Knoblauch subpoenaed after failing to respond to invitation (AP/ESPN.com)

Four-time All-Star Chuck Knoblauch was subpoenaed Tuesday by a congressional committee investigating steroids in baseball after he failed to respond to an invitation to give a deposition.

“The committee has taken this step because Mr. Knoblauch failed to respond to the invitation to participate voluntarily in a deposition or transcribed interview and the Feb. 13 hearing,” committee chairman Henry Waxman and ranking Republican Tom Davis said in a statement.

Fireballer Roger Clemens is slated to talk to members of Congress this upcoming Saturday and friend former teammate Andy Pettitte on Jan. 30.

Mattingly steps down as hitting coach (MLB.com)

Don Matitngly, who was tabbed by new Dodgers manager Joe Torre to be his hitting coach, has decided to step down from that role to become a special advisor and coach.

“I’m very grateful that the Dodgers have allowed me to take care of these family matters and I hope that everyone can respect our privacy during this time,” Mattingly said in a statement issued by the team. “I truly appreciate the support of all Dodger fans since joining the organization and I look forward to helping the team win in 2008 and beyond.”

It is believed that Mattingly, 46, stepped down so he could spend more time with his family, who reside in Evansville, Indiana.

Clayton: Holmgren to return as Seahawks  coach in ‘08 (ESPN.com)

John Clayton of ESPN.com reports that Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren has elected to remain as the club’s head coach for the 2008 season, honoring the last year of his deal.

A news conference is scheduled for later Tuesday to make the announcement.

Springs’ wife sues after ex-Cowboy slips into coma (AP/USATODAY.com)

The wife of former Dallas Cowboys running back Ron Springs is suing two doctors who she accuses of letting her husband slip into a coma last October.

The suit alleges that Springs began having difficulty breathing as he received anesthesia, and that doctors used drugs to induce him into a paralyzed state to intubate him.

(From time to time, we’ll post a short blog entry regarding a current topic or something else that catches our fancy. It might be something trivial or something that really makes us wonder what the hell is going on.)

***UPDATED at 2:39 PM ET***

The Archbishop says Majerus should be disciplined, according to STLToday.com.

We happened to mention this in the “The Power Lunch” earlier today, but we just glossed over the issue.

Saint Louis University hoops coach Rick Majerus attended a Hillary Rodham Clinton pep rally at a St. Louis-area high school on Saturday and was asked by a KMOV reporter on his thoughts on varying topics.

Majerus told the reporter that he was a pro-choice advocate and backed the idea of stem cell research in hopes of science finding cures for diseases.

Of course, that didn’t sit well with the Archbishop of St. Louis, Raymond Burke, who told KMOV the following:

“I simply would have to insist that it’s not possible for a representative of the university to espouse these views which are, in open, uh violation of moral law, let alone Catholic teaching. …What people hold in the privacy of their own consciouses and so forth is between God and themselves, but when you represent a Catholic institution and you make public declarations that are contrary to Catholic teaching, uh that’s not unacceptable.”

There’s just one teeny, tiny problem with that: his views don’t.  Saint Louis University was declared a non-religious institution by the Missouri State Supreme Court in 2006 in order to get tax increment financing (TIF) for their new basketball arena.

More after the jump »

News and while trying to cope with the insanity that is the Rick Majerus “story”…

Bucs reward coach Gruden, GM Allen with extensions (ESPN.com) Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reports that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have given head coach Jon Gruden and GM Bruce Allen with three-year contract extensions.

Dr. Z: Giants’ toughness will overcome Pats’ talent in Super Bowl (SI.com) Dr. Z (the SI.com writer, not the Daimler guy) joins Dan Patrick in predicting a New York Giants win.

Report: Forberg to attempt comeback (Camden Courier-Post) Chuck Gormley, the Flyers beat writer for the Camden Courier-Post, reports that forward Peter Forsberg will begin skating with MoDo, the Swedish Elite League club (no direct link, so scour the page).

Mets, Chavez agree to terms (MLB.com) Outfielder Endy Chavez and the New York Mets agreed Tuesday to a $3.85 million, two-year contract.

Canseco finds new publisher for ‘Juiced’ sequel (New York Times) The New York Times reported Tuesday that Simon Spotlight Entertainment has picked up “Vindicated” and will publish it in time for Opening Day 2008.

Leafs fire GM Ferguson, replace him with Fletcher on interim basis (TSN.ca Staff)

The Toronto Maple Leafs, languishing in last place in the Northeast Division, fired general manager John Ferguson on Tuesday and replaced him with Cliff Fletcher on an interim basis.

“After full consideration of the Leafs’ situation, it has become clear that change and a new direction is needed. The decision has been made that John will not be receiving a new contract at the end of this year, and it’s in the best interests of the Leafs and of John to begin the transition immediately,” Richard Peddie, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. said in a team release.

Fletcher was a GM for the franchise between 1991-1997.

Skins’ mystery coaching candidate revealed (FOXSports.com)

Jay Glazer, FOXSports.com’s football insider, reveals who the mystery candidate is for the Washington Redskins head coaching gig.

The name? Jim Fassel.

Fassel, the former head coach of the New York Giants, interviewed with Washington owner Daniel Snyder on Monday to discuss the coaching position that was vacated by the retiring Joe Gibbs.

It was Fassel’s second interview with Snyder and now joins team defensive coordinator Gregg Williams as the two front-runners for the position.

Dan Patrick tells David Letterman he’s picking the Giants to win the Super Bowl (The FanHouse)

On Monday, former ESPN Radio jock and current SI.com contributor Dan Patrick appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman” and talked sports, mainly the upcoming Super Bowl that will feature the upstart New York Giants taking on the runaway train that is the New England Patriots.

His answer may surprise you (but not us):

While it’s fashionable to pick the underdog, we happen to agree with him — to a point. We think it will be a more close game than people think and the Giants will definitely challenge for the win.

But there’s just one thing that has us hesitating to come out and say “Giants” at the moment: Bill Belichick has two weeks to prepare.

News and notes while Albert Pujols takes a swing at the media…

Brady seen walking with limp in NYC (AP/SI.com) The New York media is all over this — as expected.

Belichick defends Seymour (AP/ESPN.com) Patriots coach Bill Belichick rebuffed claims that defensive lineman Richard Seymour played dirty in the AFC championship victory over San Diego.

Selig satisfied with testing program (MLB.com) in front of a packed house in St. Louis, MLB commish Bud Selig told the audience that he’s confident the game’s testing program will improve going forward.

Could relationship with A-Rod be fueling A-Rod deals? (FOXSports.com) Ken Rosenthal, the baseball guru over at FOXSports.com, writes an interesting piece on the fallout of Alex Rodriguez and Scott Boras’ partnership on other free agent deals. As usual with most Rosenthal columns, it’s also chalked full of other MLB notes.

Day 9: Serena’s out (AP/USATODAY.com) The women’s defending champ lost 6-3, 6-4 to third-seeded Jelena Jankovic. Other notables: American James Blake advanced to the quarterfinals to face Roger Federer; Fifth-seeded David Ferrer beat fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1; Venus Williams downed someone named Marta Domachowska and No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova defeated Agnieszka Radwanska 1-6, 7-5, 6-0.

…and finally…

Are you funnier than Jay Mohr? (YouTube) Pimpin’ for Turbo Tax these days. To answer the question: probably.