Sports briefs

Veteran, novice land ski jumping berths

The U.S. ski jumping team will go to Vancouver with an Olympic veteran making a comeback and a Winter Games novice enjoying a breakout season.

Anders Johnson, 20, who jumped in Torino at age 16 and is coming off a knee injury, is joined by 21-year-old Nick Alexander of Lebanon, N.H., and Peter Frenette, 19, of Lake Placid, N.Y.

Johnson tore up a knee last summer and qualified at the last moment for his second Olympic Games.

Alexander, known as "Zander," is the hot, new American jumper on the world circuit this year after following up his surprising successes last year with a solid, steady season.

Frenette is another up-and-coming jumper who could help persuade the U.S. Ski team to renew its funding of the classic winter sport that has had no financial support from the governing body following the retirements of Alan Alborn and Clint Jones after the 2006 Games.

Alexander broke into the world jumping scene this season, qualifying for six World Cup events. The 2010 U.S. champion was the top American in the International Ski Federation's Continental Cup last season and is the U.S. leader this year after strong results this month in Germany.

Snow's trucked in for Vancouver events

VANCOUVER — Olympic organizers say they will truck in snow for the freestyle skiing and snowboarding events at Cypress Mountain.

The forecast for the week ahead suggests there will be no new snow for the mountain on Vancouver's north shore, nor will it get cold enough to make any, the organizers said Wednesday after their final board meeting before next month's Olympic Games.

Ethier reaches 2-year deal with Dodgers

LOS ANGELES — Outfielder Andre Ethier has agreed to a $15.25 million, two-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ethier gets a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $5.5 million this year and $9.25 million in 2011.

In other MLB news, left-handed pitcher Doug Davis and the Brewers are close to finishing a $5.25 million, one-year contract to bring the former starter back to Milwaukee.

Lesnar ready to resume training again

Brock Lesnar is ready to resume training to defend his UFC heavyweight title after a serious intestinal problem derailed his career and endangered his life.

Lesnar hasn't been in the octagon since UFC 100 last July, when he beat Frank Mir in the biggest event in mixed martial arts history. He struggled through several months of pain and confusion with an illness eventually diagnosed as diverticulitis.

UFC president Dana White expects Lesnar to return this summer, likely fighting the winner of Mir's March 27 bout against Shane Carwin in Newark, N.J.

— Associated Press