Report: Feds question Pettitte about Clemens
Federal prosecutors have interviewed New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte as they investigate whether Roger Clemens, his former teammate, lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
Two people familiar with the case told the Associated Press on Tuesday that Pettitte was in Washington last week to meet with prosecutors. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Pettitte has acknowledged taking human growth hormone and told congressional investigators that Clemens informed him nearly a decade ago that he used HGH.
Miguel Tejada apologized to his teammates at the Houston Astros’ training camp in Kissimmee, Fla., the first time he faced his teammates since he pleaded guilty in federal court last week to lying to congressional investigators in 2005 when they asked if he had conversations with players about performance-enhancing drugs. . . . Mike Hampton’s irregular heartbeat has cleared up without a procedure, and the Astros left-handed pitcher is headed back to spring training earlier than expected. . . . Reliever Eric Gagne and the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training. . . . The Florida Marlins gave Manager Fredi Gonzalez a contract extension through the 2011 season.
PRO FOOTBALL
Saints release McAllister
Running back Deuce McAllister was released by the New Orleans Saints in a move that reduced the team’s payroll as free agency approaches. McAllister, the Saints’ all-time leading rusher with 6,069 yards, was due more than $7 million next season. . . . The Detroit Lions have restructured the contract of quarterback Daunte Culpepper and signed potential free agents Jason Hanson and Stephen Peterman to long-term deals. . . . The Kansas City Chiefs retained offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and hired former New Orleans defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs as new Coach Todd Haley filled out his staff.
TENNIS
Williams sisters win in Dubai
Top-seeded Serena Williams dropped the first four games before recovering to defeat Sara Errani, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0, in the second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships in United Arab Emirates. Venus Williams defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkov, 6-0, 6-1. . . . Roger Federer pulled out of Switzerland’s Davis Cup series against the United States next month and a tournament in Dubai next week because of a back problem that has bothered him since last year.
ETC.
Leach misses contract deadline
Texas Tech football Coach Mike Leach missed another deadline to sign a new contract, and now the board of regents wants to meet to discuss his job. Leach told the AP he’s happy to coach the remaining two years of his contract, which pays $2.65 million next season and $2.35 million in 2010.
Josh Jenkins, the Cal State Northridge point guard injured in a car accident Saturday, should be able “to return to sports activity soon,” California Hospital Medical Center announced. California Hospital Trauma Medical Director Dr. Gudata Hinika said Jenkins “underwent a successful operation and is recovering well.”
Neil Everett and Stan Verrett will anchor the 10 p.m. edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” from Los Angeles beginning April 6.
Umberto Gandini, the AC Milan director who handles international player transfers, was scheduled to fly to Los Angeles on Thursday to discuss David Beckham’s status with Tim Leiweke, chief executive of AEG, which owns the Galaxy.
Beckham is on loan to AC Milan and wants to remain in Italy.
-- Grahame L. Jones
NCAA President Myles Brand, 66, says he’s fighting advanced pancreatic cancer “as hard as I can” with aggressive chemotherapy that has left him fatigued. Brand told USA Today that doctors told him his cancer had reached the fourth and final stage by spreading beyond the pancreas, making surgical removal of the cancer impossible.
Marijon Ancich, tied with Concord De La Salle’s Bob Ladouceur as the winningest high school football coaches in California history, has begun his third stint as football coach at Santa Fe Springs St. Paul after being hired to help rebuild the program he coached for 34 seasons. He replaces Pete Gonzalez, who was 21-16 in three seasons, winning the Western Division title in 2007.
-- Ben Bolch
