In brief

Rucinsky, Prospal give gold to Czechs

By wire services
Published May 16, 2005

VIENNA, Austria - Martin Rucinsky made sure the Czech Republic wouldn't need overtime or a shootout to win the world hockey championship.

Rucinsky set up a first-period goal by Lightning forward Vinny Prospal and scored in the third Sunday as the Czechs denied Canada its third straight title 3-0 in the world championships final.

"Scoring a goal in a world championship final is already fantastic, but winning is even better," Prospal said. "Canada was tough, but we were better."

Tomas Vokoun , named the tournament's best goaltender, had 29 saves. The Czechs (8-1) hadn't won gold since 2001, when they captured their third straight. It is their fifth championship since 1996.

Rucinsky gave the Czechs a 2-0 lead 3:14 into the third, beating Martin Brodeur with a slap shot to the glove side.

With his first world title, Jaromir Jagr , who assisted on Rucinsky's goal, became one of 15 players to win a world championship, a Stanley Cup and Olympic gold.

Also, Maxim Afinogenov had two goals and an assist to lead Russia over Sweden 6-3 in the bronze-medal game.

American wins tour stage

American David Zabriskie dominated an individual time trial in the Tuscan hills, winning the eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia, and Danilo Di Luca kept the overall lead in his home race. Zabriskie finished the 27.9-mile stage from Lamporecchio to Florence in 58 minutes, 31 seconds to beat Ivan Basso of Italy by 17 seconds. Di Luca led Basso by nine seconds overall.

Veteran wins platform

Three-time Olympian Leon Taylor of Britain won gold in the men's platform at the FINA Grand Prix in Fort Lauderdale. Taylor scored 489.57 points over six dives, 0.15 better than Feng Qi . Wu Minxia won the women's 3-meter and Yang Jinghui and Hu Jia teamed to win the men's synchronized platform.

Youngsters take honors

JoAnn Tinker , 7, of Clearwater won the bronze solo footwork category and Haley Smith of Valrico won a pre-preliminary free skate at the Sunshine State Games figure skating championships in Coral Springs. Kerri Anne Fernandez of Tampa was second in one of two preliminary free-skate groups.

Steadiness best in Keys

Michel Karsenti and Serge Allegre used a conservative strategy to win the Super Vee class in Rodriguez Group Fountain as the two-day Marathon Offshore Gran Prix ended in the Keys. Loan Shark , driven by rookie Marc Granet of St. Pete Beach, won the Super Stock class.

France owns the beach

France won the Beach World Cup final 1-0 on penalties as Thierry Ottavy scored in the shootout against Portugal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Nuno Belchior of Portugal scored twice in the final two minutes of regulation to tie at 3. Anthony Mendy had three goals for France, which included former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona as player-coach.

NFL: Burger King signed a multiyear deal to be the league's fast-food restaurant sponsor as the Miami-based chain tries to expand its popularity among its core customers - men 18-34. Financial terms were not released.

Compiled from Times wires.

[Last modified May 16, 2005, 01:22:06]