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Show StatesmanSports Page \2 Friday, Dec. 7, 2007 Dodgers sign Jones for big $ BALTIMORE'S JAY GIBBONS, LEFT. AND KANSAS CITY'S JOSE G U I L L E N , RIGHT, wearing a Seattle Mariners uniform, are shown in 2007 file photos. Guillen and Gibbons were suspended for the first 15 days of next season by Major League Baseball on Thursday for violating the sport's drug program. AP photo MLB hands out suspensions NASHVILLE, Term. (AP) — Jose Guillen and Jay Gibbons were suspended Thursday for the first 15 days of next season for violating baseball's drug policy, an indication how the sport might treat players named in the Mitchell steroids investigation. Guillen and Gibbons were accused in media reports of receiving human growth hormone after January 2005, when it was banned by baseball. Gary Matthews Jr., Rick Ankiel, Troy Glaus and Scott Schoeneweis also were linked to HGH, but baseball decided there was "insufficient evidence" to determine they committed a doping violation. They were accused of receiving performance-enhancing drugs before 2005. Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell was hired by baseball commissioner Bud Selig in March 2006 to investigate drugs in baseball, and his report is to be released by the end of the month. Guillen instructed the players' association to file a grievance, which would be decided by an arbitrator. Gibbons will not challenge his penalty. Earlier in the day, Guillen and Kansas City finalized their $36 million, three-year contract. "We signed Jose knowing that was a possibility," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said of the free-agent outfielder. "While my initial reaction is one of disappointment, I am thoroughly convinced that Jose will put this behind him and we collectively support him." Lingerie Jewelry Gifts' Potions Lotions Candles Incense NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Andruw Jones is following Joe Torre to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Gold Glove center fielder and the Dodgers reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday night on a $36.2 million, two-year contract that gives him the fifth-highest average salary in the major leagues. Jones, the former Atlanta star who has won 10 straight Gold Gloves, is coming off one of the worst offensive seasons of his career. But if he rebounds, he could give the Dodgers a desperately needed boost in the middle of the lineup. He must pass a physical for the deal to be completed, a person familiar with the negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. A five-time Ail-Star, Jones will receive a $12.2 million signing bonus, of which $5.1 million is payable next year, $2.1 million in 2009 and $5 million in 2010. He well get salaries of $9 million next vear and $15 million in 2009, and also will receive a no-trade clause. His agreement with the Dodgers was first reported by the Los Angeles Times on its Web site. Scott Boras, his agent, wouldn't confirm the agreement but sounded as if a deal had fallen into place. "Being on a competitive team was a very, very important part of his process," he said. Jones hit .222 this season, his lowest average since he batted .217 in 106 at-bats as a rookie in 1996. His 26 home runs were his fewest since 1997. He drove in 94 runs for the Braves, but finished with a paltry .311 on-base percentage. Had Jones finished with big numbers, he likely would have sought a longer-term agreement. Boras said there were really only two options when it came to length. "Very, very long-term or very, very short term," he said. "Nothing in between." Jones didn't consider a one- IN THIS SEPT. 23 FILE PHOTO, ATLANTA BRAVES' A N D R U W JONES celebrates as he scores the go-ahead run against the Milwaukee Brewers during an MLB baseball game in Atlanta. AP photo year contract. "I wouldn't put a player in that position, mainly because (he) just went through that," Boras said. "That was never an option." Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment. Jones is a .263 career hitter with 368 home runs and 1,117 RBIs. He was runner-up for the NL MVP award in 2005, when he had 51 homers and 128 RBIs. The following season he hit 41 home runs with a careerhigh 129 RBIs. He made $13.5 million this year, the final season of a five, year contract. The Braves macje no effort to re-sign him. J Jones' $18.1 million aver- * age salary trails only those of1 the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez ($27.5 million), Boston's Manny Ramirez ($20 million), the Yankees' Derek Jeter ($18.9 million), and the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano ($18.3 million). Adding Jones was the first major move for