Prospective jurors give Congress an earful
Steroids: Prospective jurors screened Thursday for the Roger Clemens perjury trial at Washington were more critical of Congress for spending time investigating drugs in baseball than they were of the star pitcher on trial for lying to lawmakers about ever using them.
The 11-time All-Star watched intently but didn’t speak as members of the jury pool faced intense questioning from the judge and lawyers from both sides. Nearly as many were turned away on the second day as qualified to be considered for the panel that will eventually be seated, including two who were excused after they said they weren’t sure they could be fair because of their feelings about Congress.
“Even members of Congress have lied to Congress and they have not been prosecuted,” said one of the panelists who was excused.
Clemens faces six felony counts on accusations he lied to Congress under oath when he testified that he never used steroids or human growth hormone. His statements came during a deposition and a hearing at the House Government Reform committee, which took up the issue after a report to Major League Baseball accused Clemens and 85 other current and former players of using performance-enhancing drugs.
Clemens’ longtime trainer, Brian McNamee, testified to the committee that he injected the seven-time Cy Young Award winner repeatedly with both substances. And Clemens’ former teammate and close friend Andy Pettitte said Clemens once told him he used human growth hormone. Clemens says Pettitte misheard him and that McNamee lied.
Committee leaders asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Clemens committed perjury.
Thunder, lightning halt Women’s Open
Golf: Instead of teeing it up when she comes back to the Broadmoor at Colorado Springs, Colo., Cristie Kerr’s next shot at the U.S. Women’s Open will be a blast out of the bunker on the front, right side of the seventh green.
A difficult shot. But it could be worse.
A quirky day of thunder and lightning – but only spits of rain – suspended play with only 25 players finished with their first round. It was a bad break on the opening day of the toughest test in women’s golf – balky weather that figures to turn one of the most difficult weeks on the schedule into an even bigger grind.
“That’s part of the gamble,” said Christina Kim, who will try to squeeze in 36 holes today.
The rain halted a mini streak for Kerr, who had made two straight birdies to get into a tie for the lead at 2-under par with amateur Amy Anderson.
After her second birdie, Kerr, who opened her round on the back, teed off into the right rough on No. 7, then hit her approach into the sand. That’s when the siren sounded and the players headed to the clubhouse.
• Birdie binge leads Blanks to top: Kris Blanks birdied his final five holes to finish with an 8-under 63 and grab the first-round lead at the John Deere Classic at Silvis, Ill.
Blanks, who played the back nine first, rolled in a 25-foot putt on No. 5 to start his late run and capped it with an 11-footer to leave him alone by one stroke. Former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett opened with a 68, one shot better than Alex Prugh (University of Washington/ Ferris High).
• Moscow’s Williams leads: Chris Williams of Moscow, Idaho, holds the 54-hole lead heading into today’s final round at the 18th Sahalee Players Championship at Sahalee CC in Sammamish, Wash., which includes many of the world’s top amateurs.
Williams stayed focused during the grueling two rounds posting a 1-over par 73 in the morning and a 1-under par 71 bringing his 54-hole total to 2-under par 214 which puts him one shot ahead.
Santa Clara extends Keating’s contract
Men’s basketball: Santa Clara extended the contract of basketball coach Kerry Keating through the 2014-15 season, athletic director Dan Coonan announced.
Keating led the Broncos to the second-most wins in school history last season with 24. Santa Clara also won its first postseason tournament title, the CollegeInsider.com tourney.
Busch claims race after starting at back
Auto racing: Kyle Busch picked up his fifth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win, roaring from the back row to win the 225-mile race at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta.
The NASCAR star was ordered to the rear of the field at the start of the race for missing driver introductions, but had little trouble picking his way through traffic. He held off Parker Kligerman during a green-white-checkered finish to win by 0.302 seconds.
First lady watches Williams’ U.S. return
Tennis: Serena Williams’ first sanctioned match in the United States in two years even caught the attention of first lady Michelle Obama.
Williams helped lead the Washington Kastles of World Team Tennis to a 25-10 win over the visiting Boston Lobsters. The 13-time Grand Slam singles champion, sidelined for nearly a year with foot injuries and a pulmonary embolism, hadn’t played a sanctioned match on U.S. soil since losing to Kim Clijsters in the 2009 U.S. Open semifinals.
Gay undergoes surgery on right hip
Track and field: Sprinter Tyson Gay is expected to stop training for at least six weeks after undergoing right hip surgery at Vail, Colo. The hip has bothered him since the beginning of the year.