Clemens feels good after mound work

Baseball
Two days after agreeing to a prorated $28 million contract with the pitching-starved Yankees, Roger Clemens threw from a mound at the University of Kentucky. "The arm feels good," Clemens said after the hourlong workout. "Right now I've just got to get that soreness that every pitcher understands." As for choosing the Yankees, Clemens said he never meant to offend his other suitors. "My innermost thoughts and feelings that I'm keeping close to my heart, when it's all said and done at the end of the year, I'll tell you the exact reasons why I did what I did."

Pitcher Anibal Sanchez, who was demoted by the Marlins last week to Triple A Albuquerque, was placed on the Isotopes' DL complaining of a sore right shoulder. The injury was diagnosed as tendinitis, and he'll wait at least a week before he resumes throwing . . . Zack Greinke, who gave up three two-run homers in one inning Sunday in a loss to Detroit, has been dropped from the Royals' rotation . . . Rockies manager Clint Hurdle wants Major League Baseball to take another look at instant replay. Twice in three games, Hurdle contends, wrong calls by umpires cost the Rockies home runs, and he spoke to the MLB office to voice his concern. "I don't think that's an area where the umpires' discretion should be involved," Hurdle said . . . Mets minor leaguer Jorge Reyes was suspended for 100 games by the commissioner's office after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The righthander was suspended 50 games last year for his first violation . . . The Nationals placed closer Chad Cordero on the bereavement list after he returned to California to be with his grandmother, who has brain cancer.

Football

Steve Smith agreed to a three-year contract extension with Carolina that will keep him with the Panthers through the 2012 season. Agent Derrick Fox said he wasn't authorized to release exact figures, but said the 5-foot-9-inch Smith will be among the NFL's five highest-paid receivers. "I'm living out my dream. A knucklehead from LA," Smith said. Smith, who will turn 28 Saturday, had three years left on a six-year, $27 million contract . . . Gilbert Gardner, a starting linebacker for most of last season until he was benched for the Super Bowl run, was released by the Colts . . . An autopsy on Broncos running back Damien Nash found no unnatural substances in his system and an exact cause of death could not be determined, the St. Louis County (Mo.) medical examiner's office said. Nash, 24, collapsed and died Feb. 24 after a charity basketball game he hosted in St. Louis.

Boxing

Diego "Chico" Corrales, who won titles in two weight classes, died in a high-speed motorcycle crash Monday in Las Vegas. Corrales, 29, was riding a new racing motorcycle when he ran into the back of a car while trying to pass at high speed on a busy residential street about 7 miles west of the Strip, police said. Corrales was thrown from the motorcycle, which collided with an oncoming car, and pronounced dead at the scene . . . Heavyweight Evander Holyfield, 44, will fight Lou Savarese, 41, June 30 in El Paso.

Miscellany

Doug Flutie, who earned six outstanding player awards in the Canadian Football League, was selected for enshrinement in the nation's Sports Hall of Fame -- the first non-Canadian to be inducted. Among those also selected were Cassie Campbell, who captained Canada's women's hockey team to two consecutive Olympic gold medals and will become the first female hockey player to be inducted and NHL Hall of Famer Mike Bossy. Flutie is one of 75 players and eight coaches up for election to the College Football Hall of Fame, with the latest class to be announced today . . . T.J. Trevelyans scored a power-play goal with 1:48 left and Hannu Toivonen made 24 saves to help Providence to a 2-1 victory over visiting Manchester, giving the Bruins a 2-1 lead in their AHL Atlantic Division championship series . . . A day after admitting involvement in the Spanish doping scandal, Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso said he intended to cheat in "a moment of weakness" but never did, and is ready to accept his punishment . . . A National League Lacrosse franchise has been awarded to Boston; play begins in January at TD Banknorth Garden.