MLB
Rockies and Arenado settle on 1-year deal
DENVER – The Colorado Rockies avoided salary arbitration with third baseman Nolan Arenado on Friday by agreeing to a one-year contract.
Arenado is coming off a season in which led the major leagues with 130 RBIs. He also tied Washington’s Bryce Harper for most homers in the National League with 42.
The 24-year-old Arenado also had a stellar season in the field as he captured his third straight Gold Glove award. He led all third basemen in total chances (507), assists (385) and double plays (42).
Two players swapped numbers with the team. Outfielder Charlie Blackmon asked for $3.9 million and the Rockies offered $2.7 million, while second baseman DJ LeMahieu asked for $3.3 million and was offered $2.8 million.
NBA
Miami gives Nuggets a Heat check after big win
DENVER – Hassan Whiteside had 19 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocked shots, and the injury-depleted Miami Heat rallied to beat the Denver Nuggets 98-95 on Friday night.
Chris Bosh scored 24 points and Tyler Johnson had 15 off the bench for Miami, which was without Dwyane Wade because of injuries to both shoulders.
Without Wade, the Heat trailed by as many as 18 in the first half but outscored Denver 30-16 in the third. Whiteside and Bosh combined for 26 second-half points to lead the rally.
NFL
Broncos hungry for an extension with Wolfe
ENGLEWOOD – Derek Wolfe’s season began with a four-game drug suspension and will end with a four-year contract extension.
After three up-and-down years, Wolfe became the inside force in 2015 that the Broncos projected when they selected him in the second round in 2012.
In a testament to his run defense and interior pressure, Wolfe earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Green Bay in November even though he didn’t record a sack in that game.
He recorded at least a half-sack in six of Denver’s final eight games.
Koetter promoted as the Buccaneers new coach
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned their rebuilding project to Dirk Koetter.
The longtime NFL offensive coordinator became the team’s fifth coach since 2008 on Friday, succeeding Lovie Smith, who was fired after going 8-24 over the past two seasons.
Koetter’s selection wasn’t a surprise. He helped No. 1 overall draft pick Jameis Winston become just the third rookie in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards this season, and was identified by general manager Jason Licht as a “very strong candidate” when Smith was fired last week.
Skiing
Night slalom favors the run of Zuzulova
FLACHAU, Austria – Veronika Velez Zuzulova of Slovakia won her second consecutive World Cup night slalom on Friday with a blistering second run.
Trailing second after the first run, Velez Zuzulova pushed past first-run leader Nastasia Noens of France for back-to-back wins on the Hermann Maier course this week. She also won a floodlit slalom on Tuesday.
Jansrud edges Svindal for Norway 1-2 in combined
WENGEN, Switzerland – Kjetil Jansrud edged ahead of his Norwegian teammate Aksel Lund Svindal to win a World Cup combined event that favored downhill racers Friday.
Jansrud needed acrobatic recovery skills to avoid a near wipeout in the final section to post a time that beat first-run leader Svindal by .04 seconds.
Associated Press
