Tigersground.com | Detroit Tigers News, tigers Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>AUSTIN, Texas | Lance Armstrong will ride in the 2009 Tour de France, marking the first time he will compete in that race and the Giro d'Italia in the same year. </div>"I'm committed to riding for the best guy," Armstrong said Monday, acknowledging the taxing schedule could leave him riding in a supporting role in France. The Giro runs May 9-31, and the Tour begins July 4. With such a quick turnaround between two races, the seven-time Tour champion acknowledged his body might not perform at the same level it did when he won his last Tour in 2005. "If you've been away for three or four years, it would be silly for anybody to think I could pick up where I left off," Armstrong said from Tenerife in the Canary Islands where Astana is training. "I can tell you I feel better than ever, I feel stronger than ever on Dec. 1. How that translates to racing, we'll have to see. Mentally, in terms of motivation, this feels like 1998-