Briefs | BMW Oracle's mast tumbles during testing on Pacific Ocean

Sailing

Crew escapes injury: The 200-foot mast on the monster trimaran that will represent the United States in the America's Cup came tumbling down Tuesday during testing on the Pacific Ocean.

None of the crew was injured in the mishap, BMW Oracle Racing spokeswoman Jane Eagleson said.

Support crews were attempting to salvage the rigging and get the 90-by-90-foot boat back to its berth on San Diego Bay. Eagleson said she didn't know where the mast broke. The carbon-fiber spar is under tremendous loads.

The mast is estimated to have cost $10 million. The syndicate, scheduled to face defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland in a best-of-three showdown beginning Feb. 8, has two other masts.

BMW Oracle Racing, owned by Silicon Valley maverick Larry Ellison of Oracle Corp., has been testing the trimaran, known as BOR 90 and soon to be renamed USA, since last fall.

The space-age-looking craft was relaunched last week after undergoing significant modifications to its main hull. The changes included the installation of a BMW diesel engine to run a hydraulic system that will be used to trim the sails and perhaps move water ballast from one hull to another.

It wasn't immediately known if those modifications contributed to the dismasting.

The crew has been careful testing the trimaran, which will square off against Alinghi 5.

Capable of sailing at 2 to 2 ½ times the speed of the wind, they are the fastest, most extreme boats built in the 158-year history of the America's Cup. BMW Oracle Racing helmsman Jimmy Spithill said last week his crew has sailed in the 40-knot range on the big boat.

College basketball

Division II Le Moyne knocks off Syracuse in exhibition: Christopher Johnson scored 22 points, including a three-pointer with 8.3 seconds left, and Division II Le Moyne stunned host Syracuse 82-79 in an exhibition game.

"Did we ever think that a day like this would happen? Probably not," said coach Steve Evans of Le Moyne, which also is in Syracuse.

Syracuse player Andy Rautins said, "It's just embarrassing the way we played. It's embarrassing to ourselves and our fans. It wasn't luck that they won. They came out and beat us, fair and square."

The Orange's previous exhibition loss was six years ago, to the Harlem Globetrotters.

Minnesota suspends two players: Minnesota freshman forward Royce White faces misdemeanor charges of theft and fifth-degree assault for allegedly shoplifting and shoving a security guard Oct. 13 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.

Gophers coach Tubby Smith announced indefinite suspensions for White and senior guard Devron Bostick for violations of team rules he wouldn't identify.

Police Cmdr. Jim Ryan said Bostick wasn't involved in the incident with White at the mall in which Ryan said White tried to shoplift a pair of pants under a pair of sweatpants.

When confronted, White allegedly shoved a Macy's security officer several times and walked out of the store. He was later apprehended without incident by Bloomington police, cited and forced to return the pants and a stolen shirt worth about $100 combined, Ryan said.

Smith said White and Bostick will be held out of exhibitions Thursday (against Minnesota Duluth) and Monday (against Minnesota State Moorhead) and possibly more, until Smith decides they are ready to return to the No. 25 Gophers.

"It could be two games. It could be five, six. It could be more," Smith said of the suspensions. "It could be 20. It depends on what I want, what I decide."

White is part of a touted recruiting class that includes transfer Trevor Mbakwe, who is suspended indefinitely while a felony aggravated battery charge against him goes through the legal process.

Tennis

Haas has swine flu: German Tommy Haas, ranked 17th in the world, said he has tested positive for swine flu and is unlikely to play this week or next week.

Soccer

Manchester United gets draw after two late goals: Manchester United and Chelsea of England scored late goals to reach the next round of the UEFA Champions League, along with Bordeaux of France and FC Porto of Portugal.

Man U trailed 3-1 at home to CSKA Moscow of Russia with six minutes left, but Paul Scholes and Antonio Valencia scored for a 3-3 draw in the Group B match to give last season's runner-up the point needed to advance.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson rested several key players and watched his team defend poorly before inserting Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra for the last 30 minutes. The three-time European champions gave CSKA too much room to attack to suit Ferguson.

"We lost three goals at home and you don't like that," Ferguson said. "But I can't believe how many chances we did create."

Didier Drogba scored in the 82nd and 88th minutes of Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid in Group D.

It was the first Champions League match this season for Ivory Coast striker Drogba, who was back with Chelsea after a three-game suspension for his postgame tantrum in last season's semifinal loss to Barcelona of Spain.

Bordeaux won 2-0 at Bayern Munich of Germany in Group A. Porto prevailed 1-0 at APOEL Nicosia of Cyprus in Group D.

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