A series of milestones
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- The final weekend of the 2002 Winter Olympics got under way Friday with a series of milestones. There was yet another complaint about judging from the less-than-happy Russians. And, there was a dramtic hockey game that produced the same result as its historic predecessor.
With national pride and a chance for a gold medal on the line, the United States desperately hung on Friday night to defeat Russia, 3-2, in the semifinals of the Olympic hockey tournament.
For the final 16 minutes of the game, the Russians develivered a non-stop assault on American goaltender Mike Richter, who protected the lead and gave the United States a spot in Sunday's gold medal game against the Canadians.
The American victory came on the 22nd anniversary of the United States' shocking triumph over the Soviet Union at Lake Placid, one that led to a gold medal and created one of the most treasured memories in the history of American sport.
Athletes around the Olympics wrote their own book as well Friday.
- Croatian Janica Kostelic became the first alpine skier in Olympic history to win four medals in the same Games by capturing the women's giant slalom. It was her third gold.
* Samppa Lajunen of Finland won the nordic combined sprint, giving him a sweep of that sport's three gold medals at these Olympics. Because the sprint is new to the Olympics, he becomes the first person to win three nordic combined gold medals in a single Games.
* Jochem Uytdhagge of the Netherlands set his second world record of the Olympics and won his second gold medal by grabbing the 10,000-meter speed skating race.
* And the men's curling team from Norway shocked Canada in the gold medal match, 6-5, leaving the Canadians without title in a sport they usually dominate. The women's team had to settle for the bronze on Thursday.
In addition, the American four-man bobsled driven by World Cup leader Todd Hays took the lead after the first two runs. The third and fourth runs will be held on the next-to-last day of the Games, when seven gold medals will be decided.
The thought of the United States leading the way in gold medals was considered pretty much a fantasy before the Games began. But, the Americans have 10 golds, just one behind Norway, and have chances for wins over the next two days in the the bobsled, short-track skating, men's slalom and hockey.
Garcia loses, Toms only top 10 seed left
CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 23 (UPI) -- After surviving the first two rounds, Sergio Garcia appeared to have emerged as the favorite at the World Golf Championships-Match Play Championship.
But, predicting the winner of this event is next to impossible and the fourth-seeded Spaniard became the ninth top-10 seed to lose. Garcia fell to No. 45 Scott McCarron, 1-up, Friday at the La Costa Resort and Spa.
The lone top-10 seed to reach the quarterfinals was No. 6 David Toms, the reigning winner of the PGA Championship. And Toms was not assured of advancing until winning the 18th hole for a 1-up victory over No. 54 Steve Flesch.
Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and David Duval -- the top three seeds -- all were sent packing in the first round Wednesday, while five more top seeds bowed out in the second round Thursday.
Williams, Seles knocked out of Dubai Open
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 23 (UPI) --There will be no meeting between Venus Williams and Monica Seles to decide the champion of the $585,000 Dubai Women's Open. Both lost their semifinal matches on Friday.
Fourth-seeded Sandrine Testud knocked off the top-seeded Williams 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 victory, her first win in six career meetings with the 21-year-old Williams, who captured her WTA Tour-leading third title of the year on Sunday at Antwerp.
Testud is seeking her fourth career title and first since last year at Hawaii. She faces another player from France, third-seeded Amelie Mauresmo, in Saturday's final.
Mauresmo defeated the second-seeded Seles, 6-4, 6-3, in Friday's other semifinal match. Mauresmo, who has lost twice to Williams this year, is seeking her seventh career title .
Quigley has one-shot Audi lead
NAUCALPAN, Mexico, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Dana Quigley took a one-stroke lead with a 3-under-par 69 in the first round of the $3 million Audi Senior Classic .
Walter Hall is right behind Quigley after shooting a 70 while 2000 champion Hubert Green, Jim Colbert, Ed Dougherty, Lon Hinkle and Rodger Davis each shot 71s to share third place.
Quigley shared the lead after the first round of the Verizon Classic last week in Florida with a 7-under 64. But he saw his scores increase to 71 and 73 over the next two days and he settled in a tie for fifth place.
Defending champion Mike McCullough, who ended a long drought with his victory last season, shot a 73 on Friday. Bruce Fleisher, a 14-time winner on the Senior Tour, was among eight golfers to shoot a 72 on Friday.
Chamblee leads by two at Tucson
TUCSON, Ariz., Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Brandel Chamblee fired a 5-under-par 67 Friday after an opening round 65 for a 12-under 132 and has a two-stroke advantage at the midway point of the Tucson Open.
Chamblee won the Greater Vancouver Open in 1998, but has not held a second-round lead since the 1999 Sony Open when he finished 48th.
Steve Pate and Bob Tway are tied for second at 10-under. Pate carded a 66 and Tway shot a 67 at the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa.
First-round leader Michael Allen followed a 64 with a 1-under 71. Chris Smith, Loren Roberts, David Peoples and Scott Simpson are tied with Allen at 9-under.
Kemp suspended for drug violation,
NEW YORK, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Portland Trail Blazers reserve forward Shawn Kemp, who volunteered for treatment under the NBA's anti-drug program last April, has been suspended indefinitely for violating the league's drug policy.
Kemp's suspension will begin with Portland's game against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, and will continue until he has resumed full compliance with his treatment program.
The NBA, NBA teams and the Players Association are prohibited from publicly disclosing information regarding the testing or treatment of any player in the program, other than to announce a player's suspension or dismissal from the league.
Kemp, 32, a six-time All-Star, was averaging 5.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 52 games for the Trail Blazers. He has two years and $38 million remaining on his contract.
