In brief: Fate of ‘the list’ in the hands of appeals court

So, who are the other 103?

Alex Rodriguez turned out to be just one name on the infamous list of players who tested positive for banned drugs during baseball’s anonymous survey in 2003. Will more names follow?

“Our program, which was designed to be confidential, if it turns out not to be, that’s something that causes concern,” union head Donald Fehr said Tuesday.

The fate of “the list” will be determined next by 11 appeals court judges in California.

MLB’s highest-paid and perhaps most-talented player, Rodriguez said Monday that he used banned drugs from 2001-2003 while playing for Texas. The admission came two days after Sports Illustrated reported that his name was among the players on the list.

Former union head Marvin Miller called for an investigation of federal prosecutors to help determine whether there was a government leak of the test results, which remain under court seal.

“I think the first question ought to be: 104 names all testing positive, but you leak only A-Rod’s. Why is that?” Miller said.

•Jeter will wait: Derek Jeter watched Rodriguez’s confession on television but plans to put off discussing it publicly until the entire media mob that covers the New York Yankees arrives in Florida for spring training.

“I’m not addressing Alex’s situation until everybody is here,” Jeter said. “If you’ve got baseball questions, I’ll do that.”

NBA

James’ foul costly

LeBron James scored 47 points, but his foul with 0.2 seconds left allowed Danny Granger to make the winning free throw, giving the Pacers a 96-95 victory over Cleveland in Indianapolis. It’s the first time this season the Cavaliers have lost two straight games.

•Duncan spurs Spurs: Tim Duncan had 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and the San Antonio Spurs posted a 108-93 victory over New Jersey at East Rutherford, N.J., beating the Nets for the 13th straight time.

•Mavericks rout Kings: Josh Howard and Antoine Wright both scored 23 to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 118-100 win over visiting Sacramento – assuring that the Kings will have a losing record this season.

•Smith added: Denver’s J.R. Smith will replace injured Memphis forward Rudy Gay in the All-Star slam dunk contest.

•Brand healing: Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand will need six months of recovery on his surgically repaired right shoulder and should be ready for the start of the 2009-10 season.

•Grievance filed: The NBA players’ union filed a grievance on behalf of Jamaal Tinsley, who has not been allowed to play or practice with the Indiana Pacers this season.

NFL

Ward has surgery

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward underwent minor shoulder surgery this week but apparently will not need an operation to repair the right knee he injured during the AFC championship game.

•Parcells’ clause expanded: Bill Parcells’ escape clause with the Miami Dolphins was expanded before the sale of the team was completed last month, and he can now leave at any time and collect the balance of the $12 million due him under a four-year contract.

NHL

Sharks bite Bruins

Patrick Marleau, Milan Michalek and ex-Boston captain Joe Thornton scored in a 6:16 span of the third period to rally the visiting San Jose Sharks to a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins in a matchup of the NHL’s top two teams.

The Eastern Conference-leading Bruins, on top of the NHL with 85 points, carried a 2-1 edge into the third period. Boston was 26-0-2 when leading after 40 minutes.

•Red Wings on a roll: Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk each had two goals and an assist for the Detroit Red Wings, who held off the Nashville Predators 5-3 at Nashville, Tenn., for their fifth straight victory.

•Zednik sparks Panthers: Richard Zednik scored his second goal at 1:02 of overtime to give Florida a 5-4 win over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs at Sunrise, Fla.

•More surgery for Kariya: St. Louis Blues forward Paul Kariya underwent surgery on his right hip, a little more than a month after an operation to fix his left hip. He is sidelined indefinitely.

•Avery in minors: Controversial left wing Sean Avery is resuming his hockey career with the New York Rangers’ affiliate in Hartford, Conn. Avery hasn’t played since his NHL suspension in December for making a crude remark about other players dating his ex-girlfriends.

Miscellany

Lagat wins mile

Former Washington State Cougar Bernard Lagat beat European champion Mehdi Baala to win the mile at the Pas de Calais in Lievin, France. Lagat finished in 3 minutes, 51.34 seconds.

•Stanford rolls: Lawrence Hill scored 20 points to help Stanford beat Cal State Bakersfield 85-50 at Stanford, Calif. Landry Fields added 10 points for the Cardinal (15-7), who won their 11th straight non-conference game.

•Balance the key: The NCAA promises not to bust a budget or a bracket when March Madness arrives. NCAA tournament selection committee chairman Mike Slive said his group still will try to keep teams close to their home fans, but not if it would result in unfair competition.

•Money needed: An executive with the group that oversees the Louisiana Superdome and New Orleans Arena warned lawmakers the state must find $27.5 million next year to fulfill contracts that keep the Saints and Hornets in New Orleans.

•Kalitta snaps skid: Doug Kalitta earned his first NHRA Top Fuel victory in more than a year at the rain-delayed Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. Ron Capps won the Funny Car competition and Jason Line won Pro Stock.