Hurdle replaces Russell: The Pittsburgh Pirates will introduce Clint Hurdle, a former Colorado Rockies manager, as their manager at a news conference Monday. Hurdle, who was the batting coach for the American League champion Texas Rangers this year, replaces John Russell. Russell, 49, was fired the day after completing a 105-loss season — the Pirates' worst in 58 years and their record-extending 18th consecutive losing season. Russell lost 299 games in three seasons. Hurdle, 53, was 534-625 as manager of the Rockies from 2002 to May 29, 2009, guiding them to the 2007 World Series where they were swept by Boston. He is believed to have a three-year deal with the Pirates. Ex-Cleveland manager Eric Wedge reportedly was the first candidate to interview with Pittsburgh but he later took the job as manager of the Mariners.
Gibson's historic bat sells for $575,912.40: A father-son sports-collectors team from Santa Barbara, Calif., bought the bat Kirk Gibson used for his winning home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series for $575,912.40 in SCP Auctions' October/November auction, and also took home four other Gibson artifacts on sale.
Chad and Doug Dreier of the Dreier Group paid about $1.19 million for the five items, which included Gibson's home-run bat, his game-worn Los Angeles Dodgers jersey ($303,277.20), batting helmet ($153,388.80), NL Most Valuable Player Award ($110,293.20) and World Series trophy ($45,578.40). "We are thrilled to keep this amazing collection of baseball history in Southern California," Chad Dreier said.
Tennis
Soderling beats Monfils in Paris Masters final: Robin Soderling of Sweden won his first Masters 1000 title, beating 12th-seeded Gael Monfils of France 6-1, 7-6 (7-1) in the Paris Masters final. The fourth-seeded Soderling hit a forehand volley on match point and fell to the ground on his back to celebrate the most prestigious of his six career titles."I was extremely nervous before this match," he said. "I didn't sleep much at all (last) night."
Boxing
Margarito remains in hospital after loss to Pacquiao: Antonio Margarito, who served as a punching bag for most of Saturday's bout for the vacant WBC 154-pound title in Arlington, Texas, remained in a hospital. Margarito lost a unanimous decision to Manny Pacquiao. Promoter Bob Arum said Margarito has a broken right eye socket and is to have surgery Tuesday in Texas. Pacquiao, who landed 474 punches compared with 229 for Margarito, couldn't sign autographs because he had trouble holding a pen. "My hands are swollen and they really hurt," Pacquiao said.
Figure skating
Murakami earns her first senior Grand Prix title: Japan's Kanako Murakami, 16, won the Skate America competition at the Rose Garden in Portland for her first senior Grand Prix title. Murakami, the world junior champion, earned a berth in next month's Grand Prix final in Beijing. Murakami had 164.93 points, compared with 162.86 for runner-up Rachael Flatt of Del Mar, Calif. Carolina Kostner of Italy won the short program but took a hard spill on a triple loop in the free skate and finished third with 154.87 points. Daisuke Takahashi of Japan beat countryman Nobunari Oda for the men's title Saturday night.
Skiing
Frenchman Grange wins season-opening World Cup slalom: Jean-Baptiste Grange of France won the season's first World Cup men's slalom, defeating second-place Andre Myhrer of Sweden by 0.33 seconds in Levi, Finland.
Grange, the 2009 World Cup slalom champion, missed most of last season because of a knee injury. He had a two-run time of 1 minute, 46.64 seconds.
"Today was pretty much a perfect day for me," Grange said after his first World Cup slalom event since November 2009. Ted Ligety of Park City, Utah, was the top American, finishing 18th in 1:49.89. Olympian Will Brandenburg of Spokane was eighth after the first run but was disqualified after straddling a gate during the second run. "Will absolutely showed he's got world-class speed," U.S. men's technical coach Mike Day was quoted as saying on the team's website.
Brandenburg, 23, said his fitness level has improved since last season. "I'm stronger and I'm 10 pounds lighter, which makes me a little bit quicker down the hill, for sure," he said. Colby Granstrom, 20, of Lake Stevens did not qualify for the second run.
Track and field
Hall of Famer Santee dies: Wes Santee, a Kansas track standout, Olympian and member of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, died at his home Sunday in Eureka, Kan., after a battle with cancer. He was 78.
Santee set world records in the 1,500 meters and the indoor mile. He won NCAA championships in the mile and 5,000 meters, and won the NCAA cross-country championship in 1953 to lead the Jayhawks to the team title.