8B
SPORTS
STEROIDS
THE UNIVERSITY DARLY KANSAN
THURSDAY MARCH 6, 2008
Congressman excuses Clemens
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON A Democratic congressman asked the FBI on Wednesday to drop its investigation of Roger Clemens because the pitching great had suffered enough from the probe into steroid use.
Rep. Anthony Weiner, a candidate for New York mayor in 2009, said the FBI is too busy with more important crimes to spend time trying to determine if the ex-Yankees pitcher lied to Congress about taking performance enhancing substances.
"Roger Clemens has been shamed. I think the public record is replete with examples of how he did not likely tell the truth. What is the
public benefit of continuing with an FBI investigation?" Weiner said.
Weiner also suggested his fellow lawmakers had gone far enough with inquiries into steroids use by professional athletes and should let professional sports leagues handle the matter.
"The real incentive to clean up this mess is not a governmental one," said Weiner, a Mets fan whose district includes parts of Queens and Brooklyn.
The FBI took over the Clemens case after Congress asked the Justice Department to look into Clemens' testimony at a Feb. 5 deposition and a Feb. 13 hearing. Weiner is not a member of the House Oversight and Government Committee, which heard from Clemens.
Clemens testified he never used steroids or human growth hormone; his former trainer testified he injected Clemens with such substances at least 16 times from 1998 to 2001.
If investigators conclude Clemens lied on critical details, he could face charges of perjury, making false statements or obstruction of justice.
In a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Weiner wrote: "Whether or not Roger Clemens may have committed perjury should not compete with real national security threats for the FBI's time, attention and resources."
There was no immediate comment from the Justice Department on Wednesday.
>> NFL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Joey Harrington sits on the turf after being knocked down in the fourth quarter of a football game against the New York Giants Oct. 15, 2007 in Atlanta. The Falcons released Harrington on Wednesday.
Falcons retool lineup post-Vick
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Joey Harrington is the latest victim of the Atlanta Falcons' purge.
The third overall pick in the 2002 draft by Detroit, the quarterback who started 10 of Atlanta's games last season was cut Wednesday. Running back Warrick Dunn was released on Monday by Atlanta, which last month cut tight end Alge Crumpler, offensive tackle Wayne Gandy and quarterback Byron Leffwich.
The move leaves Atlanta, which was 4-12 last season, with only two
quarterbacks on the roster — Chris Redman, who has been re-signed to a two-year deal, and D.J. Shockley, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. They are likely to pick a quarterback in April's draft, perhaps Boston College's Matt Ryan with the third pick.
Harrington, who was traded from Detroit to Miami and released by the Dolphins, was the primary replacement for Michael Vick — sentenced to 23 months in prison for his involvement in dogfighting.
Oakland, which has been on a spending spree, made an agreement with wide receiver Javon Walker, who had been released by Denver, and former San Francisco offensive tackle Kwame Harris.
back than Harrington, Brett Favre scheduled a news conference for Thursday to discuss his retirement. The Packers announced Tuesday that the 38-year-old star is retiring.
A more renowned quarter-
New England re-signed wite receiver Jabar Gaffney, who had 36 receptions for 449 yards and a career high five touchdowns last season.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Players on the Purdue bench react with seconds left on the clock during their basketball game against Ohio State on Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won in overtime 80-77.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ohio State's Evan Turner drives to the basket as Purdue's Keaton Grant, left, defends during the second half of their basketball game Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won in overtime 80-77.
Purdue loses Big Ten lead Ohio State victory puts Wisconsin in control of conference
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBUS, Ohio — After a season of nothing going right, Ohio State could do no wrong for one night. The Buckeyes put things together just in time to knock Purdue out of the Big Ten lead.
Jamar Butler scored 23 of his 25 points in the second half and Othello Hunter, a 56 percent free throw shooter, hit two foul shots and made a big defensive play in overtime to lead the Buckeyes to an 80-77 victory over No. 15 Purdue 80-77 on Tuesday.
The loss dropped the Boilermakers (23-7, 14-3), a half game behind first-place Wisconsin in the Big Ten. The 10th-ranked Badgers host Penn State on Wednesday and play at Northwestern on Saturday. The Boilermakers finish at Michigan on Sunday.
"I's frustrating, but it's one game," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "We."
controlled our own destiny, and now we don't."
The Buckeyes (18-12, 9-8), who lost their last four — all winnieable games — with a series of mishaps, finally made all the right moves.
teams on Tuesday, it was: No. 1 North Carolina 90, Florida State 77; No. 9 Texas 70, Nebraska 66; and No. 21 Marquette 67, Florida Gulf Coast 37.
"It feels good.
"It's frustrating, but it's one game. We controlled our own destiny, and now we don't."
MATT PAINTER
Purdue coach
It feels good.
It feels like some things finally went our way for once," Butler said. "All season it seemed like we were always on the other end. We just couldn't make the plays down the stretch. Today we stepped up and made big plays toward the end of the game and came away with a win."
Butler missed his only shot in the first half and had two points. In the second half, he was 6-of-7 from the field and made all five of his 3-point attempts.
"If you let someone like
In other games involving ranked
Jamar Butler shoot a couple of 3s you can actually play good defense on him and he's still going to hit some shots," Painter said.
Hunter, averaging 9.3 points a game, had 15, as did Evan Turner.
E'Twauo Moore had 16 points for the Boilermakers, who had won 13 of 14, while Scott Martin had 14 and
Robbie Hummel added 12 points and 10 rebounds.
With the score tied at 72 and 1:28 left in overtime, Hunter was fouled on a dunk attempt. He had hit three of six free throws for the game, but stepped to the line and made both foul shots.
He then got a hand on an inbounds pass under the Purdue basket that Butler was able to intercept.
Hummel's 3 cut the gap to a point, but Butler — one of the nation's top free throw shooters at 93 percent — was fouled and hit both with 16.7 seconds left for a 78-75 lead.
The teams traded possessions until Turner hit a leaner with 25.8 seconds left to put Ohio State ahead 76-72.
Moore missed a 3 with 12 seconds left and Turner rebounded and was fouled. He hit both shots to seal it and drop Purdue to 5-5 on the road.