Miller, Kildow Finish Second in Downhill

Bode Miller came in second, but at least he got on the podium Wednesday in the last men’s downhill event of the World Cup season at Are, Sweden.

Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway covered the Olympia course in 1 minute, 42.40 seconds for his first downhill victory and second career win, edging Miller by two-tenths of a second. Peter Fill of Italy finished third.

Miller, who has been hampered by a left knee injury, was pleased with his performance.

“The jumps were a little bit harder for me,” Miller said. “But when it’s time to race I usually don’t feel much of my knee pains. I was absolutely 100% gassing it the whole way. In general, I was really happy with the way I skied.”

Defending World Cup downhill champion Michael Walchhofer of Austria held on to his title despite finishing in 11th place.

Anja Paerson of Sweden beat Lindsey Kildow in the women’s downhill. Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria, who won the Olympic downhill, had already won the downhill title this season.

PRO FOOTBALL

McGinest Joins Browns,

Reunites With Crennel

Willie McGinest has reunited with Coach Romeo Crennel, signing a three-year, $12-million contract with the Cleveland Browns. The deal includes $6 million in guarantees and bonuses.

The 34-year-old linebacker spent seven seasons with Crennel in New England, including four with Crennel as defensive coordinator.

McGinest was a member of three Super Bowl winners and had been with the Patriots since being drafted from USC in the first round in 1994.

The Tennessee Titans agreed to a six-year contract with free-agent safety Chris Hope.

Hope started the last 32 regular-season games for Pittsburgh, including every game in the team’s run to the Super Bowl. He had a career-high three interceptions last season.

Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard agreed to a $13-million, three-year contract with a $5.4-million signing bonus to remain with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks also agreed to bring back punt returner and wide receiver Peter Warrick. Terms of the deal were not immediately available.

New Orleans released quarterback Aaron Brooks, the same day the Saints introduced Drew Brees as their new starting quarterback.... The San Francisco 49ers signed veteran cornerback Walt Harris, adding depth to a young secondary.... Tight end Brian Jones signed his tender offer, keeping him with the Jacksonville Jaguars.... The Green Bay Packers re-signed offensive tackle Kevin Barry and defensive lineman Kenny Peterson.... The New York Giants signed former Baltimore safety Will Demps and re-signed offensive lineman Lewis Kelly.... The Detroit Lions re-signed running back Shawn Bryson to a three-year contract.... The Steelers agreed to contract terms with backup tight end Jerame Tuman.... Receiver Darnerien McCants will stay with the Philadelphia Eagles next season after signing a one-year contract.

JURISPRUDENCE

Gooden Is Ordered

to Be Held Without Bond

Former baseball star Dwight Gooden was ordered held without bond and faces up to five years in prison for violating his probation at Tampa, Fla.

Gooden will appear in court for a hearing sometime in the next two weeks, prosecutor Pam Bondi said.

Gooden, 41, pleaded guilty in November to speeding away from police at a DUI checkpoint in August and was sentenced to three years’ probation. On Tuesday, he went to a meeting with a probation officer where he admitted to using cocaine, according to Jo Ellyn Rackleff, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections.

An agent for Randy Moss was charged with possession of crack cocaine after police were called to a St. Petersburg, Fla., hotel to investigate a disturbance.

Dante DiTrapano and his wife, Teri, were arrested.

“I’m sticking by my friend and I’ll support him and his family as he gets help battling his problem,” Moss said.

MISCELLANY

King Leads Way

to Fourth Iditarod Title

Jeff King won his fourth Iditarod under a full moon early Wednesday at Nome, Alaska, with what he called the best sled dog team he has had, finishing the 1,100-mile race in nine days, 11 hours and 11 minutes.

King, of Denali, joined Doug Swingley, Martin Buser and Susan Butcher as four-time winners. Rick Swenson is the race’s only five-time winner. At 50, King is also the oldest musher to win the world’s longest sled dog race.

Women’s soccer World Cup champion Germany beat the United States, 4-3, in a penalty shootout at Faro, Portugal, to win the Algarve Cup for the first time. Sweden took third place with a 1-0 victory over France.

Clint Dempsey was left off the U.S. roster for next week’s soccer exhibition at Germany after the midfielder was suspended by the New England Revolution after a practice-field fight with a teammate.

Park Yong-sung of South Korea was suspended as a member of the International Olympic Committee pending the final outcome of his corruption case.

Park, the former chairman of the Doosan Group, was convicted last month of embezzling millions in a family feud over control of South Korea’s oldest conglomerate.

Fourth-ranked UCLA defeated ninth-ranked and defending national champion Michigan, 6-4, in 10 innings in a softball game at UCLA.

PASSINGS

Hockey Hall of Fame

Referee Storey, 88, Dies

Red Storey, who was a referee in seven straight Stanley Cup finals during the 1950s and was later elected to hockey’s Hall of Fame, died at Montreal. He was 88.