Canadian Eric Gagne could face a suspension after being named in the Mitchell Report.
MLB players linked to steroid and/or HGH use in the Mitchell Report – including Blue Jays catcher Gregg Zaun and Canadian reliever Eric Gagne – are not out of the woods just yet.
According to information obtained by Metro, commissioner Bud Selig still is reviewing the report and is examining the possibility of slapping suspensions on implicated players – before the regular season opens.
•NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, meanwhile, expects this week to have his hands on concrete evidence of spying by the New England Patriots in recent seasons. Watch for unprecedented disciplinary measures … Star defensive lineman Jason Taylor, less than a week before his debut on Dancing With The Stars, is trying to cha-cha his way out of Miami. He’s at odds with Dolphins bossman Bill Parcells … And don’t be surprised if recently retired quarterback Brett Favre becomes the third man in NBC’s booth and joins Al Michaels and John Madden on Sunday night telecasts.
•Observed at the Raptors’ game Sunday: Andrea Bargnani plays almost constantly with his mouth wide open … Toronto players seem reluctant to converse with their new teammate, Primoz Brezec, not because he’s a sub-par player (which he is) but because of his very odd mannerisms … Without big man Chris Bosh (knee), the Raptors are like fish out of water and are devoid of players capable of stepping up and coming close to filling his shoes. In Houston, meanwhile, someone named Luis Scola is averaging 14.4 points and 7.4 rebounds in the absence of the Rockets’ injured big guy Yao Ming … Ex-Raptor Marcus Camby, shot-blocking wiz, is rated by Denver coach George Karl as the Nuggets’ best player, ahead of all-stars Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony … In Philadelphia, Canadian centre Samuel Dalambert is moaning about his playing time (averaging 33 minutes) with the 76ers, saying: “I feel like a roller-coaster being pulled in and out of games.” … NBA MVP? Kobe Bryant, edging Kevin Garnett.
•Eric Tillman, Roughriders general manager, discussing QB Marcus Crandell, who will start for Saskatchewan now that Kerry Joseph has been traded to the Argonauts: “I’ll be totally honest. Marcus is more accurate than Kerry. Period.”
•Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden, on why he left West Virginia University years ago: “I really thought God wanted me to do that.”
•Trade winds are blowing in MLB camps. Brandon Inge, Brian Roberts and Jason Marquis are being dangled by the Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs, respectively.
And, incidentally, I’ll be bringing you some spring training coverage from Florida, starting next week.
