MOTOR SPORTS Schumacher’s condition grim
Doctors offered a grim assessment of Michael Schumacher’s head injuries Monday, providing no prognosis for the Formula One driving great after his skiing accident in the French Alps. Schumacher, 44, has been placed in a medically induced coma to relieve pressure on his brain, which suffered bruising and bleeding when the retired seven-time world champion fell and struck a rock Sunday while skiing during a family vacation. “We cannot predict the future for Michael Schumacher,” Dr. Jean-Francois Payen, the doctor in charge of Grenoble University Hospital’s intensive care unit, said at a news conference. “He is in a critical state in terms of cerebral resuscitation,” said Payen, the chief anesthesiologist treating the German driver. “We are working hour by hour.” Schumacher’s wife, Corinna, daughter Gina Maria and son Mick were at his bedside. “The family is not doing very well, obviously. They are shocked,” his manager, Sabine Kehm, told reporters. Schumacher earned universal admiration for his uncommon driving talent, which led to a record 91 race wins. His single-minded dedication to victory sometimes meant he was denied the same affection during his career that he received Monday. Schumacher “gave the image of someone indestructible, powerful,” France’s fourtime F1 champion Alain Prost said on iTele TV channel. “It’s a banal accident compared to what he’s done in the past . It’s just a dumb thing that ended badly.” Schumacher and his 14-year-old son were skiing Sunday morning in the French Alpine resort of Meribel, where the family has a chalet. He fell and hit the right side of his head on a rock. By wearing a helmet, Schumacher had given himself a chance of survival, Payen said, though the protection was not enough to prevent serious injury. Gerard Saillant, a trauma surgeon who operated on Schumacher when he broke his leg in a1999 race crash, was at the hospital as a visitor. He told reporters that Schumacher’s age and fitness should work in his favor. Schumacher, who turns 45 on Friday, retired from the track for the second time only last year, after a three-season comeback.Still, the hospital’s neurology team, which is recognized as among the best in France, was cautious about Schumacher’s prospects. Doctors lowered his body temperature to between 34 and 35 degrees Celsius (93.2 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit) as part of the coma, which essentially rests the brain, slowing its metabolism to help reduce inflammation after an injury. During his career, Schumacher set an array of Formula One records. After initial success with the Benetton team, winning his first two championships in 1994 and 1995, Schumacher moved to Ferrari. There, he helped turn the storied Italian team into the sport’s dominant force. After initially retiring in 2006, he made a comeback in 2010 and raced for three years with Mercedes.
FOOTBALL Petersen finalizes staff
Chris Petersen announced his first coaching staff at Washington on Monday with most of his Boise State staff joining him in Seattle. Eight coaches who worked with Petersen at some point in his tenure at Boise State will be with him at Washington. Pete Kwiatkowski will be the defensive coordinator after serving in that role under Petersen at Boise State. He’ll be joined on that side of the ball by Bob Gregory, who was Boise State’s interim coach for its bowl game loss to Oregon State. Gregory will be the Huskies linebackers coach/assistant head coach. Jimmy Lake will coach defensive backs and Jeff Choate will be the special teams coordinator and defensive line coach. On the offensive side, Jonathan Smith will be promoted from his role at Boise State and be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Smith, a former quarterback at Oregon State, spent the past two seasons as the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach. Brent Pease will rejoin Petersen’s staff as the wide receivers coach after he was recently fired as Florida’s offensive coordinator. Pease was with the Gators for one season. Keith Bhonapha will be in charge of running backs and will be the Huskies recruiting coordinator and Chris Strausser will be the offensive line coach. Petersen is expected to hire a tight ends coach in the coming days. The staff will not include Tosh Lupoi, the defensive line coach under previous coach Steve Sarkisian.Washington is looking into allegations of recruiting violations against Lupoi, first reported by the Los Angeles Times. The school said Lupoi is being reassigned within the athletic department, but gave no details on what his duties will be.
Washington running back Bishop Sankey will skip his senior season and enter the NFL Draft after the best rushing season in school history. Sankey’s father, Chris, confirmed his son’s decision in a text message to The Associated Press on Monday. ESPN first reported Sankey’s decision. Sankey has not yet decided on an agent. Sankey is coming off the finest season in Washington history, rushing for 1,870 yards and 20 touchdowns in 13 games. He broke Corey Dillon’s school record for yards rushing in a season. Sankey had 95 yards in Washington’s 31-16 victory over Brigham Young in the Fight Hunger Bowl last Friday. Sankey is the second Washington junior to announce he’s leaving school early.Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins announced after the bowl game that he was headed to the NFL.
Alabama A&M has hired Nevada assistant coach James Michael Spady to lead the football program. Athletic Director Bryan Hicks announced the hiring on Monday to replace Anthony Jones. Spady has been tight ends coach and co-offensive line coach for Nevada the past four years. He was Grambling State’s offensive coordinator after stints at North Carolina Central and South Carolina State. Spady began his coaching career in 1995 at his alma mater Texas-El Paso, where he was the starting center in 1985-1988. Spady will be introduced at a news conference on Friday.
SPEED SKATING Cliff-Ryan injured
Olympic hopeful Theresa Cliff-Ryan was injured Monday when she landed on her head after being struck on the sidelines by a crashing speedskater, likely ending her quest to make the team for Sochi. Cliff-Ryan sustained a concussion and had several teeth knocked out, according to her coach, Matt Kooreman, who added that she was lucky the injuries weren’t more serious. “No long term debilitating brain or neck injuries - which was initially feared,” he wrote in a text message to The Associated Press.Cliff-Ryan, 35, had her back to the ice during an off-day practice session at the Utah Olympic Oval, having completed her workout. Suddenly, Kevin Geminder lost his balance on the front straightaway while going full speed. He slid off the track and right into Cliff-Ryan, flipping her into the air. She landed face-first on the concrete surface, sending a collective gasp through the arena before horrified coaches and athletes raced to her side. Trainers rushed to the track within seconds and put her in a neck brace. Cliff-Ryan was placed on a backboard and taken by ambulance to a hospital, where she was treated and released. She was conscious and talking to paramedics as she was carried across the ice on a stretcher.Kooreman said Cliff-Ryan was taken to an oral surgeon to have her teeth repaired and would be re-evaluated again today for her concussion and whiplash symptoms. But it seemed unlikely she would be able to compete in the final two events of the trials, the 1,500 and 5,000 meters. A native of Cedar Springs, Mich., who now lives in Philadelphia, Cliff-Ryan had an outside shot at making the team in the 1,500, to be held today. Her better chance was the 5,000 on Wednesday, the final day of the trials in suburban Salt Lake City. Cliff-Ryan just missed qualifying for the U.S. team in the 3,000 last Friday. She finished third in a personal-best time, but only the top two made the team.BASEBALL
Rangers acquire Mikolas
The Texas Rangers have acquired right-hander Miles Mikolas from Pittsburgh in exchange for first baseman Chris McGuinness. The deal Monday came three days after Texas designated McGuinness for assignment to clear room on its roster after free-agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo signed a $130 million, seven-year deal. Mikolas spent most of 2013 at Class AAA Tucson, going 4-2 with 26 saves and a 3.25 ERA in 54 games. He was designated for assignment by the Padres in November, then traded to Pittsburgh. McGuiness hit .176 with 1 RBI in 10 games for Texas last season. He hit .246 with 11 home runs, and 63 RBI in 104 games at Class AAA Round Rock. To make room on their 40-man roster for Mikolas, the Rangers designated outfielder Rafael Ortega for assignment.
Sports, Pages 16 on 12/31/2013