At age 40, Lindsey Vonn is going to enter an official ski race for the first time in nearly six years this weekend. Having already announced last month that she was coming out of retirement, Vonn will race lower-level FIS downhills and super-Gs on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, in Copper Mountain, Colorado, U.S. Ski Team head coach Paul Kristofic told The Associated Press. Vonn needs some decent results to improve her long-dormant ranking so she can enter World Cup races this season under a new wild card rule. “Obviously her history speaks for itself and she’s definitely the most decorated speed skier out there and has done amazing things throughout her career,” Kristofic said Wednesday. “So it will be really, really fun and interesting to see what she can do.” It’s likely that many of the current World Cup racers will be competing alongside Vonn at Copper Mountain. Vonn is a three-time Olympic medalist, including a downhill gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Cade McNamara, who started Iowa’s first eight games at quarterback, has said he will enter the transfer portal and petition the NCAA for a seventh season of eligibility. McNamara, who spent his first four seasons at Michigan and the last two at Iowa, made the announcement on social media Wednesday. “My last two years at the University of Iowa have been an incredible journey,” he wrote on Instagram. “Through so many ups and downs, I couldn’t be more thankful for the amazing people and experiences I’ve had here. I am deeply grateful for the relationships I’ve built with my teammates, coaches, and newfound friends.” McNamara began his career at Michigan in 2019, started the last game of the 2020 season and all 14 in 2021 as the Wolverines won the Big Ten championship and advanced to the College Football Playoff. McNamara was benched during a 34-11 loss to Georgia in the CFP semifinal at the Orange Bowl.
MIAMI (AP) — A 29-point loss in Minnesota on Monday. A 41-point loss in Miami on Wednesday. Add it up, and it’s the worst two-game stretch in Los Angeles Lakers history. The Lakers lost to the Heat 134-93 on Wednesday, that loss coming two days after a 109-80 loss to the Timberwolves. The 70-point margin is an all-time, two-game low for the Lakers; they were outscored by 67 over two separate two-game spans of the 2016-17 season. “It sucks, for sure, to get your (butt) whooped like that twice in a row,” Lakers star LeBron James said. “For sure.” The Lakers ran off a six-game winning streak last month to get to 10-4. They’re 2-6 since, four of those losses coming by 25 or more points. Wednesday was the low point; the 41-point loss was not only the worst of the season, but it marked only the 11th time in Lakers history — more than 6,800 games, including playoffs — that they’ve lost by more than 40. “I’m embarrassed,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “We’re all embarrassed.”
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Athletics’ move to southern Nevada is expected to take a major step forward Thursday when the 30-year lease, non-relocation and development documents are likely to be approved by the Las Vegas Stadium Authority following a rise in the estimated cost of the ballpark by $250 million to $1.75 billion. Those agreements could be the last major hurdles before construction can begin in the spring on a Las Vegas Strip stadium projected to open for the start of the 2028 season, a ballpark in which underseat cooling is planned. Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, has maintained for several months those items would be approved and didn’t change his view this week. A backup meeting is scheduled for Dec. 12 in case the approval isn’t finalized Thursday, but Hill said he anticipated canceling that second session.
WEDNESDAY SCORES
NCAA MEN TOP 25
Creighton 76, No. 1 Kansas 63
No. 9 Duke 84, No. 2 Auburn 78
No. 6 Iowa State 81, No. 5 Marquette 70
No. 10 Alabama 94, No. 20 North Carolina 79
No. 12 Oregon 68, USC 60
No. 13 Florida 87, Virginia 69
No. 25 UConn 76, No. 15 Baylor 72
No. 16 Memphis 81, Louisiana Tech 71
Mississippi State 90, No. 18 Pittsburgh 57
No. 24 San Diego State 84, Fresno State 62