McNair’s Widow Will Administer His Estate
A Tennessee judge has ruled that the widow of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair, who was slain by his young mistress on July 4, will oversee the details of his estate. The 36-year-old ex-player for the Tennessee Titans left no will, according to documents Mechelle McNair filed in court. Davidson County Probate Judge Randy Kennedy granted her request, giving her 60 days to file an inventory of her late husband’s assets. She has said that she does not know her late husband’s worth, but the documents contend it is “of sufficient size to be administered.” McNair was killed by his 20-year-old girlfriend who then committed suicide, according to Nashville Police. McNair’s wife has listed herself and her two sons, Tyler and Trenton McNair, as the heirs to the estate. McNair also has two other sons from a previous relationship.

Will the Phillies’ Gamble Pay Off?
The world champion Philadelphia Phillies baseball team says that while signing pitcher Pedro Martinez is a bit of a gamble, it has tremendous upside. Phillies officials acknowledge that the former three-time Cy Young winner and eight-time All-Star hasn’t pitched since last season and that he will require at least a few starts in the minors before he’s ready to join his new squad, but they’re concentrating on the positive. “Of course there’s some risk here,” said Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. “But we’d rather risk it on someone of his caliber and who knows how to win.” Martinez, who previously engaged in numerous battles with the Phillies over the years, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder strain but will be with the Phillies for their four-game series in Florida beginning Thursday. “I don’t expect to be the same Pedro that I was when I was 26,” said Martinez, 37, who finalized a $1 million, one-year contract with the Phillies on Wednesday. He can earn up to $1.5 million in incentives. “There’s a lot of innings I’ve pitched since then. It’s not the same, but I still feel like I can still bring something to the table. “I might surprise you, I might not,” Martinez said. “It’s going to be really fun to go find out.”

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard, snapped his incredible Major League streak Sunday. The burly first baseman was unable to play in his 344 consecutive game after suffering from flu-like symptoms. He was hospitalized Saturday for the second time in two days. He was released Sunday, but did not play in his team’s 2-1 defeat to the Baltimore Orioles. Howard reportedly had a CT scan and was given antibiotics. Team officials said he could be suffering from a sinus infection. A 2006 National League MVP, Howard played 343 straight games since May 25, 2007 – the longest active streak in the majors.

Howard, Phillies Strike $54 Million Deal
Ryan Howard, the Philadelphia Phillies slugger who has made it clear that he wants a salary to match the giant bat he’s been swinging over the past few years, got his wish on Sunday. The 29-year-old team homerun leader signed a three-year, $54 million contract, avoiding a nasty arbitration hearing. Under the agreement, Howard will earn $15 million this season, $19 million next year and $20 million in 2011. “The things that have happened prior with Ryan, it was really nothing adversarial, although I know with some people it was depicted that way,” Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “We just agreed to disagree. It didn’t make us love Ryan any less, and it didn’t make Ryan love us any less.” Last season, nobody got more homeruns than Howard’s 48 or more RBI than his 146. Although he batted just .251, had a humongous 199 strikeouts and made 19 errors at first base, he was still just a notch off the league MVP award, and he led his team to its first World Series since 1980.

Is A-Rod Just One of Many ’Roid Users?
As the sports world chews on the news that New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez allegedly tested positive for steroids a half-decade ago, former Boston Red Sox hurler Curt Schilling said Sunday that he’d like to see everybody outed who’s suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs. “I’d be all for the 104 positives being named, and the game moving on if that is at all possible,” former Boston ace Curt Schilling wrote on his blog Sunday of the list of players who failed drug tests. “In my opinion, if you don’t do that, then the other 600-700 players are going to be guilty by association, forever,” he wrote. “It appears that not only was it 104, but three of the greatest of our, or any, generation appear to be on top of this list.” The sports world was rocked late last week with news that perhaps the top player in the Majors once tested positive. Rodriguez’s agent Scott Boras, said, “Alex has been out of the country. I expect him back later today and want to confer with my client before saying anything.”