Government seeks BALCO samples
Baseball
Federal prosecutors want access to hundreds of urine samples of Major League Baseball players seized in 2003 as part of the BALCO steroid scandal investigation. Authorities had a warrant for 10 players' samples, but ended up seizing samples of hundreds of players from three laboratories. Federal judges have prohibited the government from using the samples as part of its ongoing probe of the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative, which counted dozens of prominent athletes among its clients, including Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Olympic track and field star Marion Jones. Five people have been criminally charged, four of whom have pleaded guilty, including Bonds's personal trainer, Greg Anderson. A fifth person, the man authorities allege developed ''the clear," the steroid at the center of the scandal, was indicted two weeks ago and has pleaded not guilty.
Nationals' Guillén having surgery
Washington Nationals outfielder José Guillén will have arthroscopic surgery tomorrow on his left shoulder, diagnosed as a partially torn labrum, which bothered him throughout the second half of last season. Guillén expects to be healed before next season. ''We decided to get it done, get it out of the way," he said yesterday. Second baseman José Vidro, meanwhile, won't have an operation on his right knee. He was given an injection near his right patellar tendon and will rest for 10 days before resuming his rehab program . . . Righthanded reliever Terry Adams agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Pirates on a minor league contract that would pay him $500,000 if he pitches in the majors next season. Adams was 0-2 with a 12.82 ERA in 16 games for the Phillies last season after previously pitching for the Cubs, Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Red Sox.
Football
Steelers re-sign cornerback Williams
Former starting cornerback Willie Williams re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers after being released earlier in the week. The Steelers cut Williams so they could activate tight end Matt Kranchick to play tonight against Cleveland, but Kranchick was waived yesterday. Williams, a 13-season veteran, spent most of last season as a Steelers starter, but lost his job to Ike Taylor late in training camp and was activated for only three of the team's first eight games . . . Green Bay Packers receiver Robert Ferguson's knee injury isn't as serious as originally thought, and coach Mike Sherman hasn't ruled him out of tomorrow night's game against Minnesota. Ferguson, who has missed the last three games, had tests that revealed an aggravation of a bruise in the left knee, stemming from the torn lateral-collateral ligament.
Tennis
Federer rips Gaudio in Masters Cup
Roger Federer came up with a first in a career that has contained almost everything. The two-time defending champion warmed up for his third consecutive Tennis Masters Cup final in Shanghai with a 6-0, 6-0 rout of Gaston Gaudio in the semifinals and will play for the title against David Nalbandian. This was Federer's first love-and-love victory. Nalbandian defeated fifth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, 6-0, 7-5, in the other semifinal.
Figure skating
Cohen falls, loses Trophee to Asada
Sasha Cohen rushed into her seventh triple jump and tumbled to the ice in the women's free skate final, clearing the way for teenage Japanese jumping sensation Mao Asada to win the Trophee Bompard title in Paris. Asada, who turned 15 in September but is ineligible for the Olympics because of her age, soundly beat the two-time world championship silver medalist in total points, 182.42-175.12. Canada's Jeff Buttle held onto his lead and won the men's event. Asada skated first in the final group and immediately did a triple axel. She is one of the few female skaters able to do the 3 1/2-revolution jump.
Miscellany
Sorenstam holds on; Woods surges
Annika Sorenstam survived gusty conditions to stay in the lead at the season-ending ADT Championship in West Palm Beach, Fla., but just barely. Sorenstam played cautious on the final hole and settled for a bogey, giving her a 2-over-par 74 to end her streak of nine consecutive rounds at par or better at Trump International. The only good news was her one-shot lead over Marisa Baena and Liselotte Neumann as she tries to win for the 10th time this year . . . In Miyazaki, Japan, defending champion Tiger Woods shot a 2-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead over Jim Furyk (70) after three rounds at the Dunlop Phoenix. David Duval shot a 71 and is tied for third with Japan's Kaname Yokoo at 7 under . . . Kirk Hanefeld, a club professional from Acton, Mass., shot a 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead after the fourth round of the six-round Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament in Beaumont, Calif. . . . Floyd Mayweather Jr. had no trouble in his welterweight debut, knocking out Sharmba Mitchell in the sixth round at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore. Mayweather ended the fight with a straight right hand that landed below Mitchell's rib cage. Referee Richard Steele counted to 10 with Mitchell sitting on the ropes in pain.
