Don’t expect to see Barry Bonds showing up in a pennant race.
Bonds has not received a single offer, agent Jeff Borris said Monday. He dismissed recent reports of interest from Arizona, the New York Mets and Boston.
“I’m an optimistic guy by nature,” Borris said, “and I’ve told Barry that the prospects look bleak.”
Bonds, who turns 44 in two weeks, led the majors last season with a .480 on-base percentage. He finished the year with 762 career home runs and became a free agent when the San Francisco Giants did not bring him back.
“Barry is in shape right now,” Borris said. “He’s not in game shape, so he’d have to have the chance to hit off of live pitching. But he’s told me that he would be ready in a very short period of time. He thinks he can be ready 10 days, two weeks.”
Tippet extends contract
DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Stars rewarded coach Dave Tippett for a trip to the Western Conference finals by adding two years to his deal, keeping him under contract through the 2010-11 season.
It’s his second extension in a short time: He was signed for 2008-09 in December.
“Dave has proven to be a great leader on the Stars bench and we are pleased to have him under contract for the next three seasons,” co-general manager Brett Hull said Monday.
Tippett’s teams have made the playoffs in all six seasons he’s been in charge. His overall regular-season record is 235-127-48.
Packer arrested on felony drug charges
HOUSTON (AP) — Former Texas A&M and current Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Johnny Jolly Jr. faces a July 22 court date after he was arrested last week and charged with felony drug possession, court records show.
Jolly, 25, was arrested last Tuesday in Houston for possession of at least 200 grams of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony, said John Meltzer, clerk for the 262nd District Court. He posted $10,000 bond and was released Wednesday.
Brian Overstreet, Jolly’s attorney, didn’t immediately return a phone call Monday.
Steelers’ ownership in turmoil
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ ownership is in turmoil, a dispute pitting brother against brother that may wind up with a billionaire investor gaining control of one of the NFL’s signature teams.
Many Steelers fans never thought they would see the day when the team was not owned by the Rooneys, one of the first families of American pro sports and NFL pioneers for three-quarters of a century.
Donaghy calls revealed
NEW YORK (AP) — Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy made more than 100 phone calls to a fellow official at the same time he was providing information to gamblers during the 2006-07 season, Fox News reported Monday.
Citing court documents and phone records it obtained, Fox reported Donaghy placed 134 calls to referee Scott Foster between October 2006 and April 2007, the period during which he has confessed to betting on games or passing on game information to gamblers.
It’s not known what information was exchanged during the calls between Foster and Donaghy, who is awaiting sentencing later this month in federal court.
The 41-year-old Donaghy pleaded guilty last year to felony charges of taking cash payoffs from gamblers in the 2006-07 season. He faces up to 33 months in prison.
According to a story published Monday on Fox News’ Web site, the majority of the phone calls lasted no more than two minutes and occurred before and after games Donaghy officiated and on which he admits wagering.
