Honus Wagner Card Sells for $2.8 Million

A rare Honus Wagner baseball card has been sold for a record $2.8 million, just more than six months after it was bought for a then-record $2.35 million.

Referred to as the "Mona Lisa" of baseball cards, it's in the best condition of the few known T206 Wagner cards, released in 1909 by the American Tobacco Company.

It was purchased by an unnamed private collector in a deal brokered by SCP Auctions, the firm that handled the previous sale to a California private collector and took a minority ownership position in the card at the time.

Past owners of the card include Wayne Gretzky.

It is estimated that fewer than 100 versions of the card have surfaced. Various theories exist as to why Wagner cut off the production of his card, including financial disagreements with the company and a desire to not promote tobacco to children.

COURTS: A prostitute who was with former Villanova basketball star Howard Porter on the night he was beaten aided and abetted his killing, according to a criminal complaint released.

Porter, 58, died May 26, a week after he was found unconscious in a Minneapolis alley.

Tonya Evette Johnson, 33, is charged with second-degree murder for her role in Porter's death. She told authorities that she was walking near her St. Paul apartment when she approached Porter for a "date." Johnson said she brought Porter to her apartment to exchange sex for money and crack cocaine when four masked men rushed in and beat him, according to the complaint.

Johnson told police she knew one of the men was Rashad Arthur Raleigh, 29, who has been charged with second-degree murder. The investigation is ongoing.

SOCCER: Fenerbahce's Edu Dracena and Sporting Lisbon's Gladstone will replace injured defenders Alex and Alex Silva for Brazil's exhibition games against the United States and Mexico.

Alex Silva hurt a muscle in Sao Paulo's 0-0 tie against Atletico Mineiro in the Brazilian league on Wednesday, while Chelsea's Alex has an injured ankle, the Brazilian Soccer Confederation said.

Brazil, the South American champion, plays the United States on Sunday at Chicago and Mexico on Wednesday at Foxborough, Mass., its final games before the start of World Cup qualifying in October.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: West Virginia Coach Rich Rodriguez has signed a contract extension that makes hefty retirement contributions and commitments for millions of dollars in facility improvements.

The signing in late August extends his contract one year through the 2013 season and includes more than $1.4 million in compensation and benefits annually. It comes eight months after he turned down a lucrative offer from Alabama and agreed to return for his seventh season in Morgantown.

HOCKEY: Scott Niedermayer is certain about only one thing in his hockey future -- he won't be on the ice when the Anaheim Ducks open camp next week.

The decision whether or not to retire is proving to be more difficult.

"It's sort of unfortunate that this decision has taken this long for me to make," the 34-year-old defenseman said.

-- From News Services