Judge says Clemens can keep attorney

A federal judge in Houston ruled yesterday that Roger Clemens can keep Rusty Hardin as his attorney in the defamation lawsuit against his former trainer Brian McNamee. US District Judge Keith P. Ellison ruled that since McNamee is not a former client of Hardin's, he has no standing to ask for his disqualification. Lawyers for McNamee filed a motion for Hardin to be removed because Hardin represented both Clemens and Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte . . . The players' association has expressed concern to commissioner Bud Selig over the lack of offers to Barry Bonds, asking for additional information about the offseason's free agent market. However, the union did not file a grievance on behalf of the 43-year-old outfielder, who remains unsigned and hasn't received any offers since the Giants decided not to re-sign him . . . Recent speculation that the struggling Reds might trade outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. during the season is premature, general manager Walt Jocketty said, without ruling out that it could happen . . . Jimmy Rollins said he's almost ready to rejoin the Phillies after going 2 for 4 with a solo homer in an extended spring game at Clearwater, Fla., against a Yankees affiliate. On the disabled list for the first time in his big league career, Rollins is recovering from a sprained left ankle.

The NCAA released its annual academic progress report and more than 700 teams fell short of the mandated cut score. Nearly 150 teams face possible scholarship losses next season and 26 others are in danger of being banned from postseason play if they don't improve next year. In men's basketball, Kansas State, Purdue, Southern Cal, and Tennessee, which all made the NCAA Tournament in March, could lose up to two scholarships next season if a player leaves school while academically ineligible. There were no New England schools facing penalties . . . West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins's contract stipulates he can be fired for substance abuse or habitual intoxication affecting his job performance. In 2005, Cincinnati president Nancy Zimpher refused to extend Huggins's contract following his conviction for drunken driving . . . UMass cleaned up in Atlantic 10 softball honors. Junior Brandice Balschmiter was selected pitcher of the year for the third straight season. Designated hitter Lindsay Maroney was named freshman of the year and Elaine Sortino was coach of the year . . . Boston College has promoted assistant athletic director Barry Gallup to associate director of athletics for football.

Marblehead's Shalane Flanagan set an American record in her 10,000-meter debut, breaking the mark by 17 seconds. She ran 30 minutes 34.49 seconds Sunday at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif. The time makes Flanagan the world leader for 2008 in the event and is the fastest 10K by a woman on North American soil. Flanagan made her move in the final 200 meters for a one-second win over New Zealand's Kim Smith, leading a group of eight other women under the Olympic "A" qualifying standard of 31:45 . . . A federal judge in Norfolk, Va., denied bond for former track star Tim Montgomery on federal heroin distribution charges.

Serena Williams won her 16th straight match, defeating Francesca Schiavone, 6-2, 6-3, in the second round of the German Open in Berlin. Williams is chasing her fourth straight WTA title. Her last loss came in February against Jelena Jankovic in the Australian Open quarterfinals. "I'm healthy. I'm focused. Tennis is my priority," said Williams, ranked No. 6. No. 8 Marion Bartoli cruised past Lucie Safarova, 6-0, 6-3, and No. 7 Elena Dementieva defeated Kateryna Bondarenko, 6-1, 6-2 . . . Roger Federer defeated one of his most challenging opponents, cruising past Guillermo Canas, 6-3, 6-3, in the second round of the Rome Masters. Canas beat Federer twice last year and was one of the few players with a winning record against the world's top-ranked player. The pair are now tied, 3-3, in career meetings. Andy Roddick defeated Mardy Fish, 6-1, 6-4.

Brian Higgins drained a 12-foot birdie putt on the fourth playoff hole to pull out a come-from-behind victory in the Mass. Four-Ball Championship at Franklin CC. Higgins and partner Brad Stewart entered the final round five strokes back of first-round leaders Raymond Androlewicz and Dale Smith. Higgins and Stewart - playing on their home course - posted a 7-under 64 to pull even with Androlewicz and Smith and force a playoff . . . Greg Yeomans and Joe Cordani defeated David Carlson and Hal Jacobs, 4 and 2, to advance to the final of the NEPGA Pro-Pro at LeBaron Hills CC. They'll face Troy Pare and Jeff Martin, 4-and-3 winners over David Bennett and Ron Philo . . . Geoff Platt scored the winner at 6:46 of the third period to give the host Portland Pirates a 3-2 victory over the Providence Bruins and claim a 3-2 lead in their AHL Atlantic Division finals. Game 6 is Friday at Providence . . . Larry Jones, the trainer of Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles, ordered drug testing as part of the autopsy, intent on dispelling any suggestion the filly may have been on steroids. Jones said the tests for performance-enhancing drugs come back negative on Eight Belles, who was euthanized after breaking both front ankles Saturday . . . Former Vikings defensive lineman Darrion Scott was charged with assault and accused of holding a plastic dry cleaning bag over the head of his 2-year-old son. Scott, a free agent, was charged in Hennepin County (Minn.) Court with third-degree assault and domestic assault by strangulation, both felonies . . . Hank Poteat, a former Patriots cornerback, re-signed with the Jets . . . The Bears released safety Adam Archuleta.

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