Vonn cuts thumb on champagne bottle

While celebrating her downhill victory at the world championships, American ski star Lindsey Vonn grabbed a broken champagne bottle, cut a tendon in her right thumb and underwent surgery Tuesday in Val d’Isere, France.

Vonn already has won two gold medals at the worlds. The U.S. team anticipates her competing in the slalom Saturday and possibly the giant slalom Thursday, but she probably will skip the team event today.

Vonn’s problems began when she couldn’t open the champagne bottle because the cork broke. Someone used a ski to extract the remaining piece of cork, breaking the bottle in the process. Vonn didn’t realize what had happened and grabbed the damaged bottle as the champagne flowed.

Vonn won the super-G that opened the championships. With her downhill win, she joined Anja Paerson and Maria Walliser as the only women to sweep the speed races at a world championship.

SOCCER

Club America fires its coach

Club America fired its Argentine coach Ramon Diaz, but the team didn’t say who would replace him.

Diaz failed to qualify America for the Copa Libertadores, and the team began the Mexican league with two losses, a win and two ties.

Manchester City duo Robinho and Elano scored for Brazil in a 2-0 victory over world champion Italy, which had two goals disallowed in the friendly at London. It was Italy’s first loss under Coach Marcello Lippi since 2004. . . . Guus Hiddink is considering taking over as Chelsea’s coach until the end of the Premier League season while keeping his job as coach of Russia’s national team. Chelsea fired former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari on Monday. . . . The expansion Seattle Sounders acquired two-time All-Star defender Tyrone Marshall from Toronto FC for cash. He was on the Galaxy’s Major League Soccer title teams in 2002 and 2005.

BASEBALL

Dodgers sign pitcher Milton

The Dodgers signed former All-Star left-hander Eric Milton to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training. The 33-year-old Milton, who spent the last 1 1/2 seasons recovering from elbow surgery, will earn a base salary of $650,000 if he makes the Dodgers’ major league roster. He can request a release if he isn’t on their 40-man roster by April 4.

Milton can make an additional $1.05 million in incentives as a starter and $150,000 as a reliever.

-- Dylan Hernandez

All-Star catcher Dioner Navarro lost to the Tampa Bay Rays in salary arbitration and will receive the team’s $2.1-million offer rather than his $2.5-million request. . . . The Texas Rangers finalized a minor league contract with reliever Brendan Donnelly. . . . Pitcher Ramon Ortiz agreed to a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants, getting an invitation to spring training after spending last season in Japan.

ETC.

Avery to play in the minors

Controversial left wing Sean Avery is resuming his hockey career with the New York Rangers’ affiliate in Hartford, hoping to return to the NHL. The Dallas Stars assigned Avery to the American Hockey League team. The Stars are the only NHL team without a primary affiliate and could have sent him to any willing team. . . . Edmonton Oilers defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky will have season-ending shoulder surgery this week. . . . Four-time Pro Bowl running Ahman Green and linebacker Morlon Greenwood were released by the Houston Texans. . . . Bernard Lagat beat European champion Mehdi Baala to win the mile at the Pas de Calais at Lievin, France. Dayron Robles, the Olympic champion in the 110-meter hurdles, finished last in his 60-meter hurdles heat.

PASSINGS

Eddie Ayers, 54; played at UCLA

Eddie Ayers, a running back and kick returner at UCLA from 1973 to 1975, died Sunday at 54, following a battle with lupus.