League Notes

SI.com’s Jonah Freedman cited a source as saying that MLS is “negotiating a deal to allow” A’s Owner Lew Wolff to operate a team in the Bay Area for the ’08 season, “even without a new stadium deal in place.” Wolff’s previous agreement “stipulated that he complete a deal for a soccer-specific stadium before MLS would allow him to exercise his option” for a team. The source indicated that the league “is eager for a 14th team to begin playing as soon as possible to balance the uneven schedule, ... and Wolff’s team is the furthest along of the handful of possible expansion projects nationwide” (SI.com, 5/24).

MIKE CHECK: In Atlanta, Steve Wyche cites a source as saying that NFL security has contacted investigators in Surry County, Virginia, to “offer its services in the investigation of illegal dogfighting” at a property owned by Falcons QB Michael Vick. The source said that NFL security personnel visited Surry County offices Thursday “unannounced [and] also had made calls to local officials.” NFL VP/PR Greg Aiello said that it is “routine for NFL security to get involved in legal matters with players and other league personnel” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/25).

GREEN FLAG: In Charlotte, David Poole reports U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Evan Bayh (D-IN) sent a letter to NASCAR Chair & CEO Brian France on Thursday “asking for NASCAR to consider converting to ethanol fuel.” The IRL began using 100% ethanol this year. Thune wrote, “Just as NASCAR represents American ingenuity and freedom, we are asking them to embrace and promote the freedom of consuming American made renewable fuels like ethanol” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/25).

NOTES: In N.Y., T.J. Quinn cites MLB sources as saying that “hawks” in Commissioner Bud Selig’s office are “pushing for Selig to punish [Yankees DH Jason] Giambi for essentially admitting ... he had used steroids in the past.” Several league officials “concede that they would probably lose an arbitration battle with the [MLBPA], but want Selig to force the union to defend a player outed as a longtime steroid user” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/25)....Total attendance for the AFL’s Week 12 was 125,803, the second-highest total for a single weekend in league history (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/24).