Bat assault during game gets Offerman arrested (ESPN news services)

Former major leaguer Jose Offerman was arrested in Bridgeport, Conn., after charging the mound and clubbing the pitcher and catcher with a bat in an independent league game for the Long Island Ducks.

According to the Connecticut Post, [Bridegport Fish pitcher Matt] Beech was hit on the hands as he attempted to defend himself, while catcher John Nathans was hit in the back of the head on Offerman’s backswing. Police said Beech, a left-hander, sustained a broken right middle finger, and Nathans later suffered from nausea, the newspaper reported.

The YouTube video that should come out featuring this incident shall be both frightening and entertaining. Just call us interested observers.

Olney: Rizzuto touched lives across generations (ESPN the Magazine)

ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney writes on on the life and times of New York Yankees legend Phil Rizzuto, who passed away at the age of 89 Tuesday following an illness.

When the 6-foot-3 [Derek] Jeter first met Rizzuto, he couldn’t believe how small the former shortstop was. Rizzuto, who was the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1950 in a league of DiMaggio and Williams and other enormous stars, was 5-foot-6.

“We’d talk about it, when Yogi [Berra] came in, or when Mr. Rizzuto [came], how small they are,” Jeter said. “[Rizzuto] was tiny. But he really got the most out of his ability. It goes to show you that it’s not about how big you are.”

Jeter, of course, knew all about the man he called “Mr. Rizzuto.” He had wanted to be the Yankees’ shortstop since he was a boy. He spent summers in the New York area watching WPIX and Rizzuto, the only shortstop in Yankees’ history with his number retired — No. 10.

Touching lives across generations is what made ‘Scooter’ so great. 

RIP, Mr. Rizzuto.

Donaghy turns himself into authorities (AP/USA Today)

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy turned himself in to authorities Wednesday in anticipation of a plea to gambling-related offenses, a source told the Associated Press.

Besides allegedly placing his own wagers, investigators examined whether Donaghy provided inside information to others, including referees’ schedules. The referee had a gambling problem and was approached by low-level mob associates through an acquaintance, a law enforcement official has said.

Some information provided by the Associated Press.

Woods chooses N.C. mountains for first U.S. golf course (USA Today)

Reigning PGA Champ Tiger Woods announced that his foray into designing a golf course on U.S. soil will be located at the 5,000 feet above the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the North Carolina-South Carolina border.

And if you’re planning to play the course when it’s completed, be sure to bring some comfy Foot-Joys: walking only.

…Woods already is trying to determine the configuration of the holes, but he said he has so many options that it’s difficult to decide. It will have one characteristic: It’s designed for walking.

“Jim and I both have an interest in fitness,” Woods said. “Obesity and diabetes is an epidemic in the country. We want something to encourage physical fitness.”

He said he was unsure about the length, but he added, “We’ll have a complex of about five tees on every hole, and we’ll have no more than a 5% grade on any hole so we’ll have a course everyone can walk.”

The course will be a part of The Cliffs, a golfing community that already consists of courses that have been designed by gold legends Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and Gary Player.

The morning after Ryan Braun comes up a double short of the cycle…

Boston won only its second game of the year when trailing after eight innings; Arizona’s Byung-Hyun Kim lasted only 17 pitches in his second start for the Diamondbacks since they claimed him off waivers from Florida, giving up four runs — three earned; Roy Halladay notched his major league-leading fifth complete game and the reigning World Series champions have clawed their way back into the NL Central division race, trailing Milwaukee by 4 1/2 games, and second-place Chicago by three;

D’Rays 1, Red Sox 2 — Mike Lowell’s homer and Coco Crisp’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth gave Boston a 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay at the Fens.

Tigers 6, Indians 2 — Magglio Ordonez hit a three-run homer in Detroit’s four-run 10th inning as Detroit takes a one-game lead on their AL Central counterpart Indians with the 6-2 win.

O’s 12, Yanks 0 — Aubrey Huff hit a grand slam and the Orioles cooled off New York in a somber Yankee Stadium following the death of Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto Tuesday.

Angels 1, BlueJays 4 — The BlueJays teed off on Angels starter Joe Saunders in the first inning, plating four runs and giving starter Roy Halladay all that he needed in his complete game, five-hitter to gain the win.

Twins 12, Mariners 3 — Jason Bartlett’s leadoff homer sparked a three-run fifth for Minnesota and Matt Garza won for the first time in over a month as the Twins snapped a five-game losing streak with an 11-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners

More after the jump »

News and notes while wishing MLB.com would easily work on my Dash…

Raiders’ Kiffin still hospitalized (AP/SI.com) Oakland boss Lane Kiffin underwent more tests in the hospital Tuesday as he missed another day of practice while recovering from a viral infection.

‘Ocho Cinco’ fights twice during practice (The FanHouse) Bengals WR Chad Johnson and DB Madieu Williams got into two fights during practice.  At least he stays away from the police blotter. (Pictorial goodness inside!)

Cox sets ejection record (AJC.com) Atlanta Braves skipper Bobby Cox was thrown out for arguing from the dugout after Chipper Jones took a called third strike to end the fifth inning of the Braves’ 5-4 win against San Francisco.

Dice-K inks pact with Upper Deck (Sports Biz) CNBC’s Darren Rovell reports that Boston hurler Daisuke Matsuzaka has signed an exclusive agreement iwth trading card and memorabilia company Upper Deck for a one-year duration. Better buck up for a baseball: $400 for English; $500 for Kanji.