ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 SPORTS 15 Shiffrin gets 1st slalom win in 1 year ‘I just felt alive’ FLACHAU, , Jan 13, (AP): Not known for exuberant victory celebra- tions, let out a loud scream this time after crossing the fi nish line. Shiffrin’s victory in a night sla- lom Tuesday was unlike most of her previous 67 World Cup wins. In the last slalom before next month’s world championships, Shif- frin ended a year-long victory drought in her strongest discipline and earned her 100th World Cup podium. “I felt, like, inspired, I just felt alive. I was pushing. It’s hard to explain. I wish I could explain,” said the Ameri- can, who was away from the circuit for much of 2020 because of the death of her father and a back injury. Shiffrin is the 2014 Olympic gold medalist and four-time world cham- pion but last triumphed in slalom in December 2019. On Tuesday, she held on to her opening-run lead and beat by 0.19 seconds following a near-fl awless fi nal run, denying the Austrian her maiden career win, and the Austrian team a fi rst slalom win since November 2014.

SKIING

Liensberger is the only skier to fi n- ish in the top three of all fi ve slaloms so far this season. “So much energy has been building up, it all, like, went out on that run,” said Shiffrin. “What can I say? That’s cool.” After dominating the circuit for three straight seasons, Shiffrin lost her overall title to last year. The American has been gradu- ally working her way back after her 10-month break. She won her fi rst race ’ Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup slalom in Flachau, Austria, on Jan 12. (Inset): Shiffrin poses with the trophy after winning an since her return at a in alpine ski, women’s World Cup slalom. (AP) in December before adding the second on Tuesday. Vlhova, who won three of the previ- slaloms and 68 races overall, putting “All of the pieces that go into race ous four slaloms this season, placed her in outright third place on the all- day came together tonight. It’s amaz- fourth. time winners list, one ahead of Marcel Sabalenka wins 3rd straight title in Abu Dhabi ing, but it doesn’t mean it’s fi xed yet,” in fi fth was 1.52 off Hirscher. she said. “Tonight was really, really the lead. Two weeks ago, Gisin won in Only (86) and ABU DHABI, United Arab beginning (in Abu Dhabi) and “I think today is not my day good.” another Austrian resort, Semmering, to Vonn (82) have more wins. Emirates, Jan 13, (AP): Aryna I’m happy to start the season because I was very slow,” Ku- The result made Shiffrin the eighth become the fi rst skier other the Shiffrin Shiffrin led a strong showing by the Sabalenka won her third straight with a title,” Sabalenka said. dermetova said. “I had a lot of skier in the 54-year-long history of the or Vlhova to win a World Cup slalom US ski team, with Paula Moltzan in tour title and 15th straight match “I’m going to Australia, I’m mistakes.” World Cup to reach 100 podium fi n- in 29 races since January 2017. ninth earning her fi rst top-10 result in by beating Veronika Kuderme- confi dent with one thing, that The tournament in Abu Dhabi ishes. Shiffrin also led the slalom in Sem- slalom. On the women’s side, only Lindsey tova 6-2, 6-2 Wednesday in the I will do eve- was hastily arranged by the WTA mering after the fi rst run before drop- A.J. Hurt fi nished 29th for her ca- Abu Dhabi Open fi nal. rything I can to offer players more match time Vonn (137), Annemarie Moser-Proell ping to third. reer best in the discipline. Hurt had not (114), Renate Goetschl (110) and “When you’re leading in the fi rst scored World Cup points before this The fourth-seeded Belarusian, to win match- after the Australian Open was re- (101) have more top- run, and in the second run, you’re season but now has top-30 fi nishes in who won indoor tournaments in es.” scheduled for February amid the three fi nishes than Shiffrin. standing at the top, the wait is forev- four different events. Sabalenka coronavirus pandemic. It is the “I defi nitely wasn’t thinking about er,” the American said. “In Semmering Camille Rast of Switzerland, a late will rise three only WTA Tour event outside records today,” the American said. TENNIS places to sev- Australia in the run-up to the “I just wanted to ski well. This slope I felt that, and I was like: ‘I can’t do it.’ starter with bib No. 57 who had not kind of tripped me up the last couple Today, I felt that, and every second I qualifi ed for a second run before, was enth in the fi rst major of the year. of years and I just wanted to ski, like, was thinking: ‘Let me go, let me go, let 14th after the opening run and fi nished rankings. She Sabalenka and Kudermetova I don’t know, strong and inspired. It’s me go!’ Like, I wanted to go now. That the race in sixth. Ostrava and Linz at the end of is 9-4 in ca- will now travel to Australia, was very exciting.” The women’s World Cup contin- last season, last lost in the third reer fi nals and where they will spend time in really, really fun tonight.” Sabalenka was 0.43 behind Shiffrin has fi nished on the podium ues with two giant slaloms in Kranjs- round of the French Open in Oc- 6-0 in the last quarantine with limited practice in third, extending her record to 25 here all eight times she competed in ka Gora this weekend, after the races tober. 