News and notes while celebrating remembering Mark McGwire clubbing 62 on this date in ‘98…

Harold Reynolds claims ‘racial bias’ in dismissal from ESPN (NY Times) The paperwork has been filed and the gloves are now off: Reynolds claims race played a role in his termination; ESPN claims Reynolds is trying to use that as a means to “deflect attention from his own conduct.”

Watson wants to return to Astros (Baseball Musings) Former Astros GM Bob Watson would like a return engagement in Houston (Tip o’ the cap to The FanHouse).

You can quit pitching scripted TV ideas to ESPN (The Big Lead) “The Worldwide Teaser” ditches scripted programming and will rely on sports-related content.

The Saturday Quickie (DanShanoff.com) Quick-hit notes on Messrs. Rick Ankiel and Troy Glaus, college football, background checks, Curtis Granderson’s feat and…more!

Exposing our dirty double standards (ESPN.com) Jayson Stark takes a look at MLB’s double standards. Quick commentary: While we agree with most of it — especially one and two — we find fault with numero tres. In short, we don’t agree with the premise that football stories related to similar circumstances are “buried” because it’s a bit disingenuous to write. Why? Because of varying things, including the 24/7 news cycle, the NFL’s aggressiveness in handling drug violators and NFL player cases of civil disobedience — two points that Stark brings up in his piece — as two cogs why the perception exists.

Shawne Merriman and Steven Jackson are time travelers (Awful Announcing) AA highlights one of the newest Nike shoe spots featuring San Diego Charger Shawne Merriman and St. Louis Ram Steven Jackson.

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The morning after Curtis Granderson became just the sixth player since 1900 with at least 20 homers, 20 triples and 20 doubles in one season. George Brett, in 1979 for Kansas City, was the last player to pull off the feat and Willie Mays also did it.

The White Sox and Twins made major league history as it was the first time two big league teams each scored six runs to remain tied after the ninth; Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 593rd career home run in the second to highlight the Reds’ offensive explosion in the early going; the Yankees’ Joba Chamberlain continued to shine by not allowing a run in 11 games and 14 1/3 innings since making his major league debut on Aug. 7 and the Rockies closed within three games of the wild card-leading Padres, and remained five games back of Arizona in the NL West.

Red Sox 4, O’s 0 — Boston’s Jon Lester allowed four hits in seven innings to win his third straight start, and the Red Sox handed Baltimore’s Daniel Cabrera his 15th loss of the season in a 4-0 shutout of the Orioles.  Also of note: starter Cabrera got a bit wound up, getting tossed in a the fourth inning after nearly hitting Boston’s Dustin Pedroia.  Both benches cleared and the starter lost his cool.

M’s 1, Tigers 6 — Curtis Granderson homered in the seventh and Justin Verlander gave up one run over eight innings as Detroit beat the Seattle Mariners 6-1 at Comerica Park.

Yanks 3, Royals 2 — Alex Rodriguez hit his 49th homer of the season in the second inning and Derek Jeter scored the go-ahead run in the seventh to help the Yankees edge the Royals, 3-2.

Twins 10, White Sox 11 (13 innings) Jim Thome’s 496th career homer highlighted a six-run ninth that tied the game after the Twins scored six runs of their own in the top of the inning.  The White Sox won the contest in the 13th inning after catcher A.J. Pierzynski singled to left field to score Luis Terrero and gave the White Sox an 11-10 victory over the visiting Twins.

Indians 2, Angels 3 (10 innings) — Kendry Morales lined a single past a drawn-in infield to drive in the winning run in the 10th inning, after Francisco Rodriguez blew the save for John Lackey in the ninth, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Cleveland Indians 3-2 at Angels Stadium.

More after the jump »

News and notes while Phil Jackson and Roy Williams entered the Basketball Hall on Friday…

Ankiel, Jocketty talk to the media (video) (ESPN) St. Louis Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty and accused outfielder Rick Ankiel field questions from the media prior to Friday’s game in Arizona.

MLB to meet with Ankiel, Glaus about drug reports (USA Today) Major League Baseball said Friday it plans to meet with outfielder Rick Ankiel of the St. Louis Cardinals and infielder Troy Glaus of the Toronto Blue Jays after both were accused of receiving performance-enhancing drugs from a Florida pharmacy under investigation for illegally distributing prescription medications, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

JaMarcus Russell could sign Saturday (The FanHouse) Reports from The San Jose Mercury-News and Adam Schefter of the NFL Network indicate that the number one overall NFL draft choice is closing in on a deal with the Oakland Raiders and could sign as early as Saturday.

Henin sweeps out Williams sisters, advances to finals to fact Kuznetsova (AP/SI.com) Justine Henin reached her third U.S. Open final by beating Venus Williams 7-6 (2), 6-4 Friday. Svetlana Kuznetsova downed Anna Chakvetadze 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 to win the right to face Henin.