Skating champion Galindo returns with ceramic hips

Rudy Galindo is returning to the ice — on two ceramic hips.

The 1996 U.S. figure-skating champion, one of the most popular performers in the professional ranks, has been sidelined since undergoing two hip-replacement operations last year.

Today in New York, he will make a public skating appearance at the Rockefeller Center rink on NBC's "Today."

And April 3, he will fulfill his promise to "return to the ice stronger and better than I've ever been" as part of the Champions on Ice tour.

Galindo, who is HIV positive, was diagnosed almost two years ago with avascular necrosis (AVN), a degenerative disease affecting both hips. Bo Jackson was forced to retire from the NFL because of the disease, but 49ers running back Garrison Hearst returned to pro football after battling AVN in his ankle.

Galindo, 34, received his new right-hip joint in August. Six weeks later, he got the left hip. Then came intense training.

Tennis

Sixth-seeded James Blake of Tampa, Fla., lost to big-serving Joachim Johansson for the second time in an eight-day span, falling 6-3, 6-3 at the Kroger St. Jude tournament in Memphis, Tenn. The Swede beat Blake in San Jose, Calif., on Feb. 12.

Top-seeded Andy Roddick advanced to the quarterfinals, overpowering Sebastien De Chaunac 6-3, 6-3.

• Mariano Zabaleta beat Oscar Hernandez 6-1, 6-4 to give Argentina three quarterfinalists at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires. He joins top-seeded Guillermo Coria and 19-year-old Juan Monaco in the quarters.

• Top-seeded Roger Federer meets Tim Henman today in the quarterfinals of the ABN Amro in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Federer defeated Andrei Pavel 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 in the second round. Fifth-seeded Henman beat Tomas Cakl 6-2, 6-4.

• Top-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne withdrew from the Diamond Games in Antwerp, Belgium, because she is ill.

Boxing

An Indonesian boxer, 23-year-old Jack Ryan, died four days after being knocked out during a bout Sunday.

Eight Indonesian boxers have died from injuries since 2001

Soccer

French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, 31, has agreed to a contract extension with Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid that will keep the reigning world player of the year with the team until 2007.

• Forward Mike Magee of the New York-New Jersey MetroStars of Major League Soccer had a hernia operation and will be sidelined up to two months. Magee, 19, scored seven goals last season.

Track and field

Jerome Young's drug case will go to arbitration after the sport's world governing body decided U.S. track officials were wrong to clear the American sprinter.

Nick Davies, spokesman for the International Association of Athletics Federations, said the organization reviewed documents of the case and found USA Track & Field reached an "erroneous verdict" in clearing Young's positive test in 1999.

If arbitrators find Young should have been ineligible for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the IAAF and International Olympic Committee will consider whether to strip Young and relay teammates of the 1,600-meter gold. The other members of the relay team were Michael Johnson, Alvin Harrison, Calvin Harrison, Antonio Pettigrew and Angelo Taylor.

College athletics

Rance Pugmire, Utah State athletic director, is on administrative leave after his arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, the university said.

The leave, which could last up to 60 days pending the outcome of the DUI charge, was a mutual decision between Pugmire and university president Kermit Hall, spokesman John DeVilbiss said.

Fred Hunsaker will be acting director in Pugmire's absence.

Rowing

Xeno Mueller, 31, a single sculler who won Olympic gold for Switzerland in 1996, plans to apply for U.S. citizenship in order to compete in this year's Athens Olympics as an American.

Race walking

Albert Heppner, 29, who failed Sunday to earn a spot on the Olympic team, was found dead near a freeway bridge east of San Diego. The California Highway Patrol said the death was a suspected suicide.

Media

Max Kellerman, 30, a moderator and boxing analyst on ESPN the last five years, was hired by Fox Sports Net to host a weeknight talk show scheduled to begin in April.

Kellerman left ESPN at the end of January after hosting the weekday show "Around the Horn" since 2002.

— Times news services