Miller takes race, super-combi title

Bode Miller was far from his best in the slalom portion of Sunday’s World Cup super-combi, and that might be why he won the race and clinched the discipline title.

“I was at 40% in the slalom,” Miller said after winning in a combined time of 2 minutes 18.45 seconds in Val D’Isere, France. “I know that if I’m at 100% in the slalom, chances are that I won’t finish.”

Miller skied the downhill leg in 1:33.88 in the morning, 1.37 seconds faster than second-place Didier Defago of Switzerland.

Miller’s 30th win on the World Cup circuit, and fifth this season, was enough to give him his third super-combi title with 410 points. He also won the discipline in 2003 and 2004.

The win also increased Miller’s lead in the overall World Cup standings.

Miller has 1,067 points after 28 races. Benjamin Raich of Austria is second with 945, and downhill leader Didier Cuche of Switzerland is next with 882.

Ivica Kostelic of Croatia was 0.38 of a second behind Miller. Croatian teammate Natko Zrncic-Dim was third.

Emily Brydon of Canada won a super-G for her first World Cup victory, and Lindsey Vonn just missed a top-three finish at St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Brydon went down the Corviglia course in 1:17.39 to edge Elisabeth Goergl of Austria by 0.25 of a second. Goergl’s teammate Renate Goetschl was third, 0.29 behind Brydon.

Vonn, who missed the podium by 0.01, is second in the overall World Cup standings.

Julia Mancuso finished a disappointing 38th, dropping to eighth in the discipline standings.

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PRO FOOTBALL

Saints’ Grant stabbed, woman killed in fight

New Orleans defensive end Charles Grant was stabbed in the neck, and a pregnant woman was shot and killed early Sunday in an altercation at a nightclub in Blakely, Ga.

Grant was assaulted and had an injury on his neck, according to a statement released by Capt. Will Caudill of the Early County Sheriff’s Office. Grant was taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released.

Early County sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a fight about 1 a.m. Sunday at a nightclub in Blakely, about 190 miles southwest of Atlanta.

In the incident, Korynda Reed, 23, of Blakely was shot, police said. She was taken to Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan, Ala., where she died. Early County Sheriff Jimmie Murkerson said Reed was pregnant.

Caudill said there was no known connection between Grant and Reed.

No arrests have been made.

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TENNIS

U.S.-Germany finish is postponed by rain

Steady rain washed out Sunday’s matches at the Fed Cup quarterfinal between Germany and the U.S., forcing organizers to try again today in La Jolla.

The best-of-five series is tied at 1-1.

The winner will move on to face defending champion Russia, which reached the semifinals behind Maria Sharapova. China and Spain also reached the semifinals.

Sharapova, who made her Fed Cup debut this weekend, beat Shahar Peer, 6-1, 6-1, to give the Russians a 2-1 lead over host Israel.

Anna Chakvetadze then defeated Tzipi Obziler, 6-4, 6-2, and the Russian doubles team won the final point to make it 4-1.

China edged France, 3-2, and Spain took an insurmountable 3-1 lead over Italy.

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MISCELLANY

Greene, Padres reportedly reach deal

Khalil Greene and the San Diego Padres agreed to a two-year, $11-million contract, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Greene, 29, who batted .254 with 27 home runs and 97 runs batted in last season, gave up two arbitration years but could increase the value of the deal if he reaches certain incentives, the Union-Tribune said.

Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal scored and drove in a run in the Dominican Republic’s Cibao Eagles 3-1 win over Venezuela’s Aragua Tigers in the Caribbean Series in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

Pittsburgh’s Jose Bautista drove in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning to lift the Dominican Republic’s Licey Tigers over Mexico’s Obregon City Yaquis, 2-1. He also homered.

Former Olympic sprinter Maurice Greene announced his retirement today.

Greene, 33, made the announcement in Beijing, which is playing host to this summer’s Olympic Games.

The American has been one of the sport’s dominant figures of the last decade, winning the 100 and 200 meters at the 1999 world championships.

He won a third gold medal in the 100 relay, putting him alongside Tyson Gay and Carl Lewis as one of only three men to win triple gold.

As expected, the San Antonio Spurs signed point guard Damon Stoudamire, 34, after his release last week by the Memphis Grizzlies.