Corrina_Sullivan's Blog

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) -- Asterisk or not, the ball Barry Bonds launched for his record-breaking 756th home run won't land in the Hall of Fame.

The Hall said Tuesday recent talks with fashion designer Marc Ecko, who bought the souvenir for more than $750,000 last September, had "unfortunately reached an impasse." "The owner's previous commitment to unconditionally donate the baseball has changed to a loan. As a result, the Hall of Fame will not be able to accept the baseball," the Hall said in a statement. "Should the owner choose to unconditionally donate the ball to the museum at a future date, we would be delighted and of course, accept his offer," it said.

Nearly all of the Hall's 35,000-plus artifacts were presented on a permanent basis. The shrine does make exceptions, especially when it has nothing else to illustrate a story -- Willie Mays loaned the glove he used to make his famous, over-the-shoulder catch in the 1954 World Series. Bonds donated the batting helmets he wore when he hit his 755th and 756th home runs last August, breaking Hank Aaron's career record.

Ecko bought the 756 ball a month later in an online auction for $752,467, exceeding most expectations. With some claiming the record was tainted because of steroid allegations against Bonds, Ecko set up a Web site to let people vote on three options for the prize: give it straight to the Hall, mark it with an asterisk before sending it to Cooperstown or shoot it into space on a rocket ship.

In late September, Ecko said 10 million votes were recorded and that 47 percent favored adding an asterisk, 34 percent wanted it sent to the Hall and 19 percent picked outer space.

Now's your chance to vote. Did voters make the right selection? Should the ball be given to the Hall, marked with an asterisk or should NASA shoot it into space on a rocket ship?

Thanks for blogging,

Corrina 

MIAMI (AP) -- Pat Riley's worst season as coach of the Miami Heat will be his last. The Hall of Famer has resigned as coach but remains team president. Assistant coach Erik Spoelstra will replace Riley on the Heat bench, making the 37-year-old the youngest current coach in the NBA. Miami finished the season with the NBA's poorest record (15-67) and, by far, the worst of Riley's 25-year career.

Will you miss Coach Riley? Think the young new coach is the best way to go?

NEW YORK (AP) -- Baseball players and owners agreed Friday to amend their drug agreement, a decision that allows for more frequent testing and eliminates 15-day suspensions assessed in December against Jose Guillen and Jay Gibbons. The deal, reached after months of negotiations, strengthens the authority the independent administrator has over the drug program, giving him an initial three-year term and specifying he can be removed only if an arbitrator finds cause. But baseball did not heed advice from the World Anti-Doping Agency and turn drug testing over to an outside agency. In addition, the decision over whether a player can be subjected to reasonable cause testing will remain with management and the union, with any disagreement decided by the sport's regular arbitrator. Also, a joint management-union body called the Treatment Board will supervise the part of the program relating to drugs of abuse such as cocaine. "Going into this negotiation, the commissioner was 100 percent correct that we had the best program in professional sports," said Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president for labor relations. "These changes just solidify that kind of premier leadership position in my view." As part of the agreement, major leaguers -- including those named in December's Mitchell Report -- will join Major League Baseball's efforts to educate youth about performance-enhancing drugs. The players' association will contribute $200,000 to an anti-drug organization. In exchange for those two provisions, baseball commissioner Bud Selig agreed not to discipline players implicated by Mitchell during his 1 1/2-year investigation.

What do you think about the agreement? Is it  a mistake to not turn drug testing over to an outside agency?  What about Selig's decision not to discipline players implicated by Mitchell?

Have a wonderful weekend,
Corrina

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- The NFL has approved Wayne Huizenga's sale of 50 percent of the Miami Dolphins to Stephen Ross at the league meetings. Monday's vote was unanimous in Palm Beach. Huizenga will remain as the managing partner of the club for thenear future, setting no timetable for when Ross would take command. Ross is spending about $550 million for his share of the team. "This is a bittersweet moment for us," Huizenga said, "but we'll be staying on a little longer. I am pleased that when my timecomes to turn it over, that Steve will be a great owner. "The 67-year-old Ross is a New York real estate billionaire and"a great fan."It's a great privilege to join Wayne," he said. "We've developed a great relationship."

What do you Dolphins fans think?

Thanks for blogging,

Corrina

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Andy Pettitte apologized to the New York Yankees, Houston Astros and his fans Monday for the "embarrassment" he caused them by taking human growth hormone. The Yankees pitcher said he had not talked to good friend Roger Clemens since Pettitte's sworn statement implicated his former teammate in the use of HGH. "I never want a young person to do what I did," Pettitte said.

What do you make of Pettitte's apology?  Do you believe Clemens?

Thanks for blogging,
Corrina

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Tony Dungy is sticking with the Colts. The team said Monday that Dungy will remain with Indianapolis through at least the 2008 season before turning over the coaching to hand-picked successor Jim Caldwell. Dungy, the first black coach to win a Super Bowl, spent a week meeting with his family, close friends and trusted colleagues while deciding whether to return for a seventh season with the Colts. "It was a family decision," Dungy said. "We're on board, and we look forward to '08, look forward to putting together a winner." Team owner Jim Irsay said Dungy would stay at least one year and could stay longer. "This isn't a victory lap for Tony," Irsay said. It's the third straight year Dungy seriously considered retiring. The debate focused on Dungy's desire to balance family and football, especially after his family moved back to Tampa earlier this month. His 16-year-old son Eric now attends high school there, and Irsay's willingness to let Dungy spend more time in Florida was a factor in the decision. Irsay has said Dungy could spend Friday nights there watching his son's football games, but insisted the Colts job would be more than a part-time gig for Dungy. Dungy said he decided he could give coaching and his family life the "passion" both deserved. "

What do you think about Coach Dungy's decision to stay with the Colts? He stressed his desire to balance family and football.   How do you balance work and your family life?

Thanks for blogging,

Corrina

MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AP) -- All of Marion Jones' results dating to September 2000, including her Olympic and world championship titles, were annulled Friday because of doping. Track and field's governing body also told her to return her estimated $700,000 in prize money from that period. The International Association of Athletics Federation recommended that Jones' relay teammates be disqualified and lose their medals from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Do you think Jones' relay teammates from the 2000 Sydney Olympics should be disqualified and lose their medals too?

Happy Friday!

Corrina