Mariners won’t say if they’ll pursue free-agent Griffey
The Seattle Mariners can have Ken Griffey Jr. back if they want him, now that he’s a free agent.
New Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik refused to say whether Seattle will make a push to sign its former franchise center fielder that is still beloved in the Northwest. That was hours after the Chicago White Sox made Griffey a free agent – and free for a potential return to the team with which he said two years ago he would like to retire.
“We can’t comment on any specific free agent at this time,” Zduriencik said Thursday afternoon through a Mariners spokesman in an e-mail to the Associated Press.
The White Sox declined Griffey’s $16.5 million contract option for 2009. Griffey will get a $4 million buyout to complete a $116.5 million, nine-year contract he agreed to with his hometown Cincinnati Reds before the 2000 season.
The day began a 15-day window in which approximately 180 players can become free agents.
Eligible players may file through Nov. 13, and teams can start negotiating money with players the following day.
•Marlins deal Jacobs: The Florida Marlins traded power-hitting first baseman Mike Jacobs to the Kansas City Royals for relief pitcher Leo Nunez.
Basketball
Thomas report released
A newly released police report indicates the person who called 911 about an overdose at Isiah Thomas’ home in White Plains, N.Y., believed the victim had stopped breathing.
The patient’s name is redacted from the Town of Harrison report, which was released under a Freedom of Information request from the Associated Press.
Authorities have not publicly identified Thomas as the accidental overdose victim, but a person familiar with the case, speaking on condition of anonymity because the police report had not been released, confirmed to the AP that it was Thomas. A call to the person seeking comment after the police report was released was not immediately returned.
•Brown’s return spoiled: LeBron James scored 22 points, Daniel Gibson had 20 of his 25 in the first half and the Cleveland Cavaliers won their home opener 96-79 over Charlotte, spoiling well-traveled coach Larry Brown’s debut with the Bobcats.
Charlotte did get its first look in more than a year at Adam Morrison, who missed last season with a knee injury. He scored nine points.
•Rockets go off in fourth: Yao Ming and Ron Artest powered a 16-2 run late in the fourth quarter, carrying the visiting Houston Rockets to a 112-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the debut of new Mavs coach Rick Carlisle.
Yao finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds, and Artest scored 29 points. He had seven points in the decisive run, which began with the game tied at 92.
•Hornets fly by Suns: Chris Paul had 20 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds and the New Orleans Hornets held off a rally, then pulled away to beat Phoenix 108-95 and spoil the home debut of new Suns coach Terry Porter.
Peja Stojakovic added 20 points before leaving the game with a sprained right ankle in the first few seconds of the fourth quarter.
•All-Stars will come to Dallas: The NBA All-Star game is coming to the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in 2010 and plenty of good seats are available – more than 100,000.
It will be among the first major events at the soon-to-be-completed, $1.1 billion facility in nearby Arlington.
Football
Shipment of pills stopped
The makers of an over-the-counter weight-loss pill have suspended shipments following accusations the product contains but does not list an ingredient banned by the NFL.
“We’ve received notice of the problem with the NFL,” the makers of StarCaps said in a statement released by e-mail. The statement added that the company is “taking all necessary steps to ensure that our customers receive product that is safe and effective.”
New Orleans Saints players Jamar Nesbit and Deuce McAllister say they tested positive for the diuretic Bumetanide after using StarCaps.
•Bearcats beat No. 24 Bulls: Playing with a soft cast protecting his broken left forearm, junior Tony Pike had one of his finest games, throwing a pair of touchdown passes and steadying Cincinnati’s offense in a 24-10 home victory over No. 24 South Florida.
•Tebow back to 100 percent: Florida quarterback Tim Tebow played the last two-plus games with a hyper-extended knee, but coach Urban Meyer said that last year’s Heisman Trophy winner has fully recovered from the injury.
•Colts lose Jackson: Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy announced that cornerback Marlin Jackson will miss the remainder of the NFL season with a knee injury.
Hockey
Flyers win in OT
Jeff Carter scored two goals, including the winner in overtime, and the Philadelphia Flyers edged the visiting New York Islanders 3-2 for their fourth straight win.
Mike Knuble also scored and Martin Biron made 34 saves for the Flyers.
•Crosby injured in loss: Shane Doan scored twice and added an assist to lift the host Phoenix Coyotes to a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, who lost star Sidney Crosby to an undisclosed injury less than 5 minutes into the second period.
•Ottawa re-signs captain: The Ottawa Senators re-signed captain Daniel Alfredsson to a 4-year contact.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Ottawa Sun reported it was worth $22 million.
Golf
Price, Eger lead
Nick Price made a 25-foot putt on the 18th hole to pull even with David Eger at 6-under-par 66 atop the leaderboard in the opening round of the PGA’s Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Sonoma, Calif.
•Jones on top at Ginn sur Mer: Kent Jones recovered from a tee shot in the rough to birdie the 18th hole for a 7-under 65, giving him a share of the lead with rookie Michael Letzig in the first round of the Champion Tour’s Ginn sur Mer Classic in Palm Coast, Fla.