Former F1 driver Schumacher in critical condition
PARIS — Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher was in critical condition after undergoing brain surgery following a skiing accident in the French Alps on Sunday, doctors said.
The Grenoble University Hospital Center said the retired racing driver arrived at the clinic in a coma and underwent immediate surgery for a serious head trauma.
It was not clear whether the 44-year-old Schumacher was still in a coma but the hospital statement, which was signed by a neurosurgeon, an anesthesiologist and Marc Penaud, the hospital’s deputy director, said “he remains in a critical condition.”
Schumacher fell while skiing off-piste in Meribel earlier Sunday and hit his head on a rock, according to a statement from the resort. Resort managers said he had been wearing a helmet and was conscious when rescuers first responded to the scene.
Earlier in the day, the Meribel resort said Schumacher had been taken to Grenoble for tests and authorities said his life was not in danger.
But the situation began to appear more serious when the resort said that orthopedic and trauma surgeon Gerard Saillant had traveled from Paris to the hospital in Grenoble to examine Schumacher. German news agency dpa said it was Saillant who operated on Schumacher when he broke his leg during a crash at the Silverstone race course in 1999.
In an email to The Associated Press, Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm said the champion German driver was on a private skiing trip and “fell on his head.”
“We ask for understanding that we cannot give running updates on his condition. He wore a helmet and was not alone,” Kehm said. Schumacher’s 14-year-old son was skiing with his father when the accident happened, the resort said.
Schumacher initially retired from F1 in 2006 after winning five straight titles with Ferrari following two earlier ones with Benetton. He returned to the sport in 2010 and drove for three seasons for Mercedes without much success before retiring again last year.
Dodgers talk to Puig after latest arrest
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers have told outfielder Yasiel Puig the organization is “very disappointed” with his behavior in the wake of his second arrest this year for reckless driving.
The team issued a statement Sunday that said Puig’s behavior “is a very serious issue to us.” The Dodgers said they would continue to educate the 23-year-old Cuban defector and strive to further develop his growth off the field.
Puig was arrested Saturday in Naples, Fla., after the Florida Highway Patrol clocked him going 110 mph in a 70-mph zone.
Authorities said Puig was arrested and charged with reckless driving and taken to the Collier County Jail for processing. Puig lives in the Miami area during the offseason.
In April, when he was still in the minors, Puig was charged with reckless driving and speeding after Chattanooga, Tenn., police clocked him going 97 in a 50-mph zone. The charges were dismissed in November after Puig completed community service in Los Angeles.
Puig was an instant sensation with the Dodgers last season, batting .319 with 19 home runs and 42 RBIs. He helped them reach the NL championship series, where they lost to St. Louis, and he was runner-up for the Rookie of the Year award.
Puig signed a $42 million, seven-year contract in June 2012, a record for a Cuban defector. He received a $12 million signing bonus and made $2 million last season.
Davis, Richardson win at speedskating trials
KEARNS, Utah — Shani Davis ruled again in the 1,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic speedskating trials, edging Brian Hansen on Sunday.
The two-time defending Olympic champion won with a time of 1 minute, 7.52 seconds in the next-to-last pair. Hansen came up just short in the final race, crossing the line in 1:07.53.
But the most poignant performance was turned in by Jonathan Garcia, who was disqualified the previous day in the 500 for not wearing his timing transponders, after skating fast enough to make the Olympics. He came back to finish fourth in the 1,000 at 1:07.96, good enough to claim the first Olympic berth of his career.
Joey Mantia is also going to the Olympics for the first time after taking third in 1:07.88.
On the women’s side, Heather Richardson beat Brittany Bowe in the 1,000 — a repeat of their 1-2 finish in the 500 on Saturday. The other two projected spots on the Olympic team went to Sugar Todd and Kelly Gunther, the latter completing her comeback from a gruesome ankle injury shortly after she just missed making the Vancouver Olympics.
Arsenal regains top spot in Premier League
LONDON — Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Newcastle on Sunday while Chelsea kept the pressure on the Gunners with a 2-1 win over Liverpool.
Olivier Giroud ensured Arsenal will start 2014 on top of the standings after ending a personal drought of seven matches without a goal.
Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto’o meanwhile secured a fourth consecutive home win for Chelsea after Martin Skrtel had opened the scoring for the Reds.
Third-place Chelsea trails Arsenal by two points and Manchester City by one point. Liverpool is six points behind after a second consecutive loss.
By wire sources