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Baseball Rumors & Notes

The Yankees' brass is taking the David Wells book situation seriously. "I take it seriously because we don't want to be embarrassed," GM Brian Cashman said of Wells writing he was half-drunk when he threw a perfect game in 1998, wrote about teammates Mike Mussina and Roger Clemens, and said that 40 percent of baseball players used steroids and amphetamines. "We don't run pitchers out there drunk. The Yankees are hallowed ground and everybody better tread lightly. You are damn right I will read the book and have an opinion."

Could Alex Rodriguez be traded today by the Rangers, $252 million contract and all? "That has never been explored by us, nor will it be explored, but Scott Boras tells me four teams are ready and willing to take Alex in a second and give up good talent in return," Rangers owner Tom Hicks said.

Bruce Bochy hasn't managed a team without Trevor Hoffman as his closer since 1992. With Hoffman out until at least July, the Padres are exploring trades, with Colorado's Todd Jones and Cincinnati's Scott Sullivan among the options

The Yankees seem confident they will be able to deal lefty Sterling Hitchcock before opening day, but one general manager said he did not expect a flurry of spring trades because of the number of players in camps with minor-league deals.

Miguel Tejada, a free agent next winter, said a recent report that he wanted an eight- to 10-year deal to stay in Oakland was incorrect. "I just want to be on one team for a long time. I think that place is going to be Oakland," Tejada told Oakland reporters.

Though Aaron Sele is expected to open the season on the disabled list, the Anaheim Angels are resisting free agent Chuck Finley's overtures. Finley, 40, is the Angels' all-time victory leader, but general manager Bill Stoneman doesn't want to send a first-round draft pick to the St. Louis Cardinals as compensation.

Major League Baseball is testing for steroids this season for the first time, although the goal is to conduct a "survey," not identify offenders. If more than 5% of players test positive the testing will become permanent and players who are caught will eventually be disciplined. Several major stars whose teammates know they use steroids have reported to camp with noticeably smaller frames. They are biding their time, hoping to skew the survey before returning to their regimens.

Orioles fans can stop dreaming. The Texas Rangers wouldn't even consider sending minor-league phenom Mark Teixeira home to play for the Orioles.

Florida Owner Jeffrey Loria isn't backing down on his belief that the Marlins are ready to contend after a whirlwind of trades and free agent signings. ''I expect the team to contend, plain and simple,'' Loria said Saturday as he checked out spring training for the first time. ``I think everybody in the clubhouse has the same expectations. Set your sights high. That's how you get there.''

Chuck Knoblauch, still without a big-league job, is apparently leaning toward retirement. If he does call it quits, it would culminate a stunning descent for Knoblauch, who is only 34 and just four years removed from scoring 120 runs for the 1999 Yankees.

Braves star Chipper Jones says he is a new man: "I realized I may have been taking this game too seriously and not enjoying it as much as I could," Jones said. "I decided I'm going to laugh more, hang around with my teammates more. "

Don Fehr, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, said Feb. 22 that the union has not changed its stance on replacement players. One significant perk of being in the union is that players collect licensing revenue. Rick Reed misses out on that money. And so does Anaheim reliever Brendan Donnelly. Donnelly, who was in the 1995 Reds camp with Reed, tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings in the World Series. An Angels World Series T-shirt with names of the Anaheim players has been a big seller. Donnelly's name doesn't appear on the shirt -- and he gets no licensing money -- because he's not in the union.

Royals coach Tom Gamboa rarely thinks about that night last September when two fans stormed the field and attacked him in the first-base coaching box at Chicago's Comiskey Park. Nor does he find himself looking over his shoulder as he goes about his daily duties. Gamboa and the rest of the Royals watched a tape of the incident Saturday morning as part of a presentation by Major League Baseball's security personnel. The attack on Gamboa helped prompt a decision to station security personnel on the field this season at all 30 stadiums.

Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle is proving to be a quote machine. "There's no superstar in heaven," he said. "I don't know why we hand out accolades here. Everybody's going to be treated the same."

Mike Piazza recently angered some US resident French and German citizens by calling for a boycott of products from their homelands because of their governments' lack of full support for President Bush's demands on Iraq and Saddam Hussein. Piazza, who drives a very German BMW, claimed he was kidding. "I can't address every single social issue there is," Piazza said. "I'm starting to feel like the O'Reilly Factor. But I will say this: If loving your country and supporting your President is a crime, I'm guilty as charged."

