Rose marketing 'I'm sorry' baseballs

For the right price, Pete Rose is willing to write on a baseball that he's sorry. The hits king unveiled his latest marketing venture yesterday on his website. For $299, plus $4.99 shipping and handling, fans can order a baseball inscribed, ``I'm sorry I bet on baseball," along with Rose's autograph. The offering came two days after an auction house confirmed that 30 baseballs inscribed the same way would be available for bid in April. Rose's business agent, Warren Greene told the Associated Press Rose had inscribed baseballs with the apology for some of his collector friends about a year ago. Greene said that Rose never intended for the balls to be sold publicly. Rose accepted a lifetime ban for gambling in 1989, but denied for nearly 15 years that he bet on baseball.

Kansas City Royals manager Buddy Bell is taking a leave of absence to treat a growth discovered near his left tonsil, and it is unknown if he will return before the end of the season. Bell will seek a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona today at the direction of his doctor. Bench coach Billy Doran will serve as interim manager . . . Seattle Mariners pitcher Jarrod Washburn will probably miss the rest of the season because of a torn right calf muscle. Team medical personnel told Washburn that surgery will not be necessary and that the healing process is 2-6 weeks . . . Bob Wickman, 37, and the Atlanta Braves agreed to a $6.5 million, one-year contract extension for 2007.

A second man charged in a shooting that wounded five Duquesne University basketball players turned himself in, Pittsburgh police said. William Holmes, 18, of the Pittsburgh suburb of Penn Hills, is the third person arrested in Sunday's shooting after a dance at the university. Holmes was arraigned on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, and weapons-related offenses. Attorney Giuseppe G.C. Rosselli, whose firm represents Holmes, said the shooting was ``just a bad situation every way around." The team was encouraged that junior forward Sam Ashaolu, the most severely injured player, appeared to be gaining strength. Ashaolu, 23, remained in critical condition with one bullet and fragments of another in his head. Stuard Baldonado, a junior forward shot in the back and left arm, had a bullet removed from his back and could be released from Mercy Hospital within days . . . Portland Trail Blazers forward Zach Randolph was cleared of a sexual assault allegation after prosecutors said there is no testimony or evidence to corroborate the story of the woman who accused him.

Candace Parker had 18 points and six rebounds to help the United States rout Lithuania, 90-56, in Sao Paulo, in the quarterfinals of the Women's World Basketball Championships. The two-time defending champion United States set up a semifinal game against Russia, a 60-56 winner over Spain. In the other quarterfinals, Brazil beat the Czech Republic, 75-51, and Australia defeated France, 79-66.

Connecticut starting safety Marvin Taylor has been suspended from the team indefinitely following his arrest on larceny charges related to the illegal use of a credit card. Coach Randy Edsall said in a statement Taylor will not take part in any football-related activities but will continue to attend classes and have access to counseling . . . According to several radio and newspaper reports, Florida defensive tackle Marcus Thomas has been suspended five games for failing a second drug test . . . Indiana football coach Terry Hoeppner plans to rejoin the team Sunday, less than two weeks after brain surgery, and be ready for the Big Ten opener Sept. 30 game against Wisconsin.

The instant replay official whose failure to overturn a bad call helped Oregon beat Oklahoma has been granted a leave of absence for the remainder of the football season by the Pac-10. Official Gordon Riese, who has already been suspended for a game by the Pac-10, requested the leave. In the final minutes of Oregon's 34-33 comeback victory over Oklahoma, the Ducks recovered an onside kick that set up what turned out to be the winning touchdown. Oregon's recovery of the onside kick should have been disallowed because the Ducks touched the ball before it went the required 10 yards . . . Frank "Muddy" Waters, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who had a successful run at Hillsdale College and finished his career at Michigan State, died of congestive heart failure in Saginaw, Mich. He was 83.

The father of a high school softball player in Meriden, Conn., was sentenced to five years' probation for beating his daughter's coach with a bat during a practice last year. Mark Picard, 48, of North Branford, Conn., was arrested May 17, 2005, after attacking Sacred Heart Academy coach John Crovo at the Hamden school. Authorities said Picard was upset Crovo had suspended his daughter Melanie, then a senior cocaptain at Sacred Heart, after she missed a game to attend her boyfriend's prom. Picard's sentence includes community service and anger management classes . . . Blue Jackets center Sergei Fedorov will be out 4-6 weeks after injuring his left shoulder during an exhibition game. Columbus opens Oct. 6 at home against Vancouver . . . Evgeni Malkin was injured during his first NHL exhibition game when he collided with Pittsburgh Penguins teammate John LeClair early in the second period against Philadelphia. Malkin got up and skated off the ice, but was favoring his left arm. He was seen leaving the Moncton Coliseum later on his own without a sling . . . South Boston's Dan Haugh, a former Salem State College standout defenseman, was named hockey coach at Endicott College . . . Welterweight Dmitry Salita (26-0-1) survived a cut over his left eye in the ninth round in earning a unanimous 10-round decision over Francisco Campos in New York.