Biggio becomes 27th player to reach 3,000 hits (AP/SI.com)

It’s finally over: the Houston Astros no longer have to play Craig Biggio on a regular basis as the former All-Star collected his 3,000th hit off Colorado’s Aaron Cook.  We kid, of course.

Biggio’s 3,000th hit puts him in elite company as he is the only player in major league history to have at least 600 doubles (658), 250 home runs (286), 3,000 hits and 400 stolen bases (413). And as the Associated Press notes, his 3,000th hit came one day shy of the 19th anniversary of his first career hit, a single off Orel Hershiser on June 29, 1988.

Congratulations to Craig Biggio, the newest member of the 3K hit club.

News and notes while wrapping our minds around a Spice Girls reunion…

All-square in America’s Cup enters fifth race (Reuters) The tension is palpable. The memories are waiting.

Cashman refuses to comment on Torre’s future (ESPN.com) New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman declined to say that manager Joe Torre’s job was safe on 1050 ESPN New York’s Michael Kay Show.

All Star (Soul of Baseball) TSB’s Joe Posnanski fills out his National League and American League All-Star rosters for this year’s game in San Francisco.

Not in Arkansas anymore (The FanHouse) Recent Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain follows in the footsteps of Matt Leinart and takes a dance-related class — ballet — among his first classes at Southern Cal. Coach Pete Carroll wants these types of classes out of the way.

Mayweather coming out of retirement to silence Hatton (USA Today) Motivated by disparaging remarks Ricky Hatton made after his HBO-televised victory against Jose Luis Castillo last Saturday, Mayweather says he’s coming out of retirement to see if Hatton really wants him. We guess if one needs a reason to unretire, that’s as good as any.

A’s 3, Indians 4 (AP/Sportsline recap) Cleveland’s Jason Michaels hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Cleveland Indians held off the A’s 4-3.

BlueJays 5, Twins 8 (AP/Sportsline recap) As noted on Thursday, Toronto’s Frank Thomas belted his 500th home run and got ejected in the top of the ninth as the Minnesota Twins win on two home runs by outfielder Torii Hunter, 8-5.

Dodgers 9, D’Backs 5 (AP/ESPN recap) Los Angeles backstop Russell Martin spoiled Randy Johnson’s return from the disabled list with a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-5.

Redlegs 7, Fightins 8 (AP/ESPN recap) Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins had four hits, including a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-7.

Who knew Nancy Benoit was dead? (ABC News)

In yet another twist to this developing story, ABC News has learned that a website posting had listed the death of Nancy Benoit, wife of WWE entertainer Chris, some 13 hours before Atlanta police discovered the bodies.

According to the report, someone anonymously updated the wrestler’s Wikipedia page, stating the following:

“Chris Benoit was replaced by Johnny Nitro for the ECW Championship match at Vengeance, as Benoit was not there due to personal issues, stemming from the death of his wife Nancy,” the posting read.

The posting, according to a Wikipedia communications manager, indicates that the Internet Protocol (IP) address comes from Stamford, Connecticut.  The town, coincidentally enough, just happens to be the home for WWE, Benoit’s employer.

So the question is: who knew Nancy Benoit was deceased?

NHLPA forms five-player search committee for new boss (AP/USA Today)

After meeting with MLBPA union chief Donald Fehr on Wednesday to find a direction, the NHLPA has set out to find their next great leader that’s not named Alan Eagleson, Bob Goodenow or Ted Saskin.

A five person search committee is given the task of finding a new union leader to replace the evicted Ted Saskin, fired while under pressure after allegations that he snooped around player’s private emails.

“We’re walking out of here with a positive attitude,” Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios said after three days of meetings. “It’s been a long two years. Obviously we’ve been damaged and there’s been a crisis …

“I’ve been through the glory days, some of the best days, and those days are in the near future.”

Chelios was among the five players selected to head the search committee for a new executive director. He largely led the fight against Saskin’s controversial hiring in August 2005.

Other players on this committee are: Mike Cammalleri of the Los Angeles Kings, Shawn Horcoff of the Edmonton Oilers, Eric Lindros of the Dallas Stars and Robyn Regehr of the Calgary Flames.

Who might be owning the Chicago Cubs? (BizofBaseball)

The great baseball business blog Biz of Baseball (appropriately named, natch) brings us details of the four groups who figure to be prime-time players in pursuing the Chicago Cubs from incoming owner Sam Zell, the billionaire capitalist who purchased The Tribune Cos. earlier this year.

Four groups that Maury Brown identifies are:

• John Canning, Jr. - heads Madison Dearborn Partners and has been the front-runner since day one; once tried out for the Milwaukee Braves.
• Jerry Colangelo - former owner of the Arizona DiamondBacks and currently owns the NBA’s Phoenix Suns
• Thomas Begel and William Marovitz - Begel owns a private investment firm in Chicago and runs a restaurant; Marovitz made his money the old fashioned way: he married into it (Christie Hefner, CEO of Playboy).
• Mystery group! - And no, it’s not Mark Cuban or Oprah.

NYC makeup artist sues ESPN, claiming she was sexual harassed (Newsday)

According to a published report in Newsday, a woman named Rita Ragone, who worked on the set of ESPN’s “Cold Pizza”, has decided to sue the network, claiming she was canned for complaining about sexual harassment by host Jay Crawford and former panelist Woody Paige.

From Newsday:

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court, claims that the harassment began almost immediately after Ragone was hired by a video production company in 2005 to do hair and makeup on the “Cold Pizza” set.

Ragone said Paige, now a columnist with The Denver Post, repeatedly made vulgar remarks about her appearance. Crawford, she said, made unwanted sexual advances, told her she only got the job because of her looks, and contributed to a locker-room atmosphere by making disparaging remarks about another hair stylist.

