Clemens gears up for tonight's debut

Baseball
Roger Clemens spent almost four hours working out at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa yesterday in preparation for his first minor league start tonight. The righthander is scheduled to throw 45-60 pitches for Single A Tampa and is also expected to work in the bullpen afterward to get his pitch count up to around 90. More than 8,100 tickets had been sold by noon yesterday for the game at Legends Field . . . Clemens's future teammate, Yankees reliever Kyle Farnsworth, thinks no one -- not even a $28 million investment -- should be allowed to leave the team when they aren't pitching. "You don't see guys who are hurt not sit on the bench. They're always there," Farnsworth said. "Whether it's going to cause a problem, we'll see . . . I don't think it will." . . . Rocco Baldelli's sore hamstring landed him on the 15-day disabled list, and the Devil Rays replaced the outfielder by activating Greg Norton from his rehabilitation assignment . . . The Braves activated lefthander Mark Redman from the 15-day DL in case righthander John Smoltz hasn't recovered from a dislocated right pinkie to start against the Red Sox tomorrow . . . Reds righthander Aaron Harang went on the bereavement list, leaving the team unsure of its Sunday starter . . . Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs went on the 15-day DL with a broken right thumb and righthander Byung-Hyun Kim was activated to start tonight.

Basketball

University of North Carolina coach Roy Williams received a four-year contract extension through the 2014-15 season that will pay him up to $1.8 million a year with bonuses that are based on postseason participation and the team's graduation rate, the school said. Williams will receive a base salary of $325,000 . . . Denver's Marcus Camby, the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, declined an invitation from USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo to participate in the team's camp in Las Vegas this summer because of a pressing family matter . . . The Internal Revenue Service says Warriors owner Chris Cohan owes more than $160 million in back income taxes and penalties from the 1998 sale of a cable television company.

After a court proceeding yesterday, Sebastian Telfair will appear before a judge in Yonkers city court in New York June 26 to face charges of second-degree possession of a weapon and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. The charges stem from an incident April 20, when police pulled over Telfair, who was driving with a suspended license, for speeding and found a loaded handgun in his vehicle.

SHIRA SPRINGER

Football

The Titans have expressed an interest in veteran receiver Keyshawn Johnson, and Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher says the interest is mutual. "I think we'll probably look into the possibility of pursuing things. Where that goes, I can't tell you," said Fisher. Johnson was released by Carolina earlier this month after making 70 catches for 815 yards and four touchdowns last season. Johnson told the Associated Press he is working to schedule a visit with the Titans . . . As NFL owners prepare to pick the host city for the 2011 Super Bowl, city leaders in Indianapolis said they are confident they have lined up the amenities and funds necessary to make a strong pitch for the game. Indianapolis is competing with Phoenix and Dallas.

Miscellany

Veteran driver Stephan Gregoire crashed into the wall during practice for the Indianapolis 500 and suffered a broken back. Gregoire, who hasn't yet qualified, had a top speed of 217.851 miles per hour and had just completed a lap at almost 215 m.p.h. when his Panoz racecar got sideways and backed into the wall coming out of the first turn. An MRI showed a fracture of the third thoracic vertebra. Gregoire was expected to be released from the hospital today. It was the fourth crash since practice began May 6, but none of the other three drivers suffered serious injuries. Today is the last full day of practice before the final qualifying sessions this weekend for the May 27 race . . . Buffalo Sabres forward Dainius Zubrus is expected to miss Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals tomorrow with a lower body injury . . . Rafael Nadal cruised past the last man to beat him on clay two years ago, downing Igor Andreev, 6-4, 6-1, at the Hamburg Masters for his 79th straight win on the surface. Top-ranked Roger Federer also advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Juan Carlos Ferrero . . . Amherst lost, 5-2, to Washington & Lee (Va.) in the NCAA Division 3 women's national tennis final in Fredericksburg, Va. . . . Kenny Cooper and Juan Toja scored for FC Dallas, which beat the host Chicago Fire, 2-1, in Major League Soccer.