McGwire says Thursday that he knew his brother Jay McGwire was writing a book but he was still saddened to know a relative could "do something like that."
Jay McGwire chronicles Mark's use of steroids and human growth hormone in "Mark and Me: Mark McGwire and the Truth Behind Baseball's Worst-Kept Secret." The book, to be released Monday, says Big Mac knew he became a better hitter because steroids enhanced his size and strength. The brothers haven't spoken since 2002.
NAVY BOXING: The Naval Academy will host its 69th annual Brigade Boxing Championships tonight at 7 at Halsey Field House. The event is free and open to the public.
GOLF: The memory of a missed 3-foot putt did nothing to diminish Camilo Villegas's game in the Phoenix Open. The 28-year-old Colombian tied the tournament first-round record with a 9-under 62 to take a one-shot lead over former Florida teammate Matt Every.
Justin Rose, Mark Wilson, Ryuji Imada, Rickie Fowler and Pat Perez were three strokes back at 65 in near-perfect conditions at TPC Scottsdale.
Phil Mickelson and defending champion Kenny Perry were in a large group at 68. Match Play champion Ian Poulter struggled to a 72.
TENNIS: Top-seeded Fernando Verdasco was knocked out of the quarterfinals of the Mexican Open by Juan Monaco, and women's No. 1 seed Venus Williams fought back from 1-5 down in the final set to survive.
In a late match, two-time defending champion Nicolas Almagro of Spain faced countryman and No. 4 Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Second-seeded Ivo Karlovic of Croatia blasted 26 aces past Daniel Brands of Germany in a 7-6 (8), 7-6 (6) victory in the second round of the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships.
PRO FOOTBALL: Oakland defensive end Richard Seymour and New England defensive tackle Vince Wilfork were among six players who received the franchise tag from their teams Thursday.
Kickers Olindo Mare of Seattle and Jeff Reed of Pittsburgh, Green Bay defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, and San Francisco defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin also were on the list.
NFL draft hopefuls are undergoing more thorough exams for head injuries at this week's annual scouting combine.
All 329 invited players will be given a baseline brain activity exam - called the ImPACT test - and will likely face more grilling than previous classes did about their concussion histories. Those implementing the changes call it smart football.
In past years, it was up to individual teams to conduct such tests.
By examining everyone at the combine, the league will have a more standardized way of evaluating players and potentially collecting data about repeated hits to the head. It's another step toward making the game safer as awareness increases about the long-term dangers of concussions.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Patrick Patterson had a season-high 23 points and No. 2 Kentucky avenged its only loss this season with an 82-61 victory over South Carolina last night. The Wildcats (27-1, 12-1) need just one more victory or a Vanderbilt loss to clinch at least a share of their 44th Southeastern Conference championship.
In other Top 25 games, No. 5 Duke beat Tulsa 70-52; No. 16 Vanderbilt beat Georgia 96-94, OT; No. 17 Wisconsin ripped Indiana 78-46; No. 18 Gonzaga routed Santa Clara 88-51.
FOR THE RECORD
BASEBALL
American League
KANSAS CITY ROYALS-Agreed to terms with INF Josh Fields and INF Kila Ka'aihue on one-year contracts.
TEXAS RANGERS-Voided the contract of INF Khalil Greene.
National Basketball Association
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES-Assigned C Hasheem Thabeet to Dakota (NBADL).
WASHINGTON WIZARDS-Bought out the contract of C Zydrunas Ilgauskas and waived him.
National Football League
ARIZONA CARDINALS-Agreed to terms on contract extensions for coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Rod Graves through the 2013 season.
OAKLAND RAIDERS-Designated DL Richard Seymour as the franchise player.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS-Agreed to terms with NT Casey Hampton. Designated PK Jeff Reed as the franchise player.
National Hockey League
NHL-Suspended St. Louis F Cam Janssen five games for a late hit to the head delivered to an unsuspecting opponent during a Feb. 13 game against Washington.
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