A 'no' decision: Clemens unwelcome

May 8, 2008

Roger Clemens isn't welcome on the US Olympic baseball team. US general manager Bob Watson said yesterday he isn't considering the 45-year-old righthander for his roster for the Beijing Games. "From my standpoint, we don't need that type of distraction," Watson said. In addition to his duties as vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball, Watson is general manager of professional baseball operations for USA Baseball and works to select manager Davey Johnson's roster. A seven-time Cy Young Award winner, Clemens was accused by his former trainer, Brian McNamee, of using performance-enhancing drugs in 1998, 2000, and 2001, before players and owners agreed to ban them. Clemens repeatedly denied the accusations. In November, Clemens's agent, Randy Hendricks, said pitching in the Olympics was "something to consider." . . . Alex Rodriguez (strained right quadriceps), Jorge Posada (rotator cuff tendinitis), and Phil Hughes (stress fracture in rib) are expected to travel to the Yankees' spring training facility in Florida today to continue rehabbing their injuries . . . Cardinals starter Mark Mulder has a mild rotator cuff strain in his left shoulder, causing St. Louis to stop his injury rehabilitation assignment. The Cardinals plan to rest Mulder for a week to 10 days before evaluating him . . . The Twins will put righthander Scott Baker (strained right groin) on the 15-day disabled list and recall lefthander Glen Perkins from Triple A Rochester in time to start Saturday at the Metrodome against the Red Sox . . . The Athletics will move Chad Gaudin to the bullpen to make room for the return of righthanded starter Rich Harden, who is scheduled to come off the DL to start Sunday at Texas . . . One night after losing shortstops David Eckstein (right hip) and John McDonald (right ankle) to injury, the Blue Jays purchased the contract of infielder Jorge Velandia from Triple A Syracuse while demoting struggling outfielder Adam Lind. Eckstein and McDonald were feeling better yesterday, and the Blue Jays chose to wait another day before deciding whether either would wind up on the disabled list . . . Major League Baseball executive vice president for labor relations Rob Manfred said the league had discussions with the White Sox after a player placed two nude blowup dolls in the clubhouse at Toronto before Sunday's game, but called it "fundamentally a club issue."

The running back tandem that helped Indianapolis win its first Super Bowl title has been reunited after Dominic Rhodes agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Colts, rejoining Joseph Addai. Rhodes's agent, Mike McCartney, confirmed the signing although he did not disclose financial details. Rhodes was released by the Raiders recently after one season with Oakland . . . Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid's son Garrett, already serving time for a heroin-fueled car crash that injured a motorist, was sent to state prison after admitting he smuggled 89 prescription pills into a county jail. Garrett Reid, 25, faces a minimum of two years in state prison but could be released earlier to a less restrictive facility if he is accepted into a drug-treatment program.

Recapturetheglory, fifth in the Kentucky Derby behind winner Big Brown, will run in the May 17 Preakness, likely making the colt the only one from the Derby that will challenge Big Brown . . . The New York Racing Association is considering replacing dirt with synthetic surfaces at Saratoga, Belmont, and Aqueduct.

The NCAA accused Alabama State of 23 rules violations, alleging widespread use of ineligible players, grade changes, and recruiting misdeeds, and charging the school with lack of institutional control. The NCAA's notice of allegations, which culminated a nearly five-year investigation, gave the university until June 27 to respond . . . Florida International was placed on four years' probation by the NCAA and will lose scholarships for a variety of infractions . . . Florida State offensive tackle Daron Rose is ineligible for the season and will attend a junior college. Rose, who started 11 games last season, will attempt to regain his eligibility, school officials said . . . Former Georgia Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton resigned from his position as the school's assistant director of player personnel a day after he was charged with marijuana possession, driving under the influence of alcohol, and hit and run . . . Georgetown sophomore basketball guard Jeremiah Rivers, the son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers, will transfer to another school. Rivers played in all 34 games this season, averaging 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds . . . Dawn Staley will leave Temple to become the women's basketball coach at South Carolina.

Rafael Nadal and other top Spanish players rebelled against the head of their tennis federation in a dispute over the site for September's Davis Cup semifinal against the US, refusing to take part in promotional events while contending the reported choice of venue in Madrid will favor the faster-serving Americans. Because Madrid is 1,969 feet above sea level, Andy Roddick's serves would be faster. A higher altitude allows balls to travel faster because of less air pressure. The players ruled out boycotting the semifinal . . . Ana Ivanovic overcame a slow start before defeating qualifier Akgul Amanmuradova, 7-6 (7-0), 6-2, at the German Open in Berlin . . . FIFA, alarmed by the number of Brazilians who have become eligible to play for a different country after living there as little as two years, will ask its 208 member federations to introduce a five-year residency rule.