Novitzky provides investigation details

Jeff Novitzky, the IRS special agent whose hunches helped spark the government's probe of Barry Bonds and the BALCO steroid distribution ring, testified publicly yesterday for the first time about his detective work - from picking through trash to analyzing bank databases. Novitzky dangled hints about sports figures he investigated but stopped short of naming them. The testimony came in San Francisco during the perjury and obstruction of justice trial of cyclist Tammy Thomas, who, like Bonds, is charged with lying to a grand jury, hampering the BALCO investigation. Novitzky described one person under surveillance in 2003 as leaving BALCO and going "directly to Pacific Bell Park, I think it was called at the time" - referring to the Giants' home park, now called AT&T Park. "The majority of athletes were from the sport of track and field, but there were athletes from baseball, football," Novitzky said.

Marat Safin hit another low when he lost to American qualifier Bobby Reynolds, 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), in the first round of the Sony Ericsson Open at Key Biscayne, Fla. Safin, a two-time Grand Slam champion, fell to 1-5 in 2008. He hasn't won a title since the 2005 Australian Open . . . Justine Henin received the WTA Tour Player of the Year award. Henin won 10 events in 2007 and became the first woman to earn more than $5 million in prize money . . . John McEnroe will play Pete Sampras May 2 in the Champions Cup Boston tennis event at Agganis Arena. The round-robin tournament begins April 30 and concludes with the title matches May 4. Others in the field include Jim Courier, Todd Martin, Wayne Ferreira, Aaron Krickstein, Mikael Pernfors, and Jimmy Arias.

Hurricanes right wing Patrick Eaves, a former Boston College standout, is expected to miss two to three weeks because of surgery on his left shoulder . . . Canucks center Brendan Morrison will miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his right knee.

Linebacker Clark Haggans signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Haggans, an unrestricted free agent, played the last eight seasons with the Steelers . . . In other signings, the Seahawks secured former Pro Bowl kicker Olindo Mare, who kicked for the Saints last season; the Texans agreed with safety Nick Ferguson, who spent the last five seasons as a Bronco; and the Panthers signed guard Toniu Fonoti, giving him another chance in the NFL after his weight soared to nearly 400 pounds. He is listed at 6 feet 4 inches, 350 pounds. Financial details of the deals weren't released . . . Offensive lineman Benji Olson, one of the last remaining Titans from Tennessee's lone Super Bowl appearance in 2000, retired after 10 seasons . . . Heath Benedict, a two-time Little All-America offensive lineman from Newberry College in South Carolina, was found dead in his home in Jacksonville, Fla. Police said no foul play is suspected in the death of the 6-6, 326-pounder, who left school after the season to train for next month's NFL draft . . . LSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux returned from suspension - reportedly for missing team meetings and classes - and could be allowed to practice by Monday.

Britain broke world records in the men's and women's team pursuit at the world track cycling championships in Manchester, England. Bradley Wiggins, Paul Manning, Geraint Thomas, and Edward Clancy powered ahead of Denmark and finished in 3 minutes 56.322 seconds in the final. Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade successfully defended their title in the women's sprint in 33.661, after setting a world record of 33.186 in qualifying.

Got Country Grip, a 5-year-old gelding, tied a modern North American all-breeds record by winning her 16th consecutive race at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. She holds the mark with Citation, Cigar, Hallowed Dreams, and Mr. Frisky . . . Suffolk Downs will open at 9:30 tomorrow morning for simulcasting of the Dubai World Cup Day program . . . A New York judge scheduled a hearing for Wednesday to settle the date for the America's Cup showdown between defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland and American challenger BMW Oracle Racing. Alinghi wants to race after May 1, 2009, and BMW Oracle Racing is sticking to this October for the head-to-head duel . . . Belmont native Emily Cook scored 175.53 points to win the women's aerials at the US Freestyle skiing championships at Park City, Utah . . . Verno Phillips won the International Boxing Federation's junior welterweight crown with a 12-round split decision over Cory Spinks in St. Louis . . . Five-time Olympian Jearl Miles-Clark, 41, leads the field for the National Masters Track Championships that run today through Sunday at the Reggie Lewis Center.