BASEBALL

SELIG GIVEN 3-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION THROUGH 2012

Major League Baseball owners gave commissioner Bud Selig a three-year contract extension through 2012 yesterday, a move made two days after some congressmen were critical of his leadership is responding to the sport’s drug problem.

Selig, who has been in charge of MLB since 1992, had repeatedly said since December 2006 that he would retire at the end of 2009 and that his mind couldn’t be changed.

FOOTBALL

GARRETT SPURNS RAVENS, FALCONS TO STAY WITH COWBOYS

Sitting in the atrium of Dallas Cowboys headquarters, at the same table where Wade Phillips, Bill Parcells, and several predecessors have given their daily briefings for years, Jason Garrett felt comfortable right away.

“I just want to start by saying I’m awfully excited to be sitting in this chair,” Garrett said.

No, Garrett wasn’t being introduced as Phillips’ replacement. He was merely explaining yesterday why he decided to pull out of consideration for coaching jobs with Baltimore and Atlanta to remain offensive coordinator in Dallas.

GOLF

GOLFWEEK’S NOOSE COVER SPARKS OUTRAGE

The editor of Golfweek magazine said he was overwhelmed by negative reaction to the photo of a noose on the cover of this week’s issue, illustrating a story about the suspension of a Golf Channel anchor for using the word “lynch” in an on-air discussion about how to beat Tiger Woods.

“We knew that image would grab attention, but I didn’t anticipate the enormity of it,” Dave Seanor, vice president and editor of the weekly magazine, said from the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.

“There’s been a huge, negative reaction,” he said. “I’ve gotten so many e-mails. It’s a little overwhelming.”

Among the critics was PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, who said he found the imagery to be “outrageous and irresponsible.”