16 months. opportunities ahead of the Aus- podiums without winning a race in the the fl oodlit race since 2013, including were moved from another Slovenian “I was doing everything I Kudermetova was playing in her tralian Open and its warm-up slalom discipline. four wins. resort, , because of a lack of could in each match from the fi rst tour fi nal. events. Overall World Cup leader Petra She has won a record 44 World Cup snow. MLB Roundup It would be cheaper for us to shut the doors and not play: Bettman NHL gambles on getting through pandemic outside a bubble Tigers avoid arbitration with Fulmer WASHINGTON, Jan 13, (AP): When the NHL charter fl ight back from the Edmonton bubble landed in New Jer- Colliton agrees to 2-yr extension Senzatela & Rockies agree to sey, Gary Bettman’s phone started ringing. $3 million, one-year contract The commissioner thought he’d Wild extend forward Foligno get a couple of weeks to exhale after , Jan 13, (AP): Antonio ment system. He spent the last six awarding the Stanley Cup to the Tam- Senzatela and the Colorado Rock- seasons as minor league strength pa Bay Lightning. Instead, it was back with 3-year, $9.3 million deal ies agreed to a $3 million, one-year and conditioning coordinator. to work. contract that avoided salary arbitra- ❑ ❑ ❑ Of course, planning for the 2021 ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Jan 13, ber 2018, becoming the 38th coach tion. season began well before late Sep- (AP): The Minnesota Wild have in franchise history. He guided Chi- A right-hander who turns 26 on Carlos Carrasco got a welcome tember. It took a long-term extension signed forward Marcus Foligno to a cago into the postseason last year, Jan. 21, Senzatela was 5-3 with call from new Mets owner Steven of the collective bargaining agreement three-year, $9.3 million contract ex- winning a four-game series against a 3.44 ERA in 12 starts last year. Cohen. between the league and players’ union, tension, coming off the best season Edmonton before being eliminated He earned “He was so excited. He can’t wait layers of health and safety protocols, of his NHL career. by Vegas. $212,407 pro- to meet me. I can’t wait to meet him, realigned divisions and convincing The deal takes a potential free Colliton’s extension runs through rated from a too,” the pitcher said Tuesday. “The multiple government agencies that it is agent off the market next sum- the 2022-23 season. The Black- mer and keeps Foligno in the fold hawks open this season on Colli- $573,500 sal- way he talked, the way he said eve- safe to play. ary and had rything is - he looked like a really through 2024. The 29-year-old had ton’s 36th birthday on Wednesday The season opens Wednesday and In this Dec 12, 2019, fi le photo, 25 points and at Stanley Cup champion Tampa been eligible nice guy.” Bettman estimates the league will lose New York has bulked up since NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman a plus-8 rat- Bay. for arbitration over $1 billion even by playing. It’s a speaks with members of the media ing, both career Colliton was coaching at Rock- for the fi rst Cohen completed his $2.4 billion gamble everyone was willing to make purchase of New York from the before being inducted into the US highs, in 2019- ford in the American Hockey time. to keep hockey going during the pan- Hockey Hall of Fame in Washing- 20 despite play- League when he got the job with Seven Rock- Wilpon and Katz families on Nov. demic. ton. (AP) ing in only 59 Chicago. He also played in the ies remain 6. Carrasco is expecting a postsea- “It would be cheaper for us to shut games. Foligno NHL, appearing in 57 games with eligible to son contender. the doors and not play,” Bettman said tor Don Fehr said in a phone interview. also led the Wild the New York Islanders. exchange pro- Senzatela “I’m so happy right now. I wish “I think the agreement that we reached with 184 hits. ❑ ❑ ❑ posed arbitra- spring training started next week, last summer, certainly from the play- He is ninth in tion salaries on Friday: right-hand- to meet everyone and start wearing ers’ standpoint, was fair and reason- the league with Willie O’Ree, who broke the ers Carlos Estévez, Mychal Givens, this jersey,” Carrasco said during a ICE HOCKEY 1,446 hits since NHL’s color barrier, is set have his able and appropriate, and took all of jersey retired by the Boston Bru- Jon Gray and Robert Stephenson, news conference. “It’s something those things into account. And I don’t the start of the left-hander Kyle Freeland, second really important for me, just wear- 2013-14 sea- Foligno ins. Monday. “We’re coming back to play second guess it.” son. O’Ree will have his No. 22 jersey baseman Ryan McMahon and out- ing this jersey right now.” this season because we think it’s im- Living by the terms of that agree- ❑ ❑ ❑ Foligno has been playing right honored prior