Off the wire

— ATHLETICS Douglas honored by AP

Gymnast Gabby Douglas was selected The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, edging swimmer Missy Franklin in a vote by U.S. editors and news directors that was announced Friday. “I didn’t realize how much of an impact I made,” said Douglas, who turns 17 Dec. 31. “My mom and everyone said,‘You really won’t know the full impact until you’re 30 or 40 years old.’ But it’s starting to sink in.” In a year filled with standout performances by female athletes, those of the gymnast shined brightest. Douglas received 48 of 157 votes, seven more than Franklin, who won four gold medals and a bronze in London. Serena Williams, who won Wimbledon and the U.S. Open two years after her career was nearly derailed by a series of health problems, was third (24). Britney Griner, who led Baylor to a 40-0 record and the NCAA title, and skier Lindsey Vonn each got 18 votes. Sprinter Allyson Felix, who won three gold medals in London, and Carli Lloyd, who scored both U.S. goals in the Americans’ 2-1 victory over Japan in the gold-medal game, also received votes. Douglas is the fourth gymnast to win one of the AP’s annual awards, which began in 1931, and first since Mary Lou Retton in 1984. She also finished 15th in voting for the AP sports story of the year.

FOOTBALL

49ers’ Smith questionable

San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois has been preparing all week to start in place of All-Pro Justin Smith on the NFL’s second ranked defense. The 49ers remain uncertain whether that will actually happen Sunday night in their NFC West showdown against the Seattle Seahawks. Smith’s availability is in question after he missed practice Friday for the third consecutive day because of an elbow injury, placing his streak of 185 consecutive starts in jeopardy. The 49ers listed Smith as doubtful on an injury report they submitted to the NFL office Friday morning. He was upgraded to questionable later in the day, even though he didn’t participate in the team’s afternoon session. Coach Jim Harbaugh, who indicated earlier in the week he expected Smith to play against the Seahawks, didn’t elaborate on Smith’s status other than to say “he’s done quite a bit, rehab, strengthening, conditioning.” Smith has the third-longest active starting streak in the NFL behind Tampa Bay’s Ronde Barber (213 consecutive starts) and Washington’s London Fletcher (197). A 12-year veteran, Smith hasn’t missed a start since early in his rookie season with Cincinnati. Jean Francois ended up playing 48 of San Francisco’s 92 defensive plays last week in a 41-34 victory over New England. Smith left that game early in the third quarter, got his elbow taped in the locker room and returned to the San Francisco sideline. But he never went back in the game.

Stanford defensive lineman Terrence Stephens has been declared ineligible for the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin because of a secondary violation of NCAA rules related to his rental of off-campus housing. The school didn’t release any further details about the decision Friday. The senior nose tackle missed victories in the regular-season finale and the Pacific-12 Championship Game against UCLA for what Cardinal Coach David Shaw had called a “personal problem.” Asked after Friday’s practice how the issue surfaced, Shaw said it’s “not important.” He also said any assumption Stephens was getting a discount on rent is “not necessarily” accurate.When pressed about specifics, he declined to elaborate. The 6-2, 305-pound Stephens has been one of Stanford’s most vocal leaders. He anchors the defensive line’s run package, often clogging the middle to free up teammates to fill the gaps - and not usually his own statistics. Stephens has 10 tackles, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble this season. He also forced the clinching fumble by Curtis McNeal in Stanford’s 56-48 victory in triple overtime at Southern California last year. Stephens is scheduled to earn his psychology degree in the spring. He also will participate in Stanford’s pro day workouts and any all-star games he is invited to, Shaw said.

BASEBALL Rangers sign Pierzynski

Free agent catcher A.J. Pierzynski has passed a physical, clearing the way for a one year deal with the Texas Rangers. A person familiar with the deal said Pierzynski had a physical Friday and everything was OK. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Rangers had not added Pierzynski to their 40-man roster. With the Major League Baseball office closed for Christmas, the roster move won’t be made until at least next week. The Rangers don’t have an open spot on their 40-man roster after claiming left-handed reliever Jeff Beliveau on waivers from the Chicago Cubs earlier in the day. The deal for Pierzynski comes after the Rangers lost catcher Mike Napoli in free agency. Pierzynski, who turns 36 later this month, hit .278 with a career-high 27 home runs and 77 RBI, matching a career best, in 135 games for the Chicago White Sox last season. Still, Pierzynski was left off the AL All-Star roster by Rangers Manager Ron Washington when the final selections were made last summer. Washington chose Minnesota’s Joe Mauer for the final catcher’s spot. At the time, Washington said he considered Pierzynski “a winning player” and that he felt “really bad” about him not have room for him on the All-Star roster. Pierzynski’s response when he was snubbed was, “If he felt that bad, he would have put me on the team. ... He had an opportunity to do it. He didn’t do it.” Now Pierzynski will have a chance to be a starter for the Rangers, who need catching after Napoli left. They also need some left-handed power after losing All-Star slugger Josh Hamilton in free agency to the Los Angeles Angels last week. Pierzynski is a .284 career hitter in 1,629 games with the White Sox (2005-2012),San Francisco (2004) and Minnesota (1998-2003). He was part of a World Series championship team with the White Sox in 2005. Texas acquired catcher Geovany Soto in a trade from the Chicago Cubs at the end of July, and he hit .196 with 5 home runs and 25 RBI in 47 games last season as Napoli’s primary backup. Pierzynski also could play some games as the designated hitter. Pierzynski caught 121 games last season.

HOCKEY Union to dissolve?

NHL players are a step closer to dissolving their union. NHL Players’ Association members voted this week to give the union’s executive board the power to file a “disclaimer of interest” until Jan. 2, The Canadian Press said Friday. The news agency, citing an unidentified source, said the vote drew more than the two-thirds of the required support. The union declined comment, calling it an internal matter. If the executive board files the disclaimer, the union would dissolve and become a trade association. That would allow players to file antitrust lawsuits against the NHL. Negotiations between the league and union have been at a standstill since talks ended Dec. 6. No bargaining is scheduled, and time is running short to save the season. All games through Jan. 14 have been canceled, more than half the season. The New Year’s Day Winter Classic and All-Star game already are victims of the lockout. A new labor agreement would need to be in place by about that time to salvage a 48-game schedule, the minimum in Commissioner Gary Bettman’s opinion for the season to proceed. The NHL is already the only North American professional sports league to cancel a season because of a labor dispute, losing the 2004-2005 campaign to a lockout. The NHLPA now appears set to follow the lead set by NFL and NBA players. Both dissolved their unions during lockouts last year. The legality of the lockout already is set to be tried in U.S. federal court after the NHL filed a class-action lawsuit last week against the NHLPA. The NHL also submitted an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board. The NBA’s labor dispute ended less than two weeks after the union was disbanded.

Sports, Pages 22 on 12/22/2012

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