Page 18 - AT

A18 SPORTS
Friday 21 december 2018
Hirscher earns Austrian-record 63rd World Cup ski win

"Normally that would not
happen," Kristoffersen said.
Hirscher started his final run
with an advantage of 2.13
seconds over then leader
Meillard, allowing him to
take a conservative ap-
proach.
"On the steep part, you just
have to make sure that you
come down. It was hardly
skiable," Hirscher said. "All in
all it was a good and solid
performance."
Hirscher's teammate, Mi-
chael Matt, who was sec-
ond after the opening run,
dropped to fifth after mak-
ing mistakes and posting
only the 24th fastest time in
his final run.
Also, Felix Neureuther
dropped from fourth to
27th in his first slalom race
in 13 months. The German
missed most of last season
after tearing the ACL in
his left knee, and had his
comeback delayed by a
Austria's Marcel Hirscher speeds down the course during a ski World Cup men's Slalom race, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria,
Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. broken thumb and a con-
Associated Press cussion.
The race replaced a sla-
SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Defying difficult course to harden the surface with was tough, incredible," said lom which was canceled in
Austria (AP) — Marcel conditions, Hirscher held on water and salt.Kristoffersen the Norwegian, who still led France last week. The men's
Hirscher returned to a hill to a big first-run lead to fin- called it "the worst condi- Meillard by eight tenths at World Cup continues with
where he raced as a kid to ish 0.38 seconds ahead of tions I have skied on in my the final split but trailed the another slalom in the Italian
become the most success- Loic Meillard of Switzerland, World Cup career." Swiss skier by 0.09 at the fin- resort of Madonna Di Cam-
ful Austrian skier of all time. who was only 12th after the "It was really on the limit. It ish. piglio on Saturday.q
The seven-time overall opening run and claimed
champion won a World his second podium in two
Cup slalom in his native days. Henrik Kristoffersen of Former Louisville coach Rick
province of Salzburg on Norway was 0.47 behind in
overtaking happy with a top-10 result Pitino in talks with Greek team
Thursday for his 63rd ca- third. "I would have been
reer victory,
Annemarie Moser-Proell, and I can't believe I am on
who had 62 wins when she the podium for two days in By DEMETRIS NELLAS ago after the school was eral inquiry.
retired in 1980. a row," said Meillard, also ATHENS, Greece (AP) — implicated in a U.S. federal Pitino was not mentioned
"As a kid I have competed runner-up in Wednesday's Former Louisville coach corruption investigation of in the complaint and has
in regional races on this hill. GS. "To be on a podium Rick Pitino is in talks with the college basketball. maintained he was not
The course was just a bit with Marcel and Henrik is basketball club Panathinai- Panathinaikos fired coach aware of a scheme to pay
more to the right," Hirscher truly something special." kos about its coaching va- Xavi Pascual on Thursday the family of former Cardi-
said. "These are great It was the fourth straight win cancy, a Greek team offi- following a fifth loss in seven nals recruit Brian Bowen to
memories. The circle closes in the discipline for Hirscher, cial said Thursday. games in the Euroleague, play for Louisville. The im-
here." who has won nine of the The official spoke to The As- Europe's main club com- mediate fallout from that
Only Ingemar Stenmark last 10 World Cup slaloms. sociated Press on condition petition. scandal — soon after a sex
(86) and Lindsey Vonn (82) "It sounds amazing but it is of anonymity because he Panathinaikos' players in- scandal that resulted in the
have won more World Cup very surreal," Hirscher said was not authorized to dis- clude former Florida stand- program vacating its 2013
races. about his 63rd win. "There cuss the matter. out and Memphis Griz- NCAA title— ultimately cost
Moser-Proell was full of will be a time when I can The official said "contacts zlies player Nick Calathes, him his job after 16 seasons.
praise for the new Austrian really enjoy this but for the have been made" and it is former NBA lottery pick While Pitino expressed a
record-holder. moment it is really amazing "probable" the Hall of Fame Georgios Papagiannis and desire to remain involved in
"We have never seen such to have another victory, in coach and Panathinaikos, former Knicks player Tha- basketball, he said in Sep-
a perfect ski racer before," one of the hardest slalom the reigning Greek cham- nasis Antetokounmpo, the tember he was likely done
she told Austrian broad- races I have ever skied in." pion, will reach an agree- older brother of Milwaukee with coaching despite feel-
caster ORF. "When I see Many racers struggled on ment. Bucks star Giannis Antetok- ing "physically very young
Marcel now, I am amazed the Schneekristall course, Messages left with Pitino's ounmpo. and mentally very young."
that I achieved something which had patches of weak representatives in New York The hiring would mark a "I think my time has passed,
similar back then. But you snow in the icy top layer on and Louisville, Kentucky, stunning turn for Pitino, who I really do," Pitino told the
can't really compare the the lower part of the slope. were not immediately re- was fired by Louisville in AP during a tour for his book
two eras. Everything is The second run had to be turned. October 2017 following the "Pitino: My Story," which told
much more professional delayed for 15 minutes to The 66-year-old Pitino was school's acknowledgment his side of the events lead-
nowadays." give organizers more time fired by Louisville a year it was involved in the fed- ing to his ouster.q