The most talked-about player in the Reds' camp (after Junior Griffey, of course) is third baseman Brandon Larson, the former No. 1 draft pick from LSU who, a year ago, was left off the 40-man roster (and not claimed by anyone). Injuries curtailed Larson's career, but last year he hit .340 with 25 homers in 80 games at Triple-A. Said Reds infield coach Tim Foli: "Baseball people hate to admit they're wrong about anyone, but we were wrong about him."

The Cubs finally might be nearing a contract resolution with former Rutgers University pitcher Bobby Brownlie, their first-round pick in the amateur draft last June.

"You got a Mercedes. A Lexus. A Hummer. A doggone Tajoe and a Dodge Intrepid. And they steal the Intrepid." - Marlins pitcher Toby Borland on having his car stolen from the parking lot of the team hotel before the first day of workouts.

Different teams try different things in spring training to gain an advantage. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, who has never met an edge he didn't like, took advantage of an opportunity to hear retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf speak one morning.

The Rockies have a mental skills coach. His name is Ronn Svetich, and he has worked with the club for four years attempting to get each player to perform at his peak.

The Bombers press guide is out. As usual, it contains pictures of the team's radio voices, as well as the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network TV broadcasters. Instead of holding microphones with the YES logo, Jim Kaat, Ken Singleton, Michael Kay and Suzyn (Georgie Girl) Waldman are clutching mikes with the MSG Network logo. Ooops! When George Steinbrenner was made aware of the gaffe he went into wig mode.

According to sources, former Phillie Rico Brogna has been hired as an analyst on the Phillies postgame show on Comcast SportsNet. An official announcement is expected soon. John Marzano will return as an analyst.

NFL Rumors & Notes

Michael Strahan on the left side. Hugh Douglas on the right. "It's pick your poison," one head coach said. One bold move by the Giants not only closes the gap on the Eagles, but makes them the favorites in the NFC East. It gives them an explosive pass rush and weakens and demoralizes the Eagles.

Nothing is imminent, but the agent for former San Diego Chargers strong safety Rodney Harrison said he has been in contact with the Raiders. Signing Harrison would accomplish the Raiders' seemingly annual task of taking in a key player from one of their biggest rivals.

The Falcons put on their show Saturday for Peerless Price. The next step is waiting to see if Price would like an encore. Price, the free agent wide receiver from the Buffalo Bills, and agent Tim McGee visited the Falcons facility Saturday afternoon for lunch, a tour of the complex and a meeting with coaches. Price, who lives in the offseason in Atlanta, was to have dinner with owner Arthur Blank in the evening and also meet a handful of Falcons players.

Fullback Richie Anderson and tackle Ryan Young, both of whom played under Bill Parcells when he coached the New York Jets, are expected to make free-agent visits to the Cowboys this week, likely as early as Monday.

According to two sources at the scouting combine in Indianapolis last week, Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll declined an offer to become head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Said one of Carroll's former assistants, ''It would be a dream job for him if he had complete control. What it would have been is Pete stepping into the same situation he stepped into in New England, where he had no power or control.

If T Wayne Gandy winds up with New Orleans, which has offered him the most money, the Dolphins could talk to the Saints about left tackle Kyle Turley.

Free-agent linebacker Shawn Barber was scheduled to finish his meeting with the Chiefs today and head for St. Louis and a visit with the Rams. Will the Chiefs let him leave without a signed contract? "We might try (to sign Barber today) but I don't know if we're going to get anything done," coach Dick Vermeil said. "I'm not optimistic. Another free-agent linebacker, New Orleans' Charlie Clemons, is due at Arrowhead Stadium this week, probably either Wednesday or Thursday.

Jon Gruden's penchant for veterans makes Emmitt Smith an enticing possibility but he likely would share carries with Pittman and Alstott. He probably would be featured more in Carolina, a team reported to have interested in the game's all-time leading rusher.

Orlando Ruff, a free agent from the San Diego Chargers, could be the Eagles' starting middle linebacker next season. Ruff's is not exactly a household name. But the Eagles see the 26-year-old as an overlooked gem who could solidify the inside-linebacker position after a season of mixing and matching Levon Kirkland and Barry Gardner.

