Associated Press
PEORIA, Ariz. ó Ken Griffey Jr. could get a total of $5 million this year in his return to Seattle if he stays healthy and fans flock to see him.
The Mariners have layered performance bonuses based upon plate appearances and attendance that could net Griffey an additional $3 million ó on top of the $2 million in base salary that’s in the one-year contract baseball’s leading active home run hitter agreed to Saturday.
The 39-year-old Griffey could earn $3 million more if the Mariners have a paid attendance total of 3 million, he has 500 plate appearances and he does not go on the disabled list.
TENNIS
WIMBLEDON, England ó Former Wimbledon champions Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf will return to the All England Club in May to try out the playing conditions under the new Centre Court roof.
Agassi and Graf ó who are husband and wife ó will join Kim Clijsters and Tim Henman for a series of exhibition matches on May 17, five weeks before the Wimbledon tournament.
– BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ó The U.S. Davis Cup team will go with its regular lineup for an opening-round match against Switzerland.
U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe said Tuesday that Andy Roddick, James Blake and the doubles team of twins Bob and Mike Bryan will compete March 6-8 in Birmingham. The foursome has been together for 11 of the past 12 Davis Cup matches.
GOLF
BRISBANE, Australia ó Greg Norman thinks golfers need to take a pay cut as the global economic crisis bites.
“Prize money’s being scaled back in Europe, I wouldn’t be surprised if prize money’s scaled back in the U.S. just out of respect to every citizen and taxpayer over there who’s suffering dramatically,” the two-time British Open champion was quoted as saying Wednesday on the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Website. “It seems like on the PGA Tour the players are still playing for a million dollars first week, like they’re recession-proof.”