Arizona’s Olson takes a leave of absence from coaching

Arizona men’s basketball Coach Lute Olson is taking a leave of absence for unspecified personal reasons.

In a statement issued by his public relations firm Sunday, the 73-year-old Hall of Famer said the matter was not health-related.

“For the past 25 years, I have always given 110% to the team and this job,” Olson said. “In light of this personal matter, I feel it is in the best interest of the team and the University of Arizona to take a leave of absence.”

Olson said he wanted to “reassure everyone that this isn’t a health scare, but rather a personal matter that needs my undivided attention.”

The specific reason was not given.

Assistant coach Kevin O’Neill will assume Olson’s duties.

“Lute will be back coaching our team shortly,” O’Neill said before 17th-ranked Arizona beat Concordia, 68-50, in an exhibition game Sunday at Tucson.

Olson took an extended leave of absence in 2001 when his wife Bobbie was terminally ill with cancer. He eventually returned and led that Arizona team to the Final Four. Olson has since remarried.

TENNIS

Davenport wins title in straight sets

Lindsay Davenport won her second title in three events since returning from the birth of her first child, beating third-seeded Julia Vakulenko, 6-4, 6-1, in the Bell Challenge at Quebec City.

“I did not expect to have such a successful return,” Davenport said.

David Nalbandian beat Rafael Nadal, 6-4, 6-0, to win the Paris Masters and clinch his second consecutive Masters title after winning in Madrid last month.

Nalbandian beat the world’s two top players on his way to the title, having knocked out top-ranked Roger Federer in the third round.

The win means Nalbandian is first alternate for the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai, which features the top eight players in the ATP race.

GOLF

Ames wins final PGA Tour event of the year

Stephen Ames wanted to escape the chill of Calgary, Canada, for the final PGA Tour event, a decision that paid off when he closed with a four-under 68 for a one-shot victory in the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

He finished at 17-under 271, the highest winning score at Disney since Tiger Woods won with the same score in 1999.

Ames emerged from a typically crowded leaderboard at Disney with three birdies in a row on the back nine of the Magnolia Course, then saved par from a bunker to avoid a playoff with Tim Clark.

Clark, who has the most career earnings of anyone without a PGA Tour victory, birdied six of his final 10 holes for a 66.

The consolation prize went to Kevin Stadler, who tied for 15th to move into the top 125 and keep his card for next year. Stadler finished at No. 124, and Matthias Gronberg locked up the final spot with a tie for 37th.

Richard Johnson won the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Lakeside, Calif., to lead the 25 qualifiers for the 2008 PGA Tour, shooting a four-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over Michael Letzig.

Johnson earned $139,500 for his second victory of the year to jump from sixth to first on the money list with $445,421, officially securing a spot next year on the PGA Tour along with the other top 25 finishers on the developmental tour.

Momoko Ueda became the first Japanese player to win the Mizuno Classic in nine years, closing with a five-under 66 at Shima, Japan, for a two-stroke victory over Reilley Rankin and Maria Hjorth.

Ueda finished at 13-under 203 and earned $210,000 for her first LPGA Tour victory.

RUNNING

Radcliffe, Lel win in New York marathon

Paula Radcliffe outlasted Gete Wami to win the New York City Marathon, her first marathon in two years after giving birth in January.

Martin Lel of Kenya won the men’s title, making his kick in the final mile to edge Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco in 2 hours 9 minutes 4 seconds. Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa finished third.

Radcliffe, the world-record holder, ran almost the entire race with Wami on her heels before pulling away over the last mile. She finished in 2:23:09.

It’s her second New York City Marathon title, having won in 2004 after dropping out of the Athens Olympics marathon.

PASSINGS

Ratterman, 80, was Notre Dame quarterback

George Ratterman, a former quarterback for Notre Dame and the Cleveland Browns, died Saturday of complications from Alzheimer’s disease at Centennial, Colo. He was 80. Story, Section B.