Friday's Daily Countdown

CHECK YOUR MAILBOX BARRY
"No more than 11" of this year's Major League Baseball free agents will be summoned for talks with the game's head steroid investigator Senator George Mitchell , a players' union official on Thursday confirmed.

The union told The Associated Press the names won't be released and the Boston Globe reported Thursday afternoon the players have been notified by the commissioner's office.

Among the 160 free agents praying they aren't in the "Evil 11" are Barry Bonds and Andruw Jones. Free agent journeyman reliever Bob Wickman reportedly ate a sandwich.

CRYING OVER STOLEN SPORTS MEMORABILIA
O.J. Simpson and his cronies bursted into a Las Vegas hotel room, shouting, screaming and wielding a gun Sept. 13 at a memorabilia dealer before robbing him, the frantic dealer on Thursday testified.

"This is all my shit. This all belongs to me. You stole this from me," memorabilia dealer Bruce Fromong said at Simpson's preliminary hearing on felony charges.

SAFETY FIRST
As a precaution, MLB base coaches will be required to wear batting helmets while instructing runners next season to stay or go.

Somewhere, only John Olerud celebrated.

DONNING OF A NEW ERA?
Hall of Fame coach Don Shula somewhat retracted a statement Thursday he made earlier in the week that the New England Patriots deserve an asterisk next to their win-loss total if the team finishes the 2007-08 campaign undefeated.

The outspoken Shula, who was at the helm in 1972 when the Miami Dolphins completed the league's only undefeated season, didn't say if he'll cry when this year's Dolphins fail to win a single game.

The gigantic Jason Taylor droid is set to destroy London win or lose.

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A CONSULTANT
Roger Clemens has decided yet again to spend even less time with his gorgeous wife by accepting a consulting position Thursday with the Houston Astros.

Clemens, still unsure if he'll pitch again, didn't say if he'll be bringing along his little buddy Andy Pettitte to be his personal servant.

NEW FOUND GLORY
With an unprecedented victory Wednesday over Kentucky, Gardner-Webb Coach Rick Scruggs spent most of Thursday following in the footsteps of former smalltime hoops coach Bruce Pearl by networking for a potential new job.

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE
If the SuperSonics leave Seattle for the promised land of Oklahoma City as expected, the league won't be bringing a new team to the city anytime soon, NBA Commissioner David Stern said Thursday.

Luckily Stern didn't give the same warning to Charlotte after the Hornets left for the greener pastures of New Orleans. If he had, the Bobcats wouldn't be entertaining hundreds today.

SCREAMING INFIDELITIES
The Chicago Bulls managed to win their first game of the young season Thursday after starting 4-0 at the hands of the Detroit Pistons.

Meanwhile in Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant marked the occasion by crying himself to sleep while listening to the new Dashboard Confessional album.

EXORCISING THE WARRIORS
Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks spelled off their demons from last season's pathetic playoff performance with a victory Thursday over the Golden State Warriors.

Too bad for the Mavs this one doesn't really count.

HOT STOVE NATION
The baseball rumor-mill apparently never takes a day off as the New York Yankees are reportedly flirting with Baltimore Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada to fill the hole of a big-name player at third base.

Elsewhere, the Atlanta Braves said they're interested in bringing back pitcher Tom Glavine and super-agent Scott Boras entertained Boston Red Sox officials with the idea his client Alex Rodriguez could potentially get a clutch postseason hit.

MY NAME IS RAY
Before a crowd on Thursday larger than most of their home games last season, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays officially shortened the club's name to "Rays."

Former stars Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff were on hand as the team also unveiled its minor-league-esque new uniforms. No word as of yet anyone with the name "Ray" will play for the team.

World Series MVP and Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell offered a three-year deal to stay with team, piss off Yankees ------ San Francisco Giants continue to build a younger team by re-signing 40-year-old infielder Omar Vizquel ------ Not the next one: Eric Lindros officially retires from the NHL ------ Philadelphia Phillies acquire closer Brad Lidge to blow potential chances of ever advancing in the playoffs ------ West Virginia squeaks past Louisville in Thursday night shootout ------ Big East is set to invite all of its 47 teams to its conference basketball tourney.

The Rankt Daily Countdown appears each day as a crooked baker's dozen of the hottest stories in the sports universe.