IN BRIEF

Capitals fire Hanlon, bring in AHL coach

Glen Hanlon was fired as coach of the NHL-worst Washington Capitals on Thursday, with the team off to its slowest start in 26 years — 6-14-1, 13 points.

Hanlon, in his fourth season at the helm, was told of the decision a day after loud boos and chants of “Fire Hanlon!” echoed through the arena during a 5-1 home loss to the Atlanta Thrashers, Washington’s fifth consecutive defeat.

He will be replaced on an interim basis by Bruce Boudreau, the coach of the Hershey Bears, Washington’s American Hockey League affiliate.

Also: Tom Johnson, the Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman who coached the Boston Bruins to their last Stanley Cup title in 1972, has died. He was 79.

The Bruins said Johnson died Wednesday at his Falmouth, Mass., home. The team didn’t disclose the cause of death.

The former Montreal and Boston defenseman was a player, coach and executive with the Bruins for more than three decades until he retired in 1998.

GOLF

Weekley, Slocum doing just fine in World Cup

Maybe the United States doesn’t need Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to win the World Cup of Golf in Shenzhen, China. Two players out of the same high school in the Florida Panhandle are doing just fine.

That would be Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum.

They combined for an 11-under 61 in best-ball play to take a one-stroke lead over Germany’s Alex Cejka and Martin Kaymer. Finland, Wales, Scotland, South Africa, Thailand and England were two shots back.

Weekley turned it on with six birdies and an eagle. Ranked No. 43 in the world, Weekley was picked to represent the United States in the 28-team event after 13 other higher-ranked Americans turned down the invitation. In turn, he picked the 70th-ranked Slocum, his friend from Milton High School at the western tip of the Florida Panhandle.

MISCELLANEOUS

IAAF to discuss erasing Jones’ track results

The IAAF will meet today to discuss Marion Jones’ doping case, including whether to officially erase her Olympic and world championship results. Jones’ relay teammates also could lose their medals.

Jones retired in October after admitting that she took the designer steroid “the clear” from September 2000 to July 2001. She won gold medals in the 100, 200 and 1,600-meter relay at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as bronzes in the 400 relay and long jump.

Jones has returned her five Olympic medals and agreed to forfeit all results dating to Sept. 1, 2000.

But the International Association of Athletics Federation and International Olympic Committee still must change the record books and revise the medals.

USA Track & Field has recommended a two-year ban for Jones, even though she has retired.

Also: Roger Federer overcame Pete Sampras’ stubborn resistance to beat the retired legend 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5) in their second Asian exhibition match in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The top-ranked Swiss star won their last encounter 6-4, 6-3 in South Korea on Tuesday, but the latest clash in Malaysia took nearly 90 minutes and proved a bit more difficult.

Their age difference became the decisive factor — at 26, Federer was never in danger of losing against an opponent a decade older who retired from competitive tennis five years ago.

Nevertheless, Sampras, who has won a record 14 Grand Slams, showcased his big serves and hit ferocious forehand returns down the line — the hallmarks of his 1990s heyday.