Selig given 3-year contract extension
Major League Baseball owners gave commissioner Bud Selig a three-year contract extension through 2012 on Thursday, a move made two days after some congressmen were critical of his leadership is responding to the sport’s drug problem.
Selig, who has been in charge of MLB since 1992, had repeatedly said since December 2006 that he would retire at the end of 2009 and that his mind couldn’t be changed.
•Baseball’s average salary rose 4.6 percent last year to a record $2.82 million, and the New York Yankees set a high for teams at $7.47 million.
•Free-agent right-hander Jason Jennings agreed to a one-year deal worth $4 million to join Texas.
•John McHale, who played on the Detroit Tigers team that won the 1945 World Series and went on to become a longtime baseball executive, has died in Palm City, Fla. He was 86.
•Former pitcher Steve Ridzik, a member of the “Whiz Kids” Philadelphia Phillies who went to the World Series in 1950, has died in Bradenton, Fla. He was 78.
Immunity unlikely
A lawyer for Roger Clemens’ accuser, Brian McNamee, was told by a congressional committee staff member that his client was unlikely to be granted immunity for his deposition and testimony.
As the sides moved ahead with preparations for the Feb. 13 hearing before the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Clemens added a former lawyer for President Clinton – Lanny Breuer – to his legal team.
•Miguel Tejada is under FBI scrutiny, officials said after opening a preliminary investigation into whether the former A.L. MVP lied when he told federal authorities he never took steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.
College football
Rodriguez wants peace
Rich Rodriguez wanted to focus on the future when he left West Virginia to coach Michigan’s football team.
A month later, Rodriguez was compelled to talk about the past.
“There seems to be a campaign to try to smear me,” Rodriguez said. “I haven’t said anything until recently, when I felt I needed to defend all the false accusations.”
An investigation into missing files from Rodriguez’s former office revealed the academic records of West Virginia football players are secure after a newspaper report raised questions about missing paperwork.
“There’s so many inaccuracies and falsehood and innuendo, at some point, you get tired of getting beat up,” he said.
•Former Michigan QB Ryan Mallett has transferred to Arkansas and will have three years of eligibility after sitting out the 2008 season. •Kansas coach Mark Mangino won the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award as the college football coach of the year.