Evidence against Clemens continues to mount
Federal authorities have found performance-enhancing substances on the materials Brian McNamee said he used to inject Roger Clemens, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
McNamee turned over the syringes, vials and gauze pads to federal investigators last year, after he told baseball investigator George Mitchell he injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormone. The Washington Post reported Feb. 6 that tests linked Clemens’ DNA to blood in the syringes given to investigators by McNamee.
Clemens has said repeatedly that McNamee, his former personal trainer, injected him with B-12 and the painkiller lidocaine.
“I assumed, and I am not surprised, that the tests were positive for both DNA and for performance-enhancing drugs, because that’s what Brian said all along, and there’s not much doubt that Brian’s been telling the truth,” McNamee’s lawyer, Richard Emery, told the Associated Press.
•Ramirez set to take field: Manny Ramirez is scheduled to make his spring training debut Thursday when the Los Angeles Dodgers play South Korea’s World Baseball Classic team.
Los Angeles manager Joe Torre said he isn’t sure if Ramirez will play the outfield or be the designated hitter.
•Cashman doubtful: New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman thinks he’s unlikely to acquire a fill-in third baseman to replace Alex Rodriguez.
“I’m not optimistic about doing anything,” Cashman said. “I think our answer is here in camp.”
The top internal candidate to start opening day at third is Cody Ransom, who has seven home runs and 24 RBIs in six major league seasons. Cashman expects Rodriguez back on the field in May.
NBA
Jazz streak on
Mehmet Okur scored 24 points and the Utah Jazz beat the Indiana Pacers 112-100 in Indianapolis for their 12th straight victory.
Paul Millsap finished with 22 points and nine rebounds for the Jazz, eyeing the franchise record of 15 consecutive victories.
•Nowitzki sparks Mavs: Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 of his 34 points in the second half and the Dallas Mavericks beat Phoenix 122-117 in Phoenix to widen their lead to five games over the Suns for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
•James carries Cavs: LeBron James recorded his second straight triple-double with 32 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, Mo Williams hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 6.6 seconds to play, and the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from a 19-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 87-83 in Los Angeles.
•Adjustments likely: Commissioner David Stern said the NBA and union might have to make “some adjustments” to the labor contract when it expires in two years, but he foresees no “doomsday scenario” for the league because of the current economic crisis.
NHL
Brodeur closes in
Martin Brodeur moved within two wins of tying Patrick Roy’s NHL career record, making 35 saves in the New Jersey Devils’ 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames.
Brodeur posted win No. 549 as the Devils tied the franchise record with their eighth straight home win.
•Another shutout for Mason: Steve Mason earned his NHL-best ninth shutout of the season, stopping 35 shots and making Raffi Torres’ third-period goal stand up in the Blue Jackets’ 2-0 win over the visiting Boston Bruins at Columbus, Ohio.
•Flyers top Sabres: Jeff Carter scored two goals in the third period, Scott Hartnell also had a pair and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the visiting Buffalo Sabres 5-2.
•Sharks end skid: Christian Ehrhoff’s overtime goal sailed over Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom’s stick and salvaged a badly needed victory for the San Jose Sharks, who blew a three-goal but beat the host Wild 5-4 at St. Paul, Minn., to end a four-game losing streak.
•Fighting reviewed: NHL general managers think some fighting in their league needs to be eliminated or at least reduced.
They’re recommending a rule change that would give a 10-minute misconduct penalty to players who fight immediately after a faceoff. The 10-minute misconduct could also be applied to any other fight a referee believes was staged.
Miscellany
Tomlinson stays put
Running back LaDainian Tomlinson is staying with the San Diego Chargers.
Tomlinson and the Chargers agreed to a renegotiated deal that gives the team salary cap relief, according to two people familiar with the talks, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been announced.
•Wooden released: John Wooden has been released from a Los Angeles area hospital after a bout with pneumonia.
UCLA, the school Wooden coached to 10 national titles, said the 98-year-old basketball great is resting at home.
•Beckham injured: David Beckham hurt his right ankle during practice with AC Milan, although the injury does not appear serious.
The Italian league club said it will evaluate the former England captain over the next few days.
•Lewis deal official: Baltimore Ravens All-Pro middle linebacker Ray Lewis has signed his seven-year contract, making official the agreement he struck last week with team officials.
Lewis will be paid $10 million in the first year.
•Crew member suspended: The crew member who chased a tire across pit road, forcing NASCAR to throw a race-changing caution at Atlanta Motor Speedway, was suspended four races.
Jimmy Watts, the gas man for Marcos Ambrose’s crew, was also placed on probation through the end of the year. Frank Kerr, the crew chief for the No. 47 Toyota, was also placed on probation.
•Schnuelle leads Iditarod: Sebastian Schnuelle was the first musher to reach the Alaska Native village of Nikolai in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
Hugh Neff pulled into the checkpoint 770 miles from the race finish line in Nome 1 minute later.