Los Angeles since Torre replaced Grady , Little as manager on Nov. 1. Jones will get a chance to work with Don Mattingly. NFL's 'Pacman'Jones pleads no contest LAS VEGAS (AP) — Suspended NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones pleaded no contest Thursday to a reduced charge in a Las Vegas strip club melee which preceded a triple shooting that left a man paralyzed. The Tennessee Titans cornerback appeared in Clark County 47 N Main St. Downtown Lo^an (435)752-7181 Mon-Sat 10-9 Sun 12-5 District Court to take a plea deal that officials said will get him probation in return for his testimony about the gunman who opened fire outside the club at the end of NBA All-Star weekend in February. The 24-year-old Jones, who is seeking reinstatement to the Titans, said little during the brief arraignment. He doffed a blue Texas Rangers baseball cap as he walked into court, handed it to a lawyer, and answered "Yes, sir," to a judge who asked him if he understood the plea deal. Jones will be sentenced to one year of probation for agreeing not to contest a charge of conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct, a gross misdemeanor, and to testify about the gunman. Prosecutors dropped two charges of coercion, a felony carrying a possible sentence of one to six years in prison. Clark County prosecutor Victoria Villegas has said authorities hope Jones can help identify the gunman. Defense attorney Robert Langford has declined to say if Jones knows the shooter's identity. No one has been charged in shooting, and Las Vegas police have not linked Jones to the gunfire. Police have instead called Jones the instigator of the melee that broke out inside the club after he showered dancers with dollar bills pulled from a black plastic trash bag — a stunt known as "making it rain." Witnesses told police that Jones and members of his entourage threatened people while they were being ejected, and that Jones spoke outside the club with the man who was suspected of opening fire minutes later. Under the plea deal, Jones will receive a suspended oneyear jail sentence, must attend an anger management program, complete 200 hours of commu5ADIA MORRISON, 25, nity service within a year and stands in a courtroom for her submit to random drug testing. arraignment, Thursday in Las Langford said the probation Vegas. Morrison pleaded no conand community service require- test to a felony battery charge in ments might be fulfilled near return for dropping other felony Jones' home in Tennessee. Jones charges. Morrison is a codefenalready is subject to the NFL's dant in a case against suspended drug testing program. Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones. Two co-defendants in the case also took plea deals that Langford said should spare each Jones left the courthouse jail time. Langford represents swarmed by reporters and all three. photographers. He pushed a The plea had been scheduled television camera out of his face Wednesday, but was postponed before he got into an SUV and one day after Jones' bodyguard, drove away. Robert "Big Rob" Reid, missed The three people wounded a flight from Los Angeles, in the Feb. 19 shooting — club Langford said. employee Tommy Urbanski, co-worker and bouncer Aaron Reid, 37, of Carson, Calif, pleaded no contest to conspiracy Cudworth and club patron* to commit disorderly conduct in Natalie Jones — have each have filed civil lawsuits seeking damreturn for a promise of one year ages from Jones. of probation. Reid had faced a Team: It s time to get it together [I continued from page 9 - ,i,,a:-? . ' • > , Alliance Marketing is hiring sales reps to go door-to-door offering customers an aggressively lower price to encourage customers to upgrade their company and save money on garbage service. . •1:4 Travel Expenses and Housing Provided! Guarantee minimum of $1,000 per month. Earn $ 5 , 0 0 0 to $ 1 2 , 0 0 0 per month. Excellent training and summer work experience. ALLIANCE m M A R K E T I N G Stfne&ieA,! WWW.teamami.com I NT 800-864-1105 "Performance with Integrity" them. Too bad the entire team was an ice cold 4-of-17 from behind the 3-point arc. It's aggravating. I would hope I speak for all Aggie fans. We all just sat through another loss-filled football season. You, the basketball team, are supposed to be the group that brings us all out of the misery consistently found on the gridiron.. You have had eight straight 23-win seasons and eight consecutive visits to the post season. The only way you are going to be able to make it nine in a row of the above-mentioned achievements is if you become tough enough to win away from the Spectrum. Sammy Hisiop is a junior majoring in pubtic relations. Contact him at hislop@aggiemaiiusu.eau. |