Other sports

Skiing

Johnson's health in decline

The daredevil downhill skier in him still craves going fast even if his body no longer permits it.

Once helped into his motorized scooter, former Olympic champion Bill Johnson races through the halls of an assisted living facility in Gresham, Ore., hardly ever backing off the accelerator.

Well, until he's ordered to slow down by the nursing staff.

A series of strokes have all but immobilized the skier who once lived life on the edge, whose brash confidence, movie-star charisma and rebellious attitude made him a fan favorite at the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics, where he became the first American to capture the downhill crown.

In 2001, Johnson attempted to regain his glory and made a comeback at the U.S. championships at age 40, with grand visions of earning a spot on the squad for the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Only, Johnson wiped out during a practice run, suffering a traumatic brain injury that erased nearly a decade of memories. He also had to learn how to walk, talk and eat again.

Johnson's health has been slowly on the decline because of mini strokes. Then, nearly two years ago, he had a major stroke that stole the rest of his body.

Now, his speech is slurred, he can't sit up on his own, his left eyelid doesn't open and only his left hand is operational.

Baseball

Branyan lands with Yankees

Former Mariner Russell Branyan has agreed to a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees and will try to win a bench job as a corner infielder during spring training.

Branyan, 36, hit .197 with five homers and 14 runs batted in last season for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels.

In other baseball moves, shortstop Elvis Andrus and the Texas Rangers finalized a $14.4 million, three-year contract that avoided arbitration.

The Cincinnati Reds signed outfielder Ryan Ludwick to a one-year contract and left-handed starter Jeff Francis to a minor-league deal.

Florida infielder-outfielder Emilio Bonifacio was awarded a $2.2 million salary by a three-person arbitration panel rather than the Marlins' offer of $1.95 million.

Shortstop Jed Lowrie and the Houston Astros avoided arbitration, agreeing to a $1.15 million, one-year contract.

NHL

2013 Winter Classic set

The Detroit Red Wings will play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 Winter Classic, a source told The Associated Press. The University of Michigan Board of Regents authorized the athletic department to seek a contract with the NHL that would allow the league to hold next year's showcase at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

Tennis

Sanchez Vicario says $60M gone

Former tennis star Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain said in a book published this week that her parents lost an estimated $60 million in career earnings through mismanagement.

Sanchez Vicario, 40, said she's estranged from her parents and brothers Emilio and Javier. Sanchez Vicario's mother, Marisa, responded that she and her husband were devastated by their daughter's accusations and said she isn't broke.

Sharapova reaches quarterfinals

Maria Sharapova beat Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa 6-3, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals of the Open GDF Suez in Paris.

Soccer

England's coach steps down

The soap opera of English soccer reached yet another noisy climax when national-team coach Fabio Capello quit angrily just eight hours after potential successor Harry Redknapp was cleared in a London court of tax-evasion charges.

Just four months from the European Championship, Capello's employers stripped John Terry of the England captaincy over racism charges without consulting the manager — and as a result now finds itself seeking a new team leader.

The career of Redknapp, a popular Londoner who manages the Premier League team Tottenham, had been on hold until the end of his trial.

Cycling

Longo's home searched

Anti-doping authorities in France searched the home of the country's top female cyclist and detained her husband on allegations he illegally imported doping materials, presumably on her behalf, officials said. The cyclist, Jeannie Longo, is among France's most decorated athletes.

Elsewhere

• Tom Boonen edged closer to winning his fourth Tour of Qatar title when he grabbed the fourth stage ahead of Tom Veelers and Fabian Cancellara. Wenatchee's Tyler Farrar, riding for the Garmin-Barracuda cycling team, was ninth in the stage and second overall, 31 seconds behind.

• Tamika Catchings, the reigning WNBA MVP, signed a deal to remain with the Indiana Fever.

• The Los Angeles Sparks signed four-time WNBA All-Star Alana Beard to a free-agent contract.

• The Colorado Rapids traded forward Macoumba Kandji to the Houston Dynamo for a conditional draft pick. Dynamo goalie Tyler Deric was charged with assault in an alleged scuffle at a Houston bar.

• Cesc Fabregas scored one goal and set up another as Barcelona beat Valencia 2-0 to win 3-1 aggregate and advance to the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao.

• Zambia reached the African Cup of Nations final for the first time since 1994, upsetting Ghana 1-0 in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, to advance to the championship against tournament favorite Ivory Coast.

• The Calgary Flames re-signed defenseman Derek Smith to a $1.55 million, two-year contract.

• The Columbus Blue Jackets signed left wing Vinny Prospal to a one-year extension through next season.

Seattle Times news services