McNamee wants Hardin off the case

Brian McNamee's lawyers told a federal judge yesterday that Rusty Hardin, Roger Clemens's lead lawyer, should be removed from the case because he might be forced to attack the credibility of Andy Pettitte, a former client. "Pettitte is central in every detail of this case. And they are going to have to go after him," Richard Emery, one of McNamee's lawyers, said during a hearing before US District Judge Keith Ellison in Houston. Clemens filed a defamation suit in January against McNamee, his former trainer, after McNamee accused him in the Mitchell Report of using performance-enhancing drugs. Hardin originally represented Clemens and Pettitte, but Pettitte has switched to other attorneys. Hardin denied Emery's claims he would use anything Pettitte told him in private in the lawsuit, which was filed in Texas state court and moved to federal court at McNamee's request. "Mr. Pettitte has never said anything to me he has not said publicly," Hardin said. Joe Roden, one of Clemens's attorneys, said part of his fee agreement with Clemens calls for another lawyer to be brought in to question Pettitte if Clemens' friend and former teammate he testifies at a trial. A federal indictment unsealed in New York charged that unidentified agents for baseball players steered clients to a California physician linked in media reports to supplying Troy Glaus and Scott Schoeneweis with illegal performance-enhancing drugs. No players or agents were mentioned by name in the 11-count indictment returned by a grand jury against Dr. Ramon Scruggs of the New Hope Health Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. "I have no knowledge of this medical practitioner or any relationship that he has with any of our clients," said Scott Boras, who represents Schoeneweis . . . Jose Guillen's 15-day suspension was put on hold by Major League Baseball and the Players Association, an indication they are nearing an agreement that would eliminate the penalty and toughen the drug rules . . . Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez is out indefinitely with a strained tendon in his troublesome right foot . Hernandez will wear a protective boot for two weeks, then be reevaluated, manager Willie Randolph said . . . Rays outfielder Cliff Floyd will have surgery tomorrow to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee and was placed on the 15-day DL . . . Giants outfielder and former Red Sox Dave Roberts is considering knee surgery that could sideline him indefinitely. Roberts said he had a torn meniscus and is suffering from a softening of the joint cartilage behind his left kneecap.

O.J. Mayo is leaving Southern California after one season to enter the NBA draft. Mayo plans to hire an agent, which would prevent him from returning to the Trojans. He said he plans to finish his spring classes, then prepare for the June draft. "I am so thankful for the fans and alumni at USC and around the nation that have been so supportive of me and my teammates throughout the season," Mayo said in a statement. "I'd like to express my appreciation to my coaches and teammates for their support in one of the most important decisions I've ever made." The freshman guard signaled his intentions by wearing socks with the NBA logo in USC's 80-67 loss to Kansas State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In other NBA draft news: contrary to previous reports, UCLA coach Ben Howland says All-American Kevin Love and Darren Collison have not yet decided to enter; West Virginia forward Joe Alexander and Texas A&M freshman DeAndre Jordan have declared themselves eligible, but won't sign with agents, allowing them to return to school; Syracuse freshman Donte Greene declared himself eligible and intends to sign with an agent; and Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin will return for his sophomore season.

If big bucks are needed to fend off Oklahoma State and keep Bill Self as the Jayhawks' coach, wealthy Kansas donors seem ready to reach for their wallets. "If they're going to need to raise a lot of money, I'm sure there will be many people to step forward," said Dana Anderson, a businessman/developer and prominent Kansas donor. After Kansas beat Memphis, 75-68, in overtime Monday night for the NCAA championship, speculation intensified that oil and energy magnate T. Boone Pickens might be coming after the Jayhawks' coach Self on behalf of Oklahoma State . . . Memphis's John Calipari was named Naismith Coach of the Year by The Atlanta Tipoff Club . . . Seeking a coach, LSU reportedly intends to hire as early as today Stanford's Trent Johnson, who coached the Cardinal to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament . . . Former UMass assistant Bill Bayno returned to college basketball after an eight-year absence, signing a five-year deal to coach Loyola Marymount.

Candace Parker was selected No. 1 by the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA draft a day after capping her college career by leading Tennessee to a second straight NCAA title. LSU senior Sylvia Fowles was taken second by the Chicago Sky. Stanford star Candice Wiggins went third to the Minnesota Lynx, Alexis Hornbuckle of Tennessee was chosen by Detroit, and Matee Ajavon of Rutgers was selected by Houston. The Connecticut Sun used their second pick to take UConn guard Ketia Swanier, a key player in the Huskies' run to the NCAA Final Four. The Sun also selected Amber Holt, a 6-foot forward from Middle Tennessee . . . The New York Liberty will host the first regular-season outdoor game in professional basketball against the Indiana Fever July 19 at Arthur Ashe Stadium . . . Isiah Thomas will finish the season as the Knicks' coach, but needs a good explanation for why things went so wrong for any chance to last beyond that. New president Donnie Walsh said he plans to meet soon with Thomas.

If the Green Bay Packers are ravaged by injuries this season, Brett Favre might consider returning should the team reach out to him. "It would be hard to pass up, I guess," the recently retired quarterback told the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald . . . Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najeh Davenport was acquitted of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in Cleveland Municipal Court. Davenport had been accused of slapping and punching Anita Person, the mother of his 5-year-old son at her Cleveland home in October. He was also acquitted of misdemeanor child endangering and unlawful restraint . . . Bills tight end Kevin Everett, nearly paralyzed during a game last season, is recovering after having minor surgery in Buffalo this week to relieve pain in his neck . . . Former Vikings great Carl Eller was jailed after allegedly fighting with police after being stopped for possible drunken driving. Eller was held on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, fleeing police, and assaulting a police officer. Police Inspector Mike Martin said officers in north Minneapolis saw an SUV speed through a stop sign and gave chase. The SUV reached speeds of 60 miles per hour through city streets. Martin said the SUV didn't stop until it pulled into Eller's garage about 1 a.m. yesterday. Martin said the officers asked Eller to get out of the vehicle. He refused at first, but got out and threatened and fought with officers, throwing one onto the hood of the SUV. Police used a Taser, but Martin said it had no effect and called for backup. During the scuffle, officers put the 66-year-old Eller into a neck hold until help arrived, he said.

The US women's soccer team qualified for the Beijing Olympics by beating Costa Rica, 3-0, in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament semifinals in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The Americans will face Olympic-bound Canada, a 1-0 winner over Mexico, in the final . . . Harvard standout Sarah Vaillancourt scored twice in a 37-second span and Canada beat Finland, 4-2, in Harbin, China, to advance to the title game in the women's world hockey championship. The Americans' 1-0 loss to Finland Tuesday left them needing to beat Canada today to make the final . . . Lindsay Davenport defeated Jill Craybas, 6-1, 6-4, to reach the third round of the Bausch & Lomb Championships in Amelia Island, Fla. Davenport is playing her first tournament on clay in three years after missing time in 2006 with a back injury and 2007 for the birth of her son . . . Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga pulled out of France's team for this weekend's Davis Cup quarterfinal series against the United States with a right knee injury. He will be replaced by Arnaud Clement . . . China upset previously undefeated Canada, 6-5, at the World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, N.D., and the US defeated Sweden, 8-6.