Four-time US champion Chen wins short program
As he has done since his last loss at the Pyeonchang Olympics — yes, nearly three years ago — Nathan Chen was nearly perfect and rather playful in winning the short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Seeking a fifth straight national title, something no man has done since Dick Button from 1946-52 with seven, Chen put out the most difficult routine that any man anywhere attempts. He hit a quadruple lutz, triple axel and an excellent quad flip-triple toe loop combination in scoring 113.92 points.
Fellow 2018 Olympian Vincent Zhou put the pressure on by nailing a quad lutz-triple toe loop combination with his arms raised above his head, a solo quad salchow and a triple axel, all as smooth as freshly swept ice. Zhou looked calm, relaxed and at his peak in setting a career best at 107.79 points.
Jason Brown, a 2014 Olympian and the 2015 U.S. champion, was third at 100.92.
Earlier, national champion Bradie Tennell and third-place finisher Karen Chen were selected by U.S. Figure Skating for the world championships team.
College football
MARYLAND PREPARES $3.5 MILLION PAYOUT TO MCNAIR PARENTS >> The University of Maryland has agreed to a $3.5 million settlement with the parents of football player Jordan McNair, who died of heatstroke following a workout in 2018.
The amount was made public on Friday in a meeting agenda released by the Maryland Board of Public Works. It must be approved at the board’s meeting on
Jan. 27.
The payout will be given to McNair’s parents, Marty McNair and Tonya Wilson.
Jordan McNair collapsed during an outdoor conditioning practice held by the team on May 29, 2018. The 19-year-old was treated at the team training complex before being transported to the hospital, where he died two weeks later, on June 13.
Wallace Loh, who was then president of the school, acknowledged that Maryland handled the treatment of Jordan McNair poorly.
Golf
RALPH LAUREN DROPS THOMAS AFTER GAY SLUR >> Ralph Lauren Corp. said Friday it is ending its sponsorship with Justin Thomas after he was heard muttering a homophobic slur to himself after missing a putt last week in Hawaii.
Thomas has worn the company’s clothing since he turned pro. He has reached No. 1 in the world briefly on two occasions, won a major at age 24 and captured the FedEx Cup in 2017.
In the third round of the Sentry Tournament
of Champions, he missed a 5-foot par putt on the fourth hole. He could be heard saying the slur under his breath as he tapped in.
Ralph Lauren said it was “disheartened” by his language.
Hockey
SKODA TO WITHDRAW SPONSORSHIP IF BELARUS HOSTS WORLDS>> Czech carmaker Skoda has warned that it will withdraw its sponsorship of the ice hockey world championship if Belarus remains as co-host amid calls to move the event following mass protests against authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
Skoda, which belongs to Germany’s Volkswagen Group, said on Twitter that it has been “a proud partner” to the annual tournament for 28 years but “we also respect & promote all human rights.”
The worlds are scheduled to be co-hosted by Belarus and Latvia starting in May. Latvia and other countries have urged the International Ice Hockey Federation to find a different co-host because of Belarus’ crackdown on opposition groups.
Mass protests swept Belarus.