Cycling
Kittel wins Stage 2 in Dubai; Phinney keeps overall lead
PALM ISLAND ATLANTIS, United Arab Emirates – Marcel Kittel outsprinted rival Peter Sagan to win the second stage of Dubai Tour on Thursday, and American rider Taylor Phinney took third to pad his overall lead.
Kittel, riding for Giant-Shimano, arrived at the Palm Jumeirah artificial archipelago after a 76-mile ride from Dubai in a tight bunch, and then outkicked Sagan of Cannondale Pro Cycling to win the stage in 2 hours, 50 minutes and 30 seconds.
Phinney and Sagan finished with the same time, giving the BMC Racing rider a one-second time bonus and increasing his overall lead to 15 seconds over teammate Steven Cummings.
Golf
Match Play Championship will play on without Woods
JUPITER, Fla. – Tiger Woods is skipping the Match Play Championship in Arizona in two weeks.
Woods announced on his website Thursday that he wasn’t planning to compete in the first World Golf Championship. He said his plan was to attend the Sochi Olympics in Russia before his girlfriend and champion skier Lindsey Vonn got injured.
Instead, he will stay home and prepare for three tournaments in Florida. He’ll next play the Honda Classic on Feb. 27, followed by title defenses at Doral and Bay Hill.
MLB
Hall of Fame slugger Kiner dies at 91 in California
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – The baseball Hall of Fame said slugger Ralph Kiner has died. He was 91.
The Hall said Kiner died Thursday at his home in Rancho Mirage.
Kiner hit 369 home runs during his 10-year career, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He won or tied for the National League lead in homers in each of his first seven seasons.
After finishing up as a player, Kiner became a popular broadcaster with the New York Mets for more than a half-century.
NBA
Disappointing Cavaliers fire their general manager
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – The flailing Cleveland Cavaliers fired general manager Chris Grant.
With the Cavs sliding further toward the bottom in another disappointing season, owner Dan Gilbert decided to make the move a day after Cleveland was beaten Wednesday night by an injury-ravaged Los Angeles Lakers team that finished the game with just five players.
Grant’s tenure will be known for not being able to rebuild the Cavs fast enough despite having a slew of first-round draft picks, including two No. 1 overall selections used on Anthony Bennett and Kyrie Irving.
Vice president of basketball operations David Griffin is the acting general manager.
Gilbert promised the Cavs would not return to the NBA lottery and would make the playoffs after a three-year absence, but Cleveland is 16-33.
NFL
Browns hire former Redskins’ offensive coordinator
BEREA, Ohio – The Cleveland Browns are expected to take a quarterback in the top five of the NFL draft in May, and new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan will help develop him.
New Browns head coach Mike Pettine introduced Shanahan, along with defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor at a news conference Thursday.
Soccer
Galaxy extend their two-time MLS championship coach
CARSON, Calif. – The Los Angeles Galaxy signed head coach Bruce Arena to a multi-year contract extension.
Arena, a three-time MLS coach of the year, joined the Galaxy in 2008 and has led the club to MLS titles in 2011 and 2012. He has an 82-46-44 regular-season record with Los Angeles.
Associated Press
