The University of Massachusetts football program announced the hiring of defensive coordinator Ed Pinkham on Saturday. Pinkham, 63, spent the last four seasons in the same position at Western Michigan, guiding the Broncos’ defense to national rankings of 15th in average points allowed per game and 26th in average yards allowed. Pinkham has also served as DC at New Hampshire, Holy Cross, Colgate, Elon, and Rutgers, where he helped groom current Patriots Devin McCourty, Logan Ryan, Duron Harmon, and Jonathan Freeny. Pinkham replaces Tom Masella, who was fired after three seasons.
OU’s Mayfield arrested
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was arrested and charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest during an altercation in Fayetteville, Ark., early Saturday, according to police. Mayfield, a Heisman Trophy finalist last year, was booked into the Washington County Jail after first walking, then running away and being tackled by an officer. A preliminary police report said an intoxicated Mayfield first told an officer he was trying to break up an altercation, but that he later ‘‘was yelling profanities and causing a scene’’ while the officer questioned another man. After Mayfield was tackled, he refused to put his arms behind his back and was eventually forced into handcuffs before being arrested, police said. Oklahoma spokesman Michael Houck said the school is aware of the incident and pursuing details.
WINTER SPORTS
Vonn falls, then pulls out
Lindsey Vonn pulled out of Sunday’s World Cup Alpine combined race, completing a miserable weekend in Crans Montana, Switzerland, for the American skier. Vonn crashed in the super-G on Saturday, although, after an anxious wait, she was able to ski down the course. The former Olympic champion also withdrew from another combined race Friday, along with overall World Cup leader Mikaela Shiffrin and their American teammate Laurenne Ross, because of dangerous conditions on the course. In posts on social media that night, Vonn said she had food poisoning, and the next morning had not fully recovered but would race. Late Saturday, Vonn wrote on Twitter: ‘‘Unfortunately after getting food poisoning and crashing today I don’t feel healthy enough to safely race tomorrow so I will not be starting.’’ Vonn returned to competition only last month after nearly a year away with knee and arm injuries. The announcement of her name Saturday as she prepared to start the super-G prompted a smattering of boos among spectators. There were loud gasps when she lost control and fell, sliding several feet before crashing into the safety netting. However, the four-time World Cup overall champion was able to ski down to the finish area, where she was greeted with loud cheers. Vonn was visibly upset and appeared to be crying as she was comforted by teammate Julia Mancuso . . . The men’s World Cup downhill race was interrupted when US skier Jared Goldberg lost control on his run and flew through the air, landing on his back before hitting a fence at high speed. He was able to stand and talk. Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud won by 0.08 seconds to extend his downhill standings lead to 33 points with one race remaining.
US finishes third in luge doubles standings
Matt Mortensen went into the final World Cup luge doubles race of the season thinking he and partner Jayson Terdiman had almost no chance of reaching the top three in the overall standings. But Mortensen and Terdiman grabbed a silver medal in the season finale in Altenberg, Germany, giving them third place in the final 2016-17 standings. It’s the best finish by an American sled in 14 years . . . Marit Bjoergen of Norway won a record 15th world championship gold medal in cross-country skiing with a victory in a 15-kilometer skiathlon in Lahti, Finland. Bjoergen, 36, has more gold medals than any other cross-country skier — male or female — in world championship history, having previously shared the record of 14 gold medals with retired Russian Yelena Valbe.
NFL
Jets release Mangold
The Jets released Nick Mangold, the longest-tenured member of the team. An 11-year pro and a leader in the locker room, Mangold, 33, has said he doesn’t plan to retire. A first-round draft pick in 2006 who has played his entire career with the Jets, Mangold is a two-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler. Releasing Mangold saves the Jets just under $9.1 million against the salary cap. Mangold missed eight games last season with an ankle injury . . . Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell officially signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the 49ers. Mitchell, 29, will be paid $5.5 million in 2017, a person familiar with the deal told the AP on condition of anonymity because yearly terms were not released.
TENNIS
Svitolina takes title in Dubai
Elina Svitolina is set to debut in the WTA’s top 10 after winning her second title of the season at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Svitolina dominated Caroline Wozniacki, 6-4, 6-2, in the final that started two hours late because of rain . . . Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated defending champion Nick Kyrgios, 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-4, at the Open 13, guaranteeing an all-French final at the indoor tournament in Marseille. Tsonga weathered 16 aces from the Australian, saved five break points, and broke early in the decider to prevail in more than two hours. Tsonga will take on Lucas Pouille, who defeated fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet, 7-5, 6-3, in the other semifinal . . . Milos Raonic and Jack Sock advanced to the Delray Beach Open championship match with straight-set victories in Florida. The top-seeded Raonic beat No. 7 seed Juan Martin del Potro, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6), in the night semifinal. Sock, seeded third, topped Donald Young, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), in an all-American semifinal . . . Dominic Thiem defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas, 6-1, 6-4, to reach the final of the clay-court Rio Open in Brazil. The No. 8-ranked Thiem will face Pablo Carreno Busta in the final. Carreno Busta beat 18-year-old Casper Ruud, 2-6, 7-5, 6-0.
OLYMPICS
WADA: Russia evidence lacking
The World Anti-Doping Agency said there ‘‘simply may not be sufficient evidence’’ to secure bans for many of the Russian athletes implicated in an alleged state-backed doping scheme. WADA investigator Richard McLaren reported in December that more than 1,000 Russian athletes may have benefited from a cover-up which allegedly included tampering with samples given by 12 medalists at the Sochi Olympics. It’s proving hard to turn McLaren’s report, much of it based on records leaked by a former Russian drug-test laboratory head, into watertight cases against individuals. WADA said the destruction of more than 1,000 samples in a Moscow laboratory and a lack of Russian co-operation mean ‘‘there simply may not be sufficient evidence required to sanction . . . some of the individual athletes identified in the report.’’
MISCELLANY
Revolution look ready
The Revolution closed out their MLS exhibition slate with a 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls in the Desert Diamond Cup consolation match in Tucson. Kelyn Rowe and Lee Nguyen scored in the second half. The Revolution open the regular season next Saturday at the Colorado Rapids . . . Free agent point guard Deron Williams cleared waivers and told the Cleveland Cavaliers he intends to sign with them. Williams, a five-time All-Star, was waived last week by Dallas. He will give the defending NBA champions a playmaker they've needed all season and one LeBron James demanded. Williams cannot sign with the Cavaliers until Monday . . . Outfielder Michael Bourn had a major setback in his attempt to make the Baltimore Orioles, breaking a finger while playing catch with a football during a team workout. Bourn, 34, will miss about four weeks. He signed a minor league contract last Monday. If added to the Orioles’ 40-man roster, Bourn will make $2 million . . . Kaz Grala, 18, of Worcester Academy became the youngest winner in a NASCAR national series race at Daytona International Speedway on Friday night, taking the Truck Series opener. It was his first victory in 10 starts in the series . . . Wilson Kipsang led a Kenyan sweep of the podium at the Tokyo Marathon. Kipsang, the London Olympic bronze medalist, had a time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, 58 seconds, a meet record. Sarah Chepchirchir of Kenya won the women’s race in 2:19.47.
Deontay Wilder proved his surgically repaired right hand is still a devastating force — once he unleashed it. Wilder (38-0, 37 knockouts) returned from right arm injuries to stop Gerald Washington in the fifth round and retain his WBC heavyweight title Saturday night in Birmingham, Ala.
