Arms race heats up tonight

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Two of Major League Baseball's best young pitchers are the starters in tonight's 81st All-Star game in Anaheim.

American League skipper Joe Girardi is going with Tampa Bay's David Price. The Rays lefty is 12-and-4 with a 2.42 ERA.

Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez (oo-BAHL'-doh hih-MEHN'-ehz) got the call for the National League, which will try to end a 13-year winless drought in the midsummer Classic. The Rockies right-hander is 15-and-1 with a 2.20 ERA in 18 starts.

ALL-STAR-SELIG

Selig gives no sign MLB moving 2011 All-Star game

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig (SEE'-lihg) is taking a hands off approach when it comes to next year's All-Star game and Arizona's new immigration law. He is showing no signs that Major League Baseball will shift next year's game schedule to be played in Phoenix, because of the political issue.

Selig's never mentioned moving the game a day after Milwaukee pitcher Yovani Gallardo (yoh-VAH'-nee gy-YAR'-doh) and other All-Stars said they could envision boycotting the 2011 game at Phoenix in protest of the law.

MLB-OBIT-STEINBRENNER

Yankees "Boss" dies

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball has lost one of its larger than life figures with the passing of George Steinbrenner. The irrepressible owner of the New York Yankees for 37 years died this morning after suffering a major heart attack. Steinbrenner turned 80 on July 4.

Steinbrenner took over a Yankees team that was failing to live up to its legendary Bronx Bombers reputation and almost by force of will turned them back into a winner. His best-team-that-money-can-buy approach yielded seven World Series titles, 11 American League pennants and 16 AL East titles.

Steinbrenner was honored by Major League Baseball with a tribute just before the start of tonight's All-Star game in Anaheim.

MLB-STEINBRENNER REACTION

Commissioner and mayor pay tribute to "The Boss"

UNDATED (AP) — Baseball commissioner Bug Selig (SEE'-lihg) paid tribute to the late George Steinbrenner by saying he was as much a part of was of the New York Yankees as the many legendary players in the team's history.

New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg calls Steinbrenner's passing a sad day for the entire city. Bloomberg has ordered flags in City Hall Plaza to be flown at half staff in honor of Steinbrenner's achievements.

COLLEGE BASEBALL-GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD

Harper wins Golden Spikes Award

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — No. 1 draft choice Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals has won the Golden Spikes Award given to the country's top amateur baseball player. Harper hit a school-record 31 home runs and batted .443 with 98 RBIs as a freshman at the College of Southern Nevada.

MLB-RANGERS-SALE

Rangers to be auctioned

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A federal bankruptcy judge has decided that the Texas Rangers will be auctioned off after all, despite angry creditors' claims that the bidding process is unfair and still favors Major League Baseball's preferred buyer.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge D. Michael Lynn set the auction for Aug. 4 after changing some of the team's proposed bidding procedures, in an effort to bring some order to the process. The final hearing on whether to approve the Rangers' bankruptcy plan was set for later that day.

CYCLING-LANDIS-DOPING PROBE

Armstrong focus of probe

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Times is reporting federal authorities have issued grand jury subpoenas to witnesses as part of an investigation of possible fraud and doping charges against Lance Armstrong and his associates.

Citing several people briefed on the case who requested anonymity, the newspaper reported the subpoenas demonstrate how seriously authorities are taking allegations made by American cyclist Floyd Landis.

The federal doping investigation was spurred by allegations made by Landis who said in a series of e-mails sent to cycling and doping officials the use of banned substances was common on the US Postal team when he rode with seven-time Tour winner Armstrong.

FOOTBALL-TAYLOR

LT pleads not guilty to rape

NEW CITY, N.Y. (AP) — Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor has pleaded not guilty to an indictment that alleges he had sex with a 16-year-old girl in a New York hotel room.

The former NFL star was arrested May 6, after the girl's uncle contacted New York City police. He could be imprisoned for up to four years if convicted.

Court papers say the 51-year-old Taylor admitted to sex acts with the girl but was told she was 19.

NBA-NEWS

Agent says Ilgauskas to sign with Heat

MIAMI (AP) — Zydrunas Ilgauskas (zih-DROO'-nihs ihl-GOWS'-kuhs) is following LeBron James to Miami.

The veteran center started playing for Cleveland in 1997 and has never suited up for another NBA team. According to his agent, Ilgauskas expects to sign a two-year contract with the Heat later this week.

The 7-foot-3 from Lithuania, was selected by the Cavaliers with the 20th pick in the 1996 NBA draft.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

— The Charlotte Bobcats have completed a trade that sends Tyson Chandler to Dallas. Along with the 7-foot-1 Chandler, the Mavericks get fellow center Alex Ajinca in return for center Erick Dampier (DAM'-peer), forward Eduardo Najera (NAH'-hur-ah), shooting guard Matt Carroll and cash considerations.

— A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that the Timberwolves have agreed to send Al Jefferson to Utah for two future first-round draft picks and other considerations.

— The Nets have acquired guard Anthony Morrow in a sign and trade deal with Golden State that gives the Warriors New Jersey's second-round draft pick in 2011. The announcement comes just a day after the Nets handed Morrow an offer sheet on a three-year, $12 million contract.

COLLEGE ATHLETICS-CARR RETIRING

Carr retiring

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Lloyd Carr is stepping down as Michigan's associate athletic director Sept. 1.

The 64-year-old Carr coached the Wolverines football team from 1995-2008. His teams won five Big Ten titles and the 1997 national championship.

CYCLING-TOUR DE FRANCE

Schleck in yellow

SAINT-JEAN-DE-MAURIENNE, France (AP) — Andy Schleck of Luxembourg captured the overall lead at the Tour de France during today's mountainous ninth stage won by French rider Sandy Casar.

Schleck took the yellow jersey from Australia's Cadel (kuh-DEHL') Evans after finishing seventh in the stage, two seconds behind the winner.

Lance Armstrong, who's bid for an eighth title disintegrated in a crash-marred eighth stage on Sunday, finished 18th, 2:50 off the pace.