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By DEBI JONES, Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 23, 2001
Gold-medal skier falls, is in coma+
Bill Johnson, the 1984 Olympic downhill gold medalist, was hospitalized in a coma Thursday night after crashing in a ski race at Big Mountain Resort in Whitefish, Mont.
Johnson, 40, fell facefirst when his skis separated and he tumbled through two restraining fences during an FIS downhill race. He was bleeding and unconscious when ski patrol medics and a race doctor arrived seconds later.
Johnson was taken by helicopter to Kalispell Regional Medical Center, about 20 miles away, U.S. Ski Team spokesman Tom Kelly said.
Hospital spokesman Jim Oliverson said Johnson was in critical condition. Kelly said doctors drained blood from Johnson's brain and left lung before his brain swelled. "But there is a feeling of optimism that he will pull through," Kelly said.
Johnson also had cuts on his arms and legs and needed surgery to repair his tongue, which he apparently bit.
The crash occurred halfway down the course in a series of tight turns. Johnson sped through one turn and was negotiating a right when his legs spread, he lost his balance and he tumbled forward onto the icy snow.
"The netting did its job, but he did have a significant impact with the snow," Kelly said.
Johnson, trying to make a comeback, was in Montana for the U.S. Alpine nationals, which begin today.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The family of Florida State linebacker Devaughn Darling, who collapsed and died Feb. 26 after a preseason conditioning drill, told a Houston television station they plan an independent investigation of his death. An autopsy this month did not reveal a cause of death for Darling, 18. ... FSU's running game looks better than it did a year ago, coach Bobby Bowden said after a spring scrimmage. Senior tailback Davy Ford led all rushers in the scrimmage with four carries for 86 yards. Junior quarterback Anquan Boldin "is looking better than I expected him to at this point," Bowden said. ... Florida wideout Jabar Gaffney caught a teenage boy trying to steal his motor scooter early Thursday and held him until police arrived, campus police said. Police arrested the boy and caught another suspect, a teenage boy, moments later. The teens confessed to stealing Gaffney's scooter and two others Wednesday night and hiding them on campus, police spokesman Joe Sharkey said in a statement. Each was charged with one count of felony theft of a motor vehicle.
COLLEGES: Nate Dusing set a record in the 200-yard individual medley and helped defending champion Texas take the lead in the Division I men's swimming and diving championships at College Station, Texas. Dusing's title-winning time, 1 minute, 42.85 seconds, broke the record of 1:43.52 set by Florida's Greg Burgess in 1993. ... Host Tampa defeated Army 15-7 in baseball. Tom Carrow had a home run, a double, a triple and three RBI, and he scored three runs. ... Baylor baseball coach Steve Smith suspended indefinitely pitcher Derek Brehm and outfielder Clint Bowers, charged with shooting, decapitating and skinning a cat.
HORSES: Buckle Down Ben, owned by Michael Tabor and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, was made the slight favorite for the $600,000 Spiral Stakes, formerly known as the Jim Beam, at Turfway Park on Saturday. The field of nine 3-year-olds includes second-choice Meetyouathebrig at 3-1 and Mongoose at 7-2.
OLYMPICS: Cleanup has begun on a toxic waste spill at an abandoned American military base near the planned rowing center for the 2004 Athens Games.
SOCCER: Kyle Martino scored six minutes into the second half to give the United States a 1-1 tie with Costa Rica at Tunapuna, Trinidad, in the Americans' final qualifier for the FIFA World Youth Championship. Both teams went into the game assured of berths. ... Former Nigerian national team defender Uche Okafor, 33, retired from MLS' Kansas City Wizards, ending a 15-year career that covered four continents.
TENNIS: Greg Rusedski won 25 consecutive points, including the first 20 in the second set, and beat Nicolas Massu 6-4, 6-1 in the opening round of the Ericsson Open at Key Biscayne. He led 5-0 in the second set and came within four points of a golden set, which means winning all 24 points. The feat has been achieved once on the men's tour, by American Bill Scanlon, who beat Marcos Hocevar 6-2, 6-0 at Delray Beach in 1983. Seeded players had first-round byes and take the court beginning today. Venus and Serena Williams practiced together in preparation for their first matches. Asked about her ailing right knee, Venus said: "I'm looking forward to competing this week." Citing knee tendinitis, she pulled out at Indian Wells last week shortly before a semifinal match against Serena, prompting boos from spectators who suspected she was ducking the match. Bart McGuire, chief executive officer for the WTA Tour, said he is "absolutely satisfied that it was very much a valid injury."