Ragone said the situation was exacerbated by a few other female employees who didn’t seem to mind the atmosphere, including a stylist who gave the men lap dances.

(Note: tip o’the cap to Deadspin for finding the story.)

According to a post from St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz, the board that oversees the election of hockey’s greatest players have selected former Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues defenseman Al MacInnis to the hockey’s hallowed Hall in Toronto, Ontario.

For a complete list of those eligible for induction, check out the Hockey Hall of Fame website.

More when updates are available…

***UPDATED at 3:10 PM EDT***

STL Today now has confirmation of MacInnis’ election.  No other names have been released at this time.

***UPDATED at 3:40 PM EDT***

According to TSN Canada, the others inducted are…Mark Messier, Ron Francis, Scott Stevens and builder Jim Gregory.

Awful Announcing presents the great 2007 NBA blogger’s mock draft (Awful Announcing)

The great website Awful Announcing put together a group of 26 bloggers to hash out the ultimate NBA mock draft.

The 411:

The Rundown: Each Blogger was given a team to represent and make selections for (AA’s was Portland). Picks were made via message board at Ballhype, and carefully dissected and ridiculed.

The Plan: I came up with the brilliant idea to grade each of the Teams/Blogger’s picks just so you could mock (get it?) them in the comments.

The Actuality: I basically picked for a ton of people so making fun of them wouldn’t really fly. We’re still going to grade the picks, but by team only in another post. In all seriousness only one pick was really a stretch (a huge one at that), but you never know….Aflalo really COULD go #13! (Riiiight)

Our friend and former National Pastimes colleague Classic Cola for the Soul played the role of Mitch Kuphak, selecting for the Los Angeles Lakers. He’ll no doubt be added to Kobe Bryant’s shit list next.

Frank Thomas, the BlueJays’ designated hitter, knocked out his 13th dinger of the season off Carlos Silva in Minnesota.

More importantly, “The Big Hurt” notched career home run number 500 for his career in the same building he hit his first: the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

Congrats to Frank!

DEA raids Chris Benoit’s Doctor’s office (The FanHouse)

FOX5 News in Atlanta is reporting yet another twist in the unsettling death of WWE entertainer Chris Benoit and his family over the weekend.

The station has learned that the DEA has raided the offices of the wrestler’s doctor, Dr. Phil Astin.  The DEA is investigating the link between the two based upon prescription bottles found in the Benoit family residence with the doctor’s name on it.

News and notes while still laughing at Prince Fielder’s slide yesterday…

Quickie: 2007 NBA mock draft, rumors, KSK b-day and more! (danshanoff.com)  Dan Shanoff does his own NBA mock draft and has an interesting choice as who’ll be selected numero uno.

Happy Birthday to KSK! (KissingSuzyKolber) Enjoy the hilarious birthday greetings they’re getting throughout the day.

Dodgers to draw their 175th million fan (Biz of Baseball)  The Los Angels Dodgers have figured out when they will draw their 175th million fan: their July 3, 2007 contest against the Atlanta Braves during “Think Blue” week.

See Kobe cuss and rip teammates! (The FanHouse) The video that sent ripples (and by ripples, we mean undulating waves) through the Lakers organization has seen the light: star Kobe Bryant cussing and ripping management and teammate Andrew Bynum.  Pretty worthless, but “newsworthy” nonetheless.

Wally Backman has had a tough few years (Deadspin)  An old DUI arrest. An impending bankruptcy. Fired as MLB manager in less than a week. Yeah, it’s been a rough time for Wally Backman the last few years.

Television Hall of Fame: first class (TSB)  Joe Posnanski of The Soul of Baseball asks the question: who should be be in television’s Hall of Fame?

Real Madrid fires manager Fabio Capello (AP/USA Today)

Real Madrid, who recently guided the club to its first title in four years, canned manager Fabio Capello on Wednseday.

The best unemployed GM in baseball (The Hardball Times)

He guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2004 NL West title, their first playoff entry in eight years.

He signed J.D. Drew, Jeff Kent and Derek Lowe to favorable contracts.

He let third baseman Adrian Beltre depart, avoiding the temptation to be the top bidder on someone who ended up with a five-year, $64 million dollar pact with the Seattle Mariners.

Who is it?

Paul DePodesta, who guided the Dodgers over an 18-month timespan and was canned in 2005 by owner Frank McCourt after he failed to get the club into the playoffs for the second year in a row.

The Hardball Times’ Jacob Jackson takes a look at the tenure of DePodesta in Los Angeles and highlights how he might be a good fit to be a general manager for a team seeking one, citing his experience, age, he played the game and he’s smart.

Federer runs grass streak to 50; Henman falls short (AP/USA Today)

The winning on grass streak rolls on for tennis legend-in-the-making Roger Federer: he ran his streak to 50 wins as he rolled to a 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 victory over 18-year-old Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. England’s favorite son Tim Henman (they’ve even named a hill on the All-England grounds after him) lost in the second round for the third year in a row.

Silna family “fortune” and the draft (Sports Biz with DR)

Thanks to the great Darren Rovell, we are again reminded of the excellent deal that Dan and Ozzie Silna made back in 1976: they took $2.2 million and 1/7th of the television revenue of the four teams going in: the Nuggets, the Spurs, the Nets and the Pacers, in perpetuity.

So when the NBA signed their new television agreement with ABC/ESPN and TNT Wednesday for a cool $930 million per year, the Silna’s will be cashing a total of $136 million in checks over the next eight years.

Deford: It’s been Henin against the world, and she’s winning (SI.com)

The great Frank Deford of Sports Illustrated profiles female tennis player Justine Henin, who has hurdled numerous obstacles in both her personal and professional lives to the point of being one major tournament short (Wimbledon) of a career Grand Slam.