Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Fast Break

The Spokesman-Review

Baseball

Congress delays baseball hearing

Congress wants to be prepared when Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, head to Capitol Hill.

The House hearing involving Clemens, McNamee and Andy Pettitte was postponed Wednesday from Jan. 16 until Feb. 13, giving lawmakers more time to gather evidence and to coordinate their investigation with the Justice Department.

Plans are still in place for Tuesday’s hearing before the same committee about the Mitchell Report on baseball’s Steroids Era. The witnesses that day will be commissioner Bud Selig, union leader Donald Fehr and George Mitchell, the report’s author.

Questioned by federal prosecutors last year, McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone in 1998, 2000 and 2001. Prosecutors had him repeat those charges to Mitchell, and since the report was issued last month, Clemens has repeatedly and vehemently denied the allegations.

A lawyer for McNamee said his client wants immunity from the House committee.

College football

EWU’s Mixon faces charges

Terry Mixon, a junior backup safety for Eastern Washington University’s football team, could face second-degree assault charges in connection with an early-morning fight that broke out at a Cheney residence on Nov. 18, the day after the Eagles beat Weber State 38-16 in their regular-season finale at Woodward Field.

Commander Rick Campbell of the Cheney Police Department said there were four victims in the fight, at least one of which was knocked unconscious. Detectives are still interviewing witnesses to the incident and preparing charging documents, according to Campbell.

Mixon transferred to EWU from Washington State prior to the start of the 2007 season but appeared in only eight games and was hampered by a hamstring injury.

He played sparingly in the Eagles’ 44-15 win over McNeese State in the opening round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs on Nov. 24, but did not accompany the team to Appalachian State the following weekend because of what former Eastern coach Paul Wulff called a violation of “unspecified” team rules.

College basketball

Eustachy on leave to care for mother

Southern Miss basketball coach Larry Eustachy is taking an indefinite leave of absence to be with his ailing mother.

It is unclear how long the former University of Idaho coach will be out, a school spokesman said.

Associate head coach Steve Barnes will lead the Golden Eagles (8-7) in Eustachy’s absence.

The coach’s mother, Helen Eustachy, has cancer and he flew to California to be with her.