Red Sox reportedly to get second opinion on Drew

Outfielder J.D. Drew was scheduled to receive a second opinion today on a shoulder issue the Boston Red Sox have concerns about, according to Sunday’s Boston Globe.

The Red Sox became concerned after the right fielder underwent a physical in Boston last week, and it is the reason the five-year, $70-million deal reached at the winter meetings nearly two weeks ago has not been completed, the Globe said.

Red Sox officials were unavailable for comment.

It is not known whether the physical issue could be a deal-breaker, but it may cause some revision of the guarantees in the deal or increase clauses for games played in place of the guaranteed money. The issue could also force the Red Sox to shorten the deal.

Reached at his Georgia home, Drew declined to comment.

The Red Sox and Drew’s agent, Scott Boras, have only said that the hangup is a language issue in the contract.

Drew, who exercised an out clause in his five-year, $55-million contract with the Dodgers in November after two seasons, has had numerous injuries, including a bad case of patellar tendinitis in his knee while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, which is also a concern, and injuries to his shoulder, back and wrist.

The Chicago White Sox and free-agent catcher Toby Hall agreed on a two-year, $3.65-million contract that includes a club option for 2009.

The White Sox hold a $2.25-million option with a $150,000 buyout for 2009. Hall, 31, combined to hit .259 in 85 games for Tampa Bay and the Dodgers last season.

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WINTER SPORTS

Palander edges Miller in giant slalom race

Kalle Palander defeated Bode Miller by more than half a second to win a giant slalom in Alta Badia, Italy, for his 13th World Cup victory.

Palander, who also led after the first run, covered the steep and narrow Gran Risa course in a combined time of 2 minutes 28.82 seconds. Miller, who won a World Cup super-giant slalom Friday, moved up from seventh after the first run to finish second, 0.51 of a second behind Palander. Didier Defago was third, 0.59 back.

Magnus Moan recaptured the lead in the World Cup standings by winning a 7.5K Nordic combined sprint in 16:53.3 in Ramsau, Austria.

Jason Lamy Chappuis was 0.7 of a second back, with Ronny Ackermann finishing third.

Anders Jacobsen won a World Cup ski jumping meet in Engelberg, Switzerland, to close in on overall leader Simon Ammann.

Jacobsen jumped 138 and 137.5 meters. Ammann was second and 16-year-old Gregor Schlierenzauer of Austria was third.

After five World Cup events, Ammann leads with 360 points, followed by Jacobsen with 346 and Schlierenzauer with 310.

Russia won the men’s relay and Germany took the women’s relay at a World Cup cross-country meet in LaClusaz, France.

The Russian quartet covered the 40K mixed-style race in 1 hour 45 minutes 58.4 seconds in beating Norway.

Germany finished in 56:14.6 in the 20K women’s relay and beat second-place Sweden by 12.7 seconds.

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SOCCER

Colombia expected to bid for World Cup

Colombia today will formally express its desire to play host to the 2014 FIFA World Cup following a recent submission from Brazil.

Colombia will present a letter of intent to FIFA and also will confirm its desire to play host to the tournament at a meeting Wednesday of the South American confederation, said Luis Bedoya, president of the Colombian soccer federation.

Colombia was chosen as the host for the 1986 World Cup but withdrew because of financial problems.

As part of FIFA’s continental rotation policy, the 2014 championship is set for South America. The 2010 Cup is scheduled for South Africa.

FIFA’s executive committee is to announce the host of the 2014 World Cup in November.

Israeli soccer is in turmoil, with a match-fixing scandal threatening the legitimacy of the nation’s pro league.

A game was canceled Saturday after three players from the Hapoel Beer Sheva team said they were offered bribes to throw a game against Hapoel Raanana.

The players, Yehiel Tsagai, Evyatar Iluz and Miki Atiya, were arrested and questioned by police. They remained in custody. Teammate Assi Rahamim, a goalkeeper, also was arrested.

Israeli media reports said each of the three players was given $2,400, along with a warning not to play too hard.

The three players reportedly told police that gangsters offered them the bribes to throw Saturday’s game because of this week’s unusually large sports lottery of $9 million.

The scandal erupted days after a goalkeeper from a top league team was suspended after suspicions he threw a match.

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MISCELLANY

Els wins tournament for first time this year

Ernie Els shot a seven-under-par 65 and finished at 24-under 264 to beat Trevor Immelman by three strokes and win a tournament for the first time this year at the South African Open in Port Elizabeth.

Patrik Sjoland shot a 67 to finish third. Retief Goosen (70) earned a share of fifth place.

Georgia offensive coordinator Neil Callaway was hired as the football coach at Alabama Birmingham, which was 3-9 this season under Watson Brown.

Brown left Dec. 9 after 12 seasons to coach Tennessee Tech.