Drugs Probe Panel Member: Players Not Likely to Testify

A member of a congressional panel investigating performance-enhancing drugs in baseball believes there's little to be gained by having players testify at next month's hearings.

"If we went back to every player, we would have to do research every morning, noon and night," Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) told the Associated Press yesterday. "There's no way in my judgment we're going to be able to focus on the past. Only a real court can do that."

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has scheduled a Jan. 15 hearing featuring former Senate majority leader George J. Mitchell, author of the recent report linking 91 baseball players to steroids and other performance enhancers. Commissioner Bud Selig and union leader Donald Fehr are to attend.

Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.), who serves on the panel, said no players were expected to appear then. Lynch said the committee was not ruling out the possibility of asking players to testify in the future if a "compelling reason" were to emerge.

Shays wants to focus on finding the best way to rid baseball of banned drugs. He said the sport's leadership deserves the brunt of the blame.

"Part of it is that major league baseball has been incredibly passive on this issue to the point of condoning it," he said. "And so, who do I think is mostly at fault? The commissioner, frankly, for tolerating it and for not having the guts to step up and say we need changes and if you don't agree with me, then find someone else to run this corrupt process." . . .

The New York Yankees finalized a one-year, $3.75 million contract with LaTroy Hawkins. The right-handed reliever, who turned 35 last week, was 2-5 with a 3.42 ERA last season for the Colorado Rockies.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Tyler Hansbrough scored 26 points and Wayne Ellington added a career-high 23 to help No. 1 North Carolina beat visiting Nevada, 106-70.

Ty Lawson had 16 points and a career-best 10 assists for the Tar Heels (12-0), who ran off 19 straight points spanning halftime to earn the latest in a series of lopsided victories. Armon Johnson scored 23 points to lead the Wolf Pack (7-5). . . .

LSU's Sylvia Fowles will miss two to four weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her right knee. The senior injured her knee during the second half of LSU's win over Miami in Cancun, Mexico, on Dec. 19.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: West Virginia University's Board of Governors is suing former coach Rich Rodriguez to collect a $4 million buyout of his contract with the school. The lawsuit, filed in Monongalia County Circuit Court, states the university believes Rodriguez doesn't intend to abide by the contract.

-- From News Services