Pujols Says Howard Didn't Deserve to Win the NL MVP

The St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols is upset he lost out to the Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard for the National League MVP award, saying yesterday the honor should go to someone on a playoff team.

"Someone who doesn't take his team to the playoffs doesn't deserve to win the MVP," Pujols said in Spanish at a news conference organized by the Dominican Republic's sports ministry in Santo Domingo.

Pujols led the Cardinals to the NL Central title and their first World Series championship since 1982. Howard and the Phillies missed the playoffs, though they won two more regular season games than St. Louis.

The Dominican-born Pujols batted .331 with 49 home runs and 137 RBI, while Howard hit .313 with 58 homers and 149 RBI.

· SKIING: Guenther Hujara, director of the men's World Cup of Alpine skiing, said there wasn't enough sponsorship money for Colorado resorts to hold some of the races that have been scrapped by warm weather and a lack of snow in Europe.

The news came on the same day that the men's downhill and super-combined races scheduled for Dec. 9-10 in Val d'Isere, France, were scrapped because of lack of snow, bringing to three the number of World Cup events canceled so far on account of unusually warm weather.

· COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Senior quarterbacks Troy Smith of Ohio State and Brady Quinn of Notre Dame are among the five finalists for the Walter Camp Football Foundation player of the year award. Smith and Quinn were joined by West Virginia running back Steve Slaton, Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. The winner will be announced Dec. 7. . . .

Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams was named the ACC's defensive player of the year by the Associated Press.

-- From News Services