Off the wire
FIGURE SKATING Chen soars in short program
Coming off illness and spending much of his days as a full-time college student, Nathan Chen shouldn’t have been capable of setting a personal best Saturday at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Greensboro, N.C. Then again, maybe it’s wise to expect only greatness from the three-time defending champion and winner of the last two world championships. Chen, who hasn’t lost an event since he struggled in the 2018 Olympics short program, soared far above the ice — and the competition — to win the short at nationals. His margin is so massive, 114.13 points to 100.99 for second-place Jason Brown, that Chen probably could power skate through Sunday’s free program and still win. “It was one of my best,” the always understated Chen said, “really calm and paced. I felt in control of everything I was doing in the program.” That’s how it tends to go for Chen, who is on target to become the first man to win four consecutive U.S. titles since Brian Boitano in 1988. In pairs, Aleza and Chris Knierim won their third U.S. crown even though they finished second in the free skate to Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson. Ice dance went to Madison Chock and Evan Bates.
BASKETBALL James now third on NBA list
With a tribute to Kobe Bryant written on his Nikes, LeBron James moved past the retired Los Angeles great for third place on the NBA’s career scoring list, scoring 29 points in the Lakers’ 108-91 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. James scribbled “Mamba 4 Life” as he chased Bryant, the five-time champion, in Philly. James scored the milestone basket with 7:23 left in the third quarter. James entered 18 points shy of passing Bryant, and the layup gave him 33,644 points. James stands third with 33,655. Bryant finished his career with 33,643, all with the Lakers. “Continuing to move the game forward KingJames. Much respect my brother #33644,” Bryant tweeted. James waved to the Philadelphia crowd that gave him a rousing standing ovation when the mark was announced by the public address announcer. The Sixers also posted a graphic of the NBA’s top 10 career scorers with images of James in Lakers and Miami Heat jerseys. The 35-year-old James entered averaging at least 25 points (25.2 ppg) for the 16th consecutive season and has played 44 games this season.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA’s career scoring leader with 38,387 points and Karl Malone is second at 36,928.
GOLF Sagstrom opens 2-stroke lead
Madelene Sagstrom shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday in the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio to take a two-stroke lead into the final round. Seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, Sagstrom birdied four of the first eight holes and also birdied the par-4 15th in a bogey-free round. The 27-year-old Swede hit all 18 greens in regulation. Sagstrom had a 15-under 201 total. The former LSU player opened with a 72, then shot a career-best 62 on Friday at rain-softened Boca Rio Golf Club. Nasa Hataoka of Japan was second after 67. Danielle Kang and Sei Young Kim were 12 under. Kang had a 65, and Kim shot 67. Stacy Lewis (University of Arkansas) shot an even par 72 on Saturday and is 3-under for the tournament. Lewis is currently tied for 27th.
FOOTBALL Baylor hires Fedora as OC
Baylor has hired former North Carolina and Southern Miss head coach Larry Fedora as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for new Coach Dave Aran
da. Fedora, an offensive analyst for Texas last season, started his college coaching career at Baylor. He was a Bears assistant from 1991-96, first for Grant Teaff and then Chuck Reedy. Aranda also announced Saturday the retention of Joey McGuire, who was the associate head coach who served as interim head coach after Matt
Rhule became coach of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. Fedora was offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State from 2005-07, before going to Southern Miss as head coach from 2008-11 and then North Carolina from 2012-18.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS Former NCAA president dies
Gene Corrigan, the former NCAA president who also helped change the look of college sports as Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner and Notre Dame and Virginia athletic director, died early Saturday. He was 91. The ACC said Saturday that Corrigan died “peacefully overnight surrounded by his family” in Charlottesville, Va. Corrigan was the ACC’s third full-time commissioner, serving from September 1987 until retiring in December 1996. He was NCAA president from 1995-97. Corrigan spent his entire career involved in college sports as a coach, administrator and conference commissioner. He was a leader in the creation of the bowl coalition, the precursor to the Bowl Championship Series in the pre-College Football Playoff era.
BOBSLED Humphries nears Cup title
American Kaillie Humphries moved closer to her fourth overall World Cup bobsled championship Saturday in Konigssee, Germany, teaming with Sylvia Hoffman for her third victory of the season and extending her series points lead. Humphries and Hoffman finished their two runs in 1 minute, 41.57 seconds for an extremely close victory. Germany took second and third, with Laura Nolte and Erline Nolte crossing in 1:41.60 . It was Humphries’ 25th career World Cup race victory.