to the Bruins’ Feb. fi elder Raimel Tapia. portant for the game, because our fans ment means some short-term pain for 18 game against the ❑ ❑ ❑ wing on the third line with Jordan Francisco Lindor smiled wide- and our players want us to, and it may owners now, and Bettman warned re- Greenway and Joel Eriksson Ek in Devils, the team announced Tues- Right-hander Michael Fulmer ly for a full 40 minutes, enthralled give people, particularly those who cently that players could have to repay training camp this month with the day. and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a to join a New York Mets team are back in isolation or where there some money later based on the 50/50 Wild, who open at Los Angeles on He became the league’s fi rst $3.1 million, one-year contract that bulking up under new owner Ste- are curfews, a sense of normalcy and split of revenue. But that was just one Thursday. Black player when he suited up for ven Cohen. something to do.” part of the puzzle of pulling all this Foligno was acquired by Min- Boston on Jan. 18, 1958, against avoided arbitration. the Montreal Canadiens, despite The 2016 AL Rookie of the Year “They say it’s probably very con- None of the four major North together, which started with when to nesota from Buffalo in a trade for American men’s professional sports begin play and how to do it. Jason Pominville and Marco Scan- being legally blind in one eye. went 0-2 with an 8.78 ERA in 10 tagious,” the Mets’ new shortstop O’Ree played two seasons from said. “I’m living my dream. I’m leagues rely as much on attendance as With the clock ticking down in mid- della on June 30, 2017. He played starts last season after missing all six seasons for the Sabres, his the Bruins, retiring from profession- of 2019 because of Tommy John living the life I always wanted, so I the NHL: Roughly 50% of all revenue December, the sides agreed to open al hockey in 1979. comes from ticket sales, concessions training camps for most teams just hometown team. surgery. He earned $1,037,037 in don’t see why not.” ❑ ❑ ❑ He also donned No. 18 and No. prorated pay from a $2.8 million Cleveland traded the four-time and other in-arena elements. That’s after Jan 1 and drop the puck Jan. 13. 25 during his time with the Bruins salary. All-Star to New York along with why the league and players prioritized Each team is scheduled to play 56 all Chicago Blackhawks coach but wore number 22 in the bulk of Eight Tigers remain eligible to pitcher Carlos Carrasco on Thurs- extending the CBA before completing divisional games during the regular Jeremy Colliton agreed to a two- his games with the club. swap proposed salaries Friday: day for infi elders Andrés Giménez last season in twin playoff bubbles; season set to run until May 8, though year contract extension on the eve O’Ree, 85, becomes the 12th right-handers José Cisnero, Buck and Amed Rosario plus a pair of they knew no fans slashes revenue for the Dallas Stars’ outbreak and delayed of his third season with the team. player in team history to have a Farmer and Joe Jiménez, left- minor league prospects, right-hand- everyone. start has already forced the question of Colliton is 62-58-17 since he re- sweater hung in the TD Garden handers Matt Boyd and Daniel er Josh Wolf and outfi elder Isaiah The agreement gave the NHL a how to handle various situations. placed Joel Quenneville in Novem- rafters. Norris, shortstop Niko Goodrum, Greene. blueprint to operate and labor peace On the eve of the season opener, the third baseman Jeimer Candelario “I’m excited to be with the Mets through at least 2026. league announced Tuesday 17 of the squads of four to six players mitigates not have fans as the season gets go- and outfi elder JaCoby Jones. organization. I’m not against a long “You always have to make judg- 27 players with confi rmed positive test the risk. Watching other leagues post- ing. The league realigned its teams to Detroit also announced that Steve term. I’m not against it,” Lindor said ments about what you think the fu- results for the coronavirus from Dec pone and reschedule games has helped, include an all-Canadian division to Chase has been promoted to major in a news conference from Florida, ture’s going to hold and how do you 30-Jan 11 are on Dallas, with the other as has regular communication among avoid border crossing hassle; ques- league strength and conditioning wearing his new team’s royal blue attempt to maximize the benefi ts and 10 from eight other teams. medical experts. tions remain about where the San Jose coach after 16 seasons working in cap. “It has to make sense of both minimize the detriments, mitigate your There’s no hard and fast rule on how Players are tested daily and all are- Sharks will play home games because the organization’s player develop- sides.” risks, take advantage of opportunities many positive test results would en- nas except for three – Florida Panthers, of a ban on team sports in Santa Clara and so on,” NHLPA executive direc- danger a game and the addition of taxi Arizona Coyotes and the Stars – will County, California.