Regional scene: Former CSU athlete Smith tears ACL

Rocky Mountain News

Published August 8, 2008 at 11:58 p.m.

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Philadelphia 76ers center Jason Smith, a Platte Valley High School graduate and former Colorado State athlete, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during an NBA-approved camp in Las Vegas.

Sixers president Ed Stefanski said there was no contact when Smith was hurt Wednesday.

"Jason is resilient, and he'll receive the best treatment available," Stefanski said Friday.

Smith averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds as a rookie. He averaged 18.6 points and 8.0 rebounds in five games in the Las Vegas summer league.

Smith's agent, Marc Bartelstein, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the Kersey resident planted his left leg while going up for a layup and called the injury "just one of those freak things."

Bartelstein said Smith will have surgery to repair the ACL and most likely will miss most of the 2008-09 season.

The 76ers said they would not put a timetable on his return.

"It's really unfortunate," Bartelstein told the Inquirer. "But he's a hard worker. He's going to get this taken care of and be back to 100 percent."

VONN SELECTED Vail resident Lindsay Vonn leads six Coloradans named to the U.S. Alpine Ski Team for the 2008-09 season.

Earlier this year, Vonn became the first U.S. woman to win the World Cup overall title since Tamara McKinney 25 years ago.

With five downhill wins, Vonn also captured the World Cup downhill title.

Vail residents Sarah Schleper and Julia Littman, as well as Jackson Hole, Wyo., resident Resi Stiegler, were named to the various U.S. women's teams.

Steamboat Springs resident Alice McKennis was named to the U.S. development team, and Steamboat Springs resident Caroline Lalive was named as a reserve.

Longmont skier Will Gregorak and Aspen resident Wiley Maple were also named to the men's development team.

* Copper Mountain resort will serve as the first stop on the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix circuit this winter, hosting the competition Dec. 12-13.

"I am really looking forward to the Grand Prix being at my home mountain," said Minturn resident Clair Bidez. "I know that they're going to do a really good job with it, and I can't wait to be there with my friends and family watching."

SKY SOX RALLY Mike McCoy's ninth-inning RBI single lifted the Colorado Springs Sky Sox to a 4-3 win Friday against the Portland Beavers in a Pacific Coast League game at Security Service Field.

GOOD WORKS NOMINEES Air Force senior tight end Travis Dekker and Northern Colorado safety Mile Van Portfliet, a Regis Jesuit High School graduate, have been nominated for the Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team for charitable and community-service work.

LIGHTNING STRIKES The Colorado Lightning will play its inaugural season this fall as a member of the Professional Arena Soccer League, with eight home games set for the Budweiser Event Center in Loveland.

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