Late in the week, the Patriots were on the verge of signing New York Jets free agent fullback Richie Anderson to a four-year deal, when Cowboys coach Bill Parcells threw a monkey wrench into the works by calling Anderson.

The Rams turn their attention to free-agent corners Ashley Ambrose (Atlanta) and Denard Walker (Denver). Both are scheduled to visit St. Louis this week. Zygmunt confirmed that the Rams plan to bring in punter Sean Landeta (Philadelphia) for a visit, although no date has been set.

It is believed Miami, Atlanta, New England and Washington all made overtures for Ike Hilliard, with the heaviest pitch apparently coming from the Redskins - and Hilliard's former college coach Steve Spurrier - who spent the first 24 hours of free agency throwing a lot of money around.

The Bears have visits planned with quarterbacks Jake Plummer and Kordell Stewart, and Jerry Angelo confirmed that he has talked with the Broncos about a trade for Brian Griese. Jerry Angelo also said he would listen if the Washington Redskins called to talk about a trade for cornerback Fred Smoot and a draft choice for the right to move up in the draft.

Two safeties, including Super Bowl XXXVII MVP Dexter Jackson of Tampa Bay, apparently have caught the eye of the Indianapolis Colts. Jackson and Cory Hall, a starting safety with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2002, are expected to meet with the Colts this week. It's believed the Colts also have an interest in Tampa Bay linebacker Shelton Quarles, who, like Jackson, played for Tony Dungy when he was the Bucs' coach.

One of the more intriguing players in the upcoming draft is little Huggy Bear. Running back Justin Fargas, the son of Antonio Fargas, who played the role of Huggy Bear on the TV show ``Starsky and Hutch,'' was considered a marginal first-day (somewhere in round three) player going into the combine. A solid second half of the season with Southern Cal seemed to make up for some of the injury problems that marked his early college career.

It seems like anybody can be the starting quarterback of the Ravens except the guy who opened the 2002 season as the starter. Jeff Blake has the inside track, even though his contract demand of $3 million in incentives is an absolute joke. Kordell Stewart has entered his name, but he is the No. 2 choice behind Blake. There even has been speculation that the Ravens will make New Orleans Saints backup Jake Delhomme the starter if they can't sign Blake or Stewart. Jake Delhomme? Anybody, it seems, but Chris Redman.

Saturday, the Texans entertained safety Cory Hall, who has spent his entire four-year career with Cincinnati. Hall can play both safety positions, although the Texans likely would view him as a free safety if they can re-sign free-agent strong safety Eric Brown, who is set to visit Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

Kansas State CB Terence Newman didn't shy away from running the 40 at the combine, with good reason. He ran a blistering 4.32 seconds, further solidifying his place as a Top 5 pick. Bill Parcells would love to snare him in the fifth slot. Dallas hasn't had a corner like Newman since Deion Sanders.

NFL sources said the Redskins remained interested in wide receivers Raghib "Rocket" Ismail and Ike Hilliard, returner Jermaine Lewis and safeties Dexter Jackson and Lee Flowers.

Lions coach Steve Mariucci on Dre Bly: "We want to be young. We want to be fast. And we want to be skillful." The Lions are expected to entertain Rosevelt Colvin, a strong-side linebacker from Chicago, on Monday.

Despite still being without representation after dismissing his agents Friday, Vonnie Holliday has a visit set up with the Arizona Cardinals on Monday, a team official indicated. The Cardinals ranked last in the NFL last season in sacks with 21 and are looking for someone who can beef up their pass rush immediately. Billy Lyon has a visit scheduled with the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday.

Ideally, the Texans will sign a free agent outside linebacker so they won't have to make the position a priority in next month's draft, which would allow them to use their No. 1 pick on an offensive prospect such as Miami receiver Andre Johnson or Utah tackle Jordan Gross. If the Texans can't sign a suitable replacement for Posey, expect Arizona State defensive end Terrell Suggs, the best pass rusher in the draft, to get their undivided attention.

The Vikings will try to secure at least two of four cornerbacks: Tory James, cut by Oakland in a salary-cap move last week, will arrive in the Twin Cities tonight for a visit. Denard Walker, cut by Denver. Dexter McCleon, cut by St. Louis. Corey Fuller, who played for the Vikings from 1995-98, also is talking about returning.

