving it all to the LTA, the governing body of British tennis.

Horse racing

Curlin expected to go to stud at Lane's End Farm: Lane's End Farm is expected to announce that reigning Horse of the Year Curlin will enter stud at the Versailles, Ky., farm in 2009 for a live foal stud fee of $75,000, the Paulick Report has learned.

Lane's End is owned by William S. Farish, vice chairman of the Jockey Club and former ambassador to Great Britain for President Bush.

NHL

Vancouver routs Rangers: Alex Burrows scored two of Vancouver's five goals against Henrik Lundqvist, and the Canucks feasted on turnovers in a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers.

Skiing

Vonn bruises knee in training: World Cup overall and downhill champion Lindsey Vonn bruised her knee when she fell during a routine training session for a super G at Copper Mountain in Colorado.

She was taken to U.S. Women's Alpine Ski team doctor William Sterett, who indicated that she suffered a bruised left knee and there was no ligament or cartilage damage.

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