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.”

NFL tackle offers condolences to Jennifer Hudson. Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris says he’ll donate a jersey to singer Jennifer Hudson’s family in tribute to her murdered brother. The star’s sibling, Jason Hudson, her mother Darnell Donerson and her nephew Julian King were all recently shot to death in Chicago in unsolved, apparently pre-meditated, attacks. King’s stepfather, the estranged husband of Hudson’s sister, is the only suspect in the crimes, but he hasn’t been charged. “I would like to give them a personal jersey,” says Harris, who is a friend of Jennifer Hudson. “A lot of times you try to understand things, but you can’t fathom that, losing three loved ones within three days. It’s very difficult and my prayers are with the family. It’s hard, but you just have to try not to lose faith in God.” Get more celebrity condolences here.

“Uneven Fairways” to examine trailblazers on course. Tiger Woods isn’t the only Black athlete to cross boundaries on the golf course. The Golf Channel has announced a documentary scheduled for Black History Month 2009 that will spotlight similar trailblazers. “These are inspiring stories of golfers who overcame great odds just to create a tour where they could compete,” says Page Thompson, president of Golf Channel. “Uneven Fairways” will debut Feb. 11 on the Orlando-based network.

Pitcher could spend up to 16 years in prison. The minor league pitcher who allegedly gave a fan a concussion by hitting him with a ball could spend 16 years in prison. Julio Castillo, 21, was trying to throw the ball into the opposing team’s dugout to hit a player, but struck the fan in the head, prosecutors say. The actual July 24 game was interrupted by a 10-minute brawl that cleared the benches between Castillo’s Peoria Chiefs and home team Dayton. Castillo was indicted in Ohio this week on a count of felonious assault with a deadly weapon and a felonious assault causing serious physical harm. “There is no excuse for this type of behavior, whether it’s in a ball park or a back alley,” says prosecutor Mathias Heck Jr. “Fans should not be subjected to violence because a player is unable to control his temper.”

Peoria Chiefs Player Allegedly Hit Spectator In Head With Ball.
The Peoria Chiefs’ Julio Castillo could face up to eight years in prison and a $15,000 fine if he’s convicted of deliberately hitting a fan with a pitch during a Class A game’s brawl last week. The minor-league fracas between the Chiefs and Dayton Dragons resulted in 15 player and manager ejections. Castillo is shown on camera winding up and throwing a ball that allegedly struck spectator Chris McCarthy, 44, in the forehead. McCarthy was treated at a hospital in Dayton. Castillo, 21, was tackled to the ground after throwing the pitch, and later jailed. The Dominican Republic native’s passport was revoked. He’s free after posting bond.