Miller, Rahlves Go 1-2 in World Cup Super-G

Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves led a 1-2 American finish in the World Cup super-G finale Thursday in Are, Sweden, after both failed to win a medal at the Turin Olympics last month.

Miller covered the Olympia course in 1 minute 27.78 seconds for his first super-G win of the season and second podium finish at the World Cup finals. He was second in Wednesday’s downhill.

“I was as physically and mentally fit as I could be at the Olympics,” Miller said. “Maybe I was over-amped in the sense I would get so fired up I would detonate.”

Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway clinched the super-G season title with a third-place showing.

Janica Kostelic of Croatia won the women’s World Cup overall title with a fourth-place finish in a super-G won by Nicole Hosp of Austria in 1:19.45. American Julia Mancuso, the Olympic giant slalom champion, finished fifth ahead of teammate Lindsey Kildow.

Anja Paerson, the two-time defending overall champion, skied out after the third gate.

“I did not expect to win the globe today,” said Kostelic, who won the overall in 2001 and 2003. “I didn’t think she would ski out. She was skiing good and on her home terrain.”

Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria, who had already clinched the super-G title, was second and Martina Ertl-Renz of Germany finished third.

Rahlves, retiring after this season, was .34 seconds behind Miller.

“The super-G is the toughest event because there’s only one inspection and the speeds are high,” Rahlves said. “It’s pretty special to be on the podium with Bode and finish the season strong.”

It marked the third time Miller and Rahlves finished 1-2 this season. They also doubled in the downhill and giant slalom events in December at Beaver Creek, Colo.

Austrian Hermann Maier needed to finish ahead of Svindal to clinch his sixth super-G title, but was .62 seconds off the pace. Svindal won with 284 points, two more than Maier. Rahlves was third with 269 points.

Austrian Benjamin Raich, who already clinched the World Cup overall title, was one of five skiers who didn’t finish Thursday. American Ted Ligety, who won gold in the Olympic combined event, also skied out.

Miller’s two podium finishes moved him into third place behind Svindal in the overall standings. Miller is expected to race today in the giant slalom and Saturday in the slalom.

FOOTBALL

Garcia Signs On as Backup in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Eagles signed quarterback Jeff Garcia to back up Donovan McNabb.

Garcia, a 36-year-old three-time Pro Bowl selection during his five seasons in San Francisco, played for Cleveland in 2004 before going to Detroit last season. He threw for 937 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions in six games with the Lions.

Garcia signed a one-year contract with Philadelphia, as did Jabar Gaffney, a wide receiver formerly with Houston.

Another quarterback, Joey Harrington, seemed on the way out of Detroit after the Lions agreed to terms with Josh McCown, a part-time starter with Arizona the last two seasons. McCown joins veteran Jon Kitna, second-year-man Dan Orlovsky and the recently signed Shaun King on the Lions’ roster along with Harrington, who is due a $4-million bonus if he is on the roster June 15.

Harrington, the third overall pick in the 2002 draft, is 18-37 as the team’s starting quarterback.

In other moves: New England released 33-year-old cornerback Tyrone Poole.... Pittsburgh re-signed several veterans, including center Jeff Hartings and quarterback Charlie Batch.... Baltimore released veteran offensive tackle Orlando Brown, who missed three seasons after being hit in the eye by a referee’s flag in 1999 while playing for Cleveland.... Kansas City signed backup quarterback Damon Huard.... The San Francisco 49ers re-signed linebacker Brandon Moore to a five-year contract, keeping a player they developed from an undrafted free agent into a starter. The 49ers also re-signed receiver Jason McAddley and safety Kris Richard.... Safety Matt Bowen, a six-year NFL veteran, signed a two-year, $2-million contract with the Buffalo Bills.

Daunte Culpepper, traded this week from Minnesota to Miami, says he’s sorry for the embarrassment caused by a Lake Minnetonka boat party, even though he says he did nothing wrong.

Culpepper and three teammates are charged with misdemeanor lewd conduct on board a tour boat on the Twin Cities lake.

His e-mail to the media said he accepts the responsibility and accountability of being a high-profile athlete.

“Without admitting to the ridiculous allegations, I do apologize for any embarrassment that this situation has caused the community, the organization and especially my family,” wrote Culpepper, who was traded on Tuesday.

“I can handle the personal accusations because I know the truth. I expect the legal process to clear my name so that I can move on.”

Georgia Tech Coach Chan Gailey signed the $5-million, five-year contract that he agreed to in November.

Gailey has a 28-22 record in four seasons at Georgia Tech, leading the school to four consecutive bowl appearances. The Yellow Jackets went 7-5 last season, including upsets at Auburn and Miami.

SOCCER

Injury to Keep Donovan Out of U.S. Exhibition

Landon Donovan will miss the U.S. soccer team’s exhibition game at Germany on Wednesday because of a right calf strain.

Donovan was injured March 8 playing for the Galaxy in a 3-2 loss at Costa Rica’s Deportivo Saprissa in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals. He probably will be out two to three weeks, Galaxy trainer Ivan Pierra said.

Donovan will not be replaced on the U.S. roster, the U.S. Soccer Federation said, leaving the Americans with 18 players for the game at Dortmund, their last in Europe before the World Cup.

Donovan returned to MLS last year after a stay at Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen.