Major League Baseball, which has been under fire in recent years for its failure to recruit U.S. Blacks, is beginning to see a surge in African-American players, according to a new survey. Seven years ago, the pool of African-American ballers amounted to 8.2 percent of the league. Last year, they accounted for more than 10 percent of Major League ballplayers. Also up is the percentage of Black pitchers, up 2 points for 5 percent; and the number of Black infielders, up from 7 percent to 9 percent. “I feel encouraged. It’s not a huge leap, but it’s a step forward,” said Rachel Robinson, the widow of Jackie Robinson, the first African American signed to the big leagues. “I think we have to feel encouraged, not only feel encouraged but feel inspired by progress so that we can not only sustain what we have, but work harder to see that we get that number up in future reports.” For the first time during the dozen years that Richard Lapchick has been publishing his annual report, baseball received an “A” for race hiring. The survey, released Wednesday, noted that 10 teams had minority managers at the beginning of the season -five were African American, four Latino and one Asian-American – and five minority GMs: three African Americans and two Latinos. When it comes to gender, the sport got a “B” an improvement over last year’s “C+.”  The progress, Lapchick said, is substantial. “They’re still behind the NBA but they’ve gained ground consistently over the last three or four years. They’re a very close second to the NBA,” he said. “They’ve really been the industry leader in working with minority vendors. That has built up a well of good will for baseball in the African-American community that really didn’t exist 15 years ago.”

That’s More Like it, Team USA
A day after getting spanked by the Puerto Rican National Team, Team USA kept its championship hopes alive in the World Baseball Classic, defeating the Netherlands 9-3 Sunday night. On Saturday, Puerto Rico pummeled the Americans 11-1, an embarrassing thrashing in front of the entire world. In the more respectable campaign, Philadelphia Philly Jimmy Rollins drove in four runs with a homer, triple and sacrifice fly; and Team USA newcomer Brian Roberts went 3-for-3 with two walks, two runs and two RBIs. Roy Oswalt pitched four scoreless innings, before six relievers completed the 12-hitter. Now, only one thin loss from being eliminated, the United States returns to the mound Tuesday night to face the loser of Monday night’s game between Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Left-hander Ted Lilly will pitch for the Americans. The winner advances to the semifinals next weekend in Los Angeles.

NFL Players Union Picks New Chief
The NFL players union, following the death of its longtime leader Gene Upshaw last summer, has elected a relative unknown in football circles as its new executive director. Union members chose D.C.-based attorney DeMaurice F. Smith on the first ballot Sunday night at the annual meeting of the NFL Players Association in Maui, Sports Illustrated reported. It had been widely speculated that either Trace Armstrong or Troy Vincent (former union president), both former NFL defensive standouts, would be elevated to the union’s top spot following a long and contentious battle for the position. Upshaw had also been a revered player in the league. But both Vincent and Armstrong were informed of Smith’s election about 11:15 p.m. ET Sunday night, according to the magazine. Smith is a partner at the prestigious law firm Patton Boggs in Washington and has no significant previous NFL ties.

In his first year of eligibility, stolen-base champ Ricky Henderson slid into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, netting 95 percent of all the votes cast by the Baseball Writers of America. The speedy leadoff hitter was joined in Cooperstown, N.Y., by Boston Red Sox slugger Jim Rice, who waited 14 long years to make it into the Hall. If Rice had not been inducted this year, he would have been taken off the ballot. No one was surprised by Henderson’s selection, considering that he is perhaps the best leadoff hitter in baseball history. During his illustrious career, Henderson broke the stolen-base record (with 1,406 thefts) and the record for runs scored (2,295), which may never be broken. “I feel great about it,” Henderson said. “It’s been a long time coming. I played baseball because I loved the game. I wanted to continue playing. It came to a time that I had to stop. And now that it has been five years, they have chosen me to go into the Hall of Fame. I cannot be any more pleased or thrilled about it.” Rice hit 382 home runs and 1,451 RBI but Boston never won a title during his tenure with the team. That could be the reason he was not voted into the Hall for so many years.

 Chicago star slams his 610^th homer. Ken Griffey Jr. is in the top five of all-time home run hitters after passing Sammy Sosa. Griffey broke his tie with Sosa by slamming number 610 versus Minnesota. “The most important thing is the team,” he says. “I probably would’ve been a little more excited if we won, but we didn’t.” Minnesota beat the Sox 9-3 Tuesday. “You guys have known me long enough (to know) that I’m not going to sugarcoat things,” Griffey adds. “We need to win.” His accomplishment leaves him 50 home runs behind Willie Mays, who holds the fourth-place spot.

Pitcher makes mark with win versus Mariners. Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez has the most saves in a season after the Angels’ 5-2 win versus Seattle this past weekend. K-Rod tied Bobby Thigpen’s record of 57 late last week before breaking 58 against the Mariners on Saturday. “I knew it was going to be a really special moment, the way the fans cheered for me when I was coming in,” Rodriguez says. “It was amazing. I haven’t felt like this since we won the World Series.” Having also made his third save in four days, K-Rod credits the deceased grandfather who helped raise him in Venezuela, a nation of many Spanish-speaking Blacks. “He’s with me every day,” adds the pitcher. “I would give up anything to have him right next to me and enjoy this moment. But I’ve got to deal with it.”

Vince Young had gun, thoughts of suicide, report says. Word has surfaced that last week’s brief disappearance by an NFL quarterback was more serious than his team is letting on. Injured Tennessee Titans star Vince Young had shared suicidal thoughts with a team therapist before he left home with a pistol in his possession, according to a police report. The player was found later the same evening after police were contacted, but both Young and Titans coach Jeff Fisher have claimed the incident was exaggerated in media reports. A police statement reveals that Fisher heard from the team therapist shortly after Young’s disappearance. Nashville Lt. Andrea Swisher wrote that the coach told her Young “wants to quit, and he mentioned suicide several times” before leaving home with the gun. He later showed up at the Titans facility and left without incident. Young was booed in the season-opening game during which he threw two interceptions. He was later injured and is expected to be out for at least two weeks.

Golfer could defend Dubai Desert Classic title

Tiger Woods says he could be back in action in time for late January’s Dubai Desert Classic title, following knee surgery. Woods is still recovering, but told media at a recent appearance in Dubai that he could be ready. “I don’t know my schedule for next year… I will be hitting golf balls at the beginning of the year,” Woods said. The star spoke at the launch of a billion-dollar golf project that he designed in Dubai this week. The Desert Classic begins Jan. 27, 2009.

“Boundary calls” will be up for review. The debate among baseball purists and those arguing that the sport use technology to its advantage has ended. Major League stadiums that recently installed video monitoring equipment have officially enacted the use of instant replay. Partly inspired by questionable homerun calls from on the field, the review will be used selectively, officials say. “Boundary calls,” not balls and strikes, will be the plays that are subject to determination by replay, in addition to umpires, says Commissioner Bud Selig.

NBA champions plan to celebrate in Beantown today.

The NBA champion Boston Celtics will receive a formal fan celebration today at 11 a.m. Players from the 2008 squad that crushed the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the finals Tuesday night will appear on 16 World War II amphibious “duck boats” in a rolling rally through downtown. Former Celtics greats, team dancers and championship trophies from Boston ’s previous glory years will ride on two flatbed trucks. Boston is celebrating its first NBA title in two decades.

A-Rod first got advice from Cincinnati Reds great back in ’06

Alex Rodriguez and retired baseball great Pete Rose have shared a running dialogue about hitting for more than two years. Since their first meeting in January 2006 – when A-Rod asked Rose, “How’d you get all them hits?” – the pair reportedly has formed an unlikely bond. Rose says he told A-Rod that he got 4,256 career hits without watching a single frame of film. The Cincinnati great claims that he remembered every pitch ever thrown his way, while Rodriguez has relied on the wonders of technology to perfect his batting. Yankees star A-Rod remains among the top hitters in the Major Leagues.

Bengals’ Johnson expects quick recovery from procedure

After keeping teammates and coaching staff guessing about his plans for the season, following trade talk, Chad Johnson’s disappearing again. But this time it’s for ankle surgery. The Bengals star will undergo the procedure before Cincinnati ’s camp begins next month. He’s expected to report on time, following a full recovery.