In brief: Congressman balks about players testifying
A member of a congressional panel investigating performance-enhancing drugs in baseball believes there’s little to be gained by having players testify at next month’s hearings.
“If we went back to every player, we would have to do research every morning, noon and night,” Rep. Christopher Shays told The Associated Press on Thursday. “There’s no way in my judgment we’re going to be able to focus on the past. Only a real court can do that.”
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has scheduled a Jan. 15 hearing.
Rep. Stephen Lynch, who serves on the panel, said no players were expected to appear then. The Massachusetts Democrat said the committee was not ruling out the possibility of asking players to testify in the future if a “compelling reason” were to emerge.
“Catcher Miguel Olivo signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“The New York Yankees finalized a $3.75 million, one-year contract with LaTroy Hawkins.
“Free-agent outfielder Darin Erstad signed a one-year contract worth $1 million plus incentives with the Houston Astros.
“Former major league player and longtime Atlanta Braves coach Jim Beauchamp has died of leukemia in Atlanta. He was 68.
Women’s basketball
Fowles has surgery
LSU’s Sylvia Fowles will miss two to four weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her right knee.
The senior injured her knee during the second half of LSU’s win over Miami in Cancun, Mexico, last Wednesday.
“Fresno State attorneys are asking a judge to overturn a multimillion-dollar verdict against the university in a gender discrimination case involving former women’s basketball coach Stacy Johnson-Klein.
She sued Fresno State claiming gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation. Johnson-Klein won $19.1 million from a jury earlier this month.
The university has said Johnson-Klein was fired because of her job performance.
College Football
WVU sues Rodriguez
West Virginia University’s Board of Governors is suing former football coach Rich Rodriguez to collect a $4 million buyout of his contract with the school.
The lawsuit, filed in Monongalia County Circuit Court, states the university believes Rodriguez doesn’t intend to abide by the contract.
Hockey
Canada beats Slovakia
Kyle Turris scored a pair of power-play goals to give Canada a 2-0 victory over Slovakia, strengthening their place atop Group A with six points at the Under-20 World Ice Hockey Championship at Pardubice, Czech Republic.