In brief

War won't keep AFL off field

The Arena Football League plans to play this weekend regardless of the United States attack on Iraq, commissioner David Baker said during a conference call Wednesday.

"Barring some unforeseen tragedy, the Arena Football League anticipates that we will play all of our games this weekend as scheduled," Baker said. "Our teams are working closely with our arenas as far as security."

The league, which is sponsored by the U.S. Army, is planning patriotic activities for its pregame and halftime shows and offering discounted tickets to armed forces personnel and their families. The Storm is offering four complimentary terrace-level tickets or $10 reserve tickets for remaining home games. Tickets are available at the St. Pete Times Forum box office or by calling (813) 301-6600.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Florida State's second spring workout focused on the passing game and coach Bobby Bowden's desire to integrate the tight-end position into the offense. "Miami has really benefited from that. We are trying to do some of the things they do," Bowden said. Matt Henshaw, Paul Irons and Donnie Carter got work at the position, and tailback Willie Reid began taking repetitions at receiver. "He is a natural out there," Bowden said.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Running back Thez Robinson, who started two games as a freshman last season, has been dismissed from the squad for violating unspecified team rules.

WINTER SPORTS

Julia Mancuso ended Kirsten Clark's four-year domination of the women's downhill at the U.S. Alpine Championships, racing to a convincing victory at Lake Placid, N.Y. Clark led briefly and finished sixth. Steven Nyman, who barely made the Alpine B team this year and has a penchant for not finishing, stunned the men's field as some of the favorites faded. Bode Miller, weary from World Cup races and travel, was fourth.

BIATHLON: Norway's Halvard Hanevold won the 20-kilometer individual event for his second medal at the world championships at Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, earning him the World Cup individual title. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, the Norwegian who won four gold medals at last year's Olympics, gained the overall World Cup title despite finishing 30th in the next-to-last men's race.

OLYMPICS

U.S. Olympic Committee officials said additional duties assigned by Congress -- including supporting Little League programs and fighting obesity -- compete with its ability to churn out gold-medal winners. "It's a very long way from the couch to the podium," Jim McCarthy, a member of the USOC Board of Directors, told members of a House subcommittee. "If we need to do all of these things, we probably won't do any of them well." Acting USOC president Bill Martin told the House Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee that clarifying the Olympic committee's mission is the most important action Congress could take to help the organization.

ET CETERA

HORSES: The filly Composure was retired because of a crack in her right front leg, leaving trainer Bob Baffert without one of his Kentucky Derby contenders. Owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, Composure won four of eight career starts, including a three-quarter-length victory in the Santa Anita Oaks on March 8 in her last start.

SOCCER: Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said that "based on the information we know today," the season's start on April 5 will not be changed because of the war in Iraq.

CYCLING: Italy's Filippo Pozzato won the Tirreno-Adriatico race in Italy after picking up key sprint time bonuses during the seventh and final stage of the sea-to-sea event.

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