USC tailback mending from crushed throat

LOS ANGELES — Stafon Johnson already can speak in a soft, raspy voice less than three months after a weight bar crushed the Southern California tailback's throat.

Johnson briefly demonstrated his remarkable recovery from a potentially fatal weight room accident Saturday before the No. 11 Trojans' 55-21 loss to Stanford. Repeating the last words spoken to him by his grandfather, Johnson said, "God has a plan. Run, Stafon, run."

Johnson also has regained the ability to swallow and eat solid food, an improbably quick achievement after several operations on his neck.

LOCK HAVEN — Three members of the Slippery Rock University women's soccer team — forward Alison Hindley and defenders Alexis Chiani and Melisa Sharek — were named to the second team All-PSAC-West squad.Hindley was second on the team in scoring with seven goals and four assists for 18 points. Chiani and Sharek were members of a defense that allowed just 15 goals in 18 games.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Niagara County (N.Y.) defeated Butler County Community College 19-25, 25-14, 25-11, 25-22 in the NJCAA Division III Women's Volleyball National Championship Saturday.With the loss, the Pioneers (18-12) finished fifth in the national tournament.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Michelle Wie earned her first win on the LPGA Tour, closing with a 3-under 69 to finish two strokes ahead of Paula Creamer in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.Wie's solid final round Sunday left her at 13-under 275 after starting the day at the Guadalajara Country Club tied for the lead with Cristie Kerr at 10 under. Morgan Pressel (67), Jiyai Shin (71) and Kerr (72) were three back.The 20-year-old Wie qualified for a USGA event at age 10 and played an LPGA event when she was 12. .

PITTSBURGH — Mean Joe Greene already had his four Super Bowl rings. Now, 30 years later, he also has his CLIO for one of TV's most famous commercials.Greene earned the award, given annually for excellence in advertising, for his role in the 1979 commercial in which he flipped his game jersey to a young fan who handed him a cold Coke as the weary Steelers' lineman limped to the locker room following a game.Greene was not available to receive the award at the time it was presented.