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Show StatesmanSports Friday, Ian. II, 2008 Page II First $100 million deal in NHL history made WASHINGTON (AP) — Alexander the Great has a contract worthy of his nickname — the first $100 million deal in NHL history. Alex Ovechkin signed a $124 million, 13-year contract extension Thursday with the Washington Capitals, a handsome reward for the charismatic Russian who has been a nonstop goal-scorer since coming to the NHL in 2005. "I'm happy I stay here," Ovechkin said. "It's my second home. I like the fans. I like the team. I like everything here." It's not the longest deal in NHL history — Rick DiPietro signed for 15 years with the New York Islanders — and it doesn't set the record for largest average salary, but it is the league's first contract to guarantee nine digits of income. "I'm a risk-taker," owner Ted Leonsis said. "And if you're going to make a long-term investment, who else would you do it with7" The contract will pay Ovechkin $9 million per year for the first six years and $10 million per year for the following seven. A limited movement clause kicks in after several years that will allow Ovechkin to select a handful of teams at the beginning of each season to which he cannot be traded. And he won't have to pay an agent anything. Ovechkin worked out the details himself in negotiations with Leonsis and general manager George McPhee. The 22year-old Russian was in the final season of a three-year, deal. WASHINGTON CAPITALS LEFT WING ALEX OVECHKIN, OF RUSSIA, smiles during a press conference Thursday in Washington. AP Photo Welcome Back Special for all you Aggies Tunex 5 5 East 2000 North Tr*7, f *1J' '<wn lixfli e-.^r-w WE DO IT ALL! MLB and NFL each give money for steroid research DENVER (AP) —Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was looking for a way to show he's really trying to fight steroids. The U.S. Olympic Committee served up a perfect opportunity for Selig to do something more than just talk. Major League Baseball and the NFL agreed Thursday to join an anti-doping research collaborative spearheaded by the USOC. Each will contribute $3 million to create the most extensive drug-fighting partnership to date between the United States' biggest pro leagues and its Olympic federation. A month after the release of the Mitchell Report, this announcement was especially significant for baseball, which is looking for any glimmer of good news during this winter of discontent filled with news of doping, Roger Clemens and pending Congressional hearings. "Major League Baseball's support of this important new effort by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency continues our commitment to fight the use of performanceenhancing substances among our athletes," Selig said in a statement. When the Mitchell Report came out last month, Selig promised he would act. The timing of the announcement is opportune for baseball, though USOC chief executive officer Jim Scherr said details of this program have been in the works for more than six months. "We've worked a long time with baseball and the other par- ticipants," Scherr said. "It's been a sincere, long-running effort by them." The USOC also is giving $3 million, and USADA is giving $1 million to the new Partnership for Clean Competition, a collaborative venture that will use the money to fund grants for research to combat performanceenhancing drugs in sports. The NBA, NHL and PGA also are participating, and USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth said the USOC soon will secure more contributions from sports and non-sports corporations. Ueberroth told The Associated Press he expects the funding to go well beyond $10 million quickly. "We want to be in a place where we can stay ahead of cheaters and buy into economic ways to fight this battle," he said. Although this program isn't a shift in the leagues' testing protocols, it is significant because baseball and the NFL long have distanced themselves from antidoping programs endorsed by the USOC and USADA, saying their programs are tailored specifically for their sports and their unique management-union issues. Part of the research money will go toward developing a better and cheaper test to detect human growth hormone. Already working on these kinds of tests is Don Catlin, the longtime leader of the worldrenowned lab at UCLA who resigned to start his own lab. Catlin, who could be a beneficiary of this new line of funding, said he was "floored" by the news. "It's dear to my heart because I always felt research was the answer in this whole field," he said. "They've been doing testing for 25 years, and we all know what they can and can't do. My whole foundational premise and rationale for what I'm doing is a belief in research." Catlin, who has received $500,000 each from baseball and the NFL for research on a urine test on HGH, said he was surprised the leagues signed onto the program with the USOC. "That means they recognize the value of collaboration, and that there are common problems that cross over all sports," Catlin said. "That's important." The research collaborative is one in a series of anti-doping initiatives the USOC plans over the coming months and years. "It doesn't affect one sport or just sports," Scherr said. "It affects society. It's something the leagues sincerely believe in." Up to now, the research part of the anti-doping fight has been underfunded. Scientists and pharmacists have been able to come up with new, undetectable steroids more quickly than agencies such as USADA have come up with tests to fight them. The $10 million, to be contributed by the four founders over the next four years, will be a significant boost to the worldwide research effort. The World Anti-Doping Agency, thought to be the biggest single contributor to the cause, has given $31 million. Walker in early lead in Hawaii HONOLULU (AP) —Jimmy Walker would love to have a fairy-tale finish at the Sony Open. Given the bad memories from this place, he was thrilled Thursday with the first chapter. Walker hit 7-iron to 12 feet below the flag on the par-5 ninth to finish with an eagle for a 5-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead among the early starters in surprisingly calm conditions at Waialae Country Club. Chad Campbell and Rory Sabbatini, who made their '08 debut last week at the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship, were among a halfdozen players at 66. Tadd Fujikawa, meanwhile, was headed for a short week. One year after he became the youngest player (16) in 50 years to make the cut on the PGA Tour, Fujikawa never recovered from a double bogey on the second hole. He didn't make birdie until No. 12 and wound up with a 74, leaving him a long shot to earn his first paycheck since turning pro last summer. This is eighth event as a pro. "I had a rough day," Fujikawa said. "I've got to shoot a good round tomorrow to make the cut. I think I can do it. Anything is possible." Golf Channel began its broadcast without anchor Kelly Tilghman, serving a two-week suspension for saying with a laugh last week that the best way young players could take down Tiger Woods would be to • Engine performance/repair • Computer Diagnostics • Brakes • CV Axles • Emissions • Transmissions • A/C • Clutches • Alternators • Used Car Evaluations • Cooling Systems 55 E. 2000 N. • Logan • 755-9997 • • • • • • • • • • • • Happy New Year! 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