Morning Briefing March 10, 2010
Boxing
Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Orlando Cepeda are regular visitors around the San Francisco Giants.
But when Muhammad Ali showed up in the clubhouse Tuesday at Scottsdale, Ariz., to tout his Athletes for Hope charity campaign, players, coaches, clubbies and even the general manager and owner stood in line for photos with the 68-year-old former heavyweight champion.
Athletes for Hope has more than 1,000 members in 50 sports committed to community service and other charitable activities. Along with Ali, the organization boasts Andre Agassi, Mia Hamm and Lance Armstrong among its founding members. The focus is on donating time, not money.
Baseball
Jason Vargas pitched into the fourth inning in the Seattle Mariners’ 6-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians at Peoria, Ariz., putting together another impressive outing.
Vargas, one of four candidates for the No. 5 starter role, allowed two hits, walked one and struck out one in 3 2/3 scoreless innings. The 27-year-old left-hander threw 49 pitches while becoming the first Mariners pitcher to get into the fourth.
n Top prospect Stephen Strasburg threw two scoreless innings in the Washington Nationals’ 9-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Viera, Fla., responding well to the hoopla surrounding his first exhibition start.
n Tests on Minnesota closer Joe Nathan’s right throwing elbow revealed a significant tear in the ulnar collateral ligament, an injury that could require season-ending Tommy John surgery. Nathan’s 246 saves over six seasons are the most in the majors during that span.
General manager Bill Smith said the plan is to first give Nathan time to let soreness and swelling subside, and build strength in the muscles around the joint, before a final decision about surgery.
n Hal Steinbrenner said the New York Yankees won’t alter their policy against contract extensions and will deal with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi after the season.
Jeter’s $189 million, 10-year contract expires after the World Series, as does Rivera’s $45 million, three-year deal. Girardi is entering the final season of a $7.8 million, three-year contract.
n Willie Davis, a speedy center fielder who collected two World Series rings, three Gold Gloves and was a two-time All-Star during his 14 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, died. He was 69.
Davis was found dead in his Burbank, Calif., home, police said, adding that they did not believe foul play was involved.
Basketball
Mike Dunleavy and the Los Angeles Clippers parted company for good, barely a month after he relinquished his head coaching duties to focus solely on being general manager.
Assistant general manager Neil Olshey will take over Dunleavy’s job.
Football
The first Pinstripe Bowl will be played at Yankee Stadium on Dec. 30 and will be televised by ESPN.
The game will include the No. 3 team in the Big East and the No. 6 school in the Big 12, excluding BCS participants.
n Notre Dame wants to remain independent in football, but that might not matter if the Big Ten and Pac-10 decide to expand and create sweeping changes to major college sports.
“Our preference is clear,” Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said. “I believe we’re at a point right now where changes could be relatively small or they could be seismic.”
The Big Ten announced in December it will explore options for expansion in the next 12 to 18 months. Last month, the Pac-10 also made it known that it would be considering adding schools.
— The Associated Press