The Steelers will continue the parade of safeties into Pittsburgh on Wednesday when they are scheduled to meet with Houston Texans strong safety Eric Brown. The team has scheduled visits with safeties Dexter Jackson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cory Hall of the Cincinnati Bengals for the early part of this week. Brown's trip also will be preceded by a visit from Detroit Lions backup outside linebacker and special teams ace Clint Kriewaldt.

The agent for receiver-returner Jermaine Lewis said he has had preliminary discussions with the Packers about his client, but he didn't know how deep their interest goes.

Former Bears QB Jim McMahon on who the next Bears QB should be: "I don't really think about it much, don't really care," McMahon said. He does have an opinion, though, the same one he had shortly after his arrival in 1982. "Get rid of the owner and they'll be fine," McMahon said. "Until that changes, don't look for the Bears to change. I was right 20 years ago when I said it."

Lomas Brown, who won his first Super Bowl ring with as a backup offensive tackle for the Buccaneers, wants to return to Tampa Bay for a 19th season. "I really think he does," Coach Jon Gruden said at last week's combine workouts. "I'd like Lomas back as a player, coach or adviser."

The Bengals made their first free agent signing on Saturday morning, landing former Redskins defensive end Carl Powell to a two-year contract. Powell, 29, who played for Bengals coach Marvin Lewis last season in Washington, is expected to challenge for the starting job at left defensive end.

Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells met for the first time last week with his new team. After 50 minutes, the two sides reached an understanding. "He gave us the opportunity [to ask questions]," said running back Troy Hambrick, "but there were no questions. It was 'enough said.' "

NBA Rumors & Notes

Saying he has "unfinished business" to attend to, Tyrone Hill said last night that he planned to join the 76ers as soon as possible. The 12-year NBA veteran and former Sixers forward was released by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. He should clear waivers tomorrow and be eligible to join the Sixers soon after that.

The Lakers are expected to make an offseason run at impending unrestricted free agent Scottie Pippen, who said reuniting with coach Phil Jackson is his "next option" if he does not re-sign with Portland.

Gary Payton won't come out and say it, but he's not exactly long for Milwaukee. Of course, his options are limited, because he wants to go West (he has homes in Oakland, Seattle and Las Vegas), and he'll be 35 when the free-agent market opens. That leaves only a few possibilities. One is Portland, where he would have to settle for the mid-level exception. But he also jokes about signing up as a Lakers mercenary.

The Lakers, Knicks, Nets and Grizzlies reportedly have expressed interest in Stanley Roberts.

There's a growing feeling that Hawks point guard Jason Terry, who played high school ball in Seattle, will sign with the SuperSonics as a free agent. The Sonics dealt two point guards at the trading deadline, Gary Payton to Milwaukee, and Kenny Anderson to the Hornets. "I love this city," Terry said when the Hawks played there recently. "Always will. Atlanta is my home right now, but I love Seattle."

Elton Brand will sign a one-year qualifying offer with the Clippers for next season, thus making him an unrestricted free agent for 2004-2005. Another Clipper, Andre Miller, will not be back. He will sign with Utah. Golden State is not going to be able to resign Gilbert Arenas and he will likely end up in Denver. Milwaukee is going to try to trade point guard Sam Cassell this summer.

According to sources close to the situation, treatment of alcohol-related ''personal issues'' could cause Vin Baker to miss the remainder of the Celtics season. There are 61/2 weeks left in the regular season. If Baker misses the rest of the season, he could lose $3.4 million.

Although he is a leading candidate for the NBA's most-improved-player award, Matt Harpring says his game has not changed since his one-season stopover in Philadelphia. He still slashes to the hoop, comes off screens, and scraps for the basketball. But in Utah, Harpring is allowed to shoot. No restrictions, the way there were with the 76ers. No necessary deference to a star.

Had Patrick Ewing not demanded to be traded after 15 seasons - instantly converting him from great to ingrate - there's no doubt he'd be a Knick employee today.

Anyone using LeBron James' name or likeness without his permission is committing a foul. Lawyers for the high school basketball star are sending "cease and desist" letters to those selling or producing unauthorized James merchandise.

When the Memphis Grizzlies play the Boston Celtics on Monday night they'll have more to worry about than how to stop Paul Pierce, one of the league's leading scorers. They'll also have to worry about whether fans concerned about minority participation on the new arena project will show up. A representative for two local associations of minority contractors called Friday for people to boycott the game. His call was endorsed by several black elected officials who attended a rally at the National Civil Rights Museum.

College Rumors & Notes

Tony Cole's allegations of NCAA rules violations in the University of Georgia men's basketball program spread Saturday far beyond the accusations he made in a nationally televised interview on Thursday night. Cole, a former UGA player, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution here Saturday that: He bought a 28-inch color television from Circuit City in Athens with the personal credit card of Georgia head coach Jim Harrick.

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno reiterated for the umpteenth time that he would like to see the Nittany Lions resume their series with intrastate rival Pitt. This time, he had a solution. "I'd like to see Pitt or Syracuse in the Big Ten," Paterno said

The Pacific-10 is No. 1 Arizona and everybody else. The next team in the national rankings is No. 19 Stanford, which is 21st in the Ratings Percentage Index, a formula that is one of the factors considered by the selection committee.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was asked If the college game become more accepting of underclassmen and high school players heading to the NBA? "It has, and it should be. The college game will always be there. I still feel it would benefit most kids if they went to college and stayed a certain amount of time."

Usually the player who leads the nation in scoring is someone along the lines of Mike Helms of Oakland or Henry Domercant of Eastern Illinois. Somebody you've never heard of, from a school whose nickname you might or might not know. The name Ruben Douglas ought to ring a bell. He started for Arizona in 1999 alongside fellow freshmen Richard Jefferson and Michael Wright. Then he was gone, transferring to New Mexico after freshman Gilbert Arenas beat him out at shooting guard the next season.

Odd Notes & Stuff

Owen Nolan, who has scored 11 of his 20 goals since Jan. 20, could be headed to Toronto. San Jose, eager to be rid of the $18 million Nolan is due the next three years, is believed to be asking for top prospect Brad Boyes, fourth-liner Alyn McCauley and a first-round pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. The Maple Leafs are still stung by having their offer for Alexei Kovalev rejected by the Penguins.

Seven coaches have been already been fired in the NHL since Dec. 1. But with Boston’s continuing collapse, Bruins coach Robbie Ftorek has been mentioned as the next coach that could be let go.

Sounds like Ray Bourque may consider a coaching job in the future, but agent Steve Freyer shot down rumors that the retired defenseman would join the Boston Bruins' coaching staff this season.

Anaheim's Paul Kariya lashed out at the NHL recently over the nets being farther from the boards. "The people who moved the nets up were brain-dead," Kariya said. "That's one of the stupidest rules I've seen."

I work for cheap. Big firms pay a lot of money for this kind of thing. The Flames don’t have a lot of money. But I’ll do it because I’m a little boy.” — Comic and toy mogul Todd McFarlane, who grew up in Calgary, on his interest in designing the Flames’ new home jersey, which they are working on for the 2003-04 season.

Although these appear to be heady times in Tampa, where team officials this week gave the green light to begin printing playoff tickets, Lightning President Ron Campbell also became the latest NHL executive to announce a pile of losses. He told the St. Petersburg Times the team expects to lose $10 million to $15 million

Ukrainian-born Wladimir Klitschko (40-1-0, 37 knockouts) puts his WBO heavyweight title on the line Saturday night against unranked South African Corrie Sanders (36-2-0, 26 KOs). The fight will take place in Hanover, Germany, and can be seen on HBO

When welterweight Andrew "Six Heads" Lewis was knocked out in the second round by Antonio Margarito on Feb. 8, HBO commentator Larry Merchant landed a knockout punch of his own: "You know what they say: Six heads, one chin."

One thing for Charles Barkley: The former NBA star and current analyst/philosopher says Dan Rather could have taken one giant step for mankind. ''I cannot believe that Dan Rather didn't just kill Saddam Hussein when he was interviewing him,'' Barkley said on TNT. ''That would have saved us all that money going to war.'''

WWE announced Tuesday that "The World," its restaurant located in Times Square in New York City, has closed. The retail part of the store will remain open until April 27.

Does anyone else find it incongruous that the U.S. armed forces will take 500 "embedded" journalists with them into any battles against Iraq, but increasingly the sporting media is barred from locker rooms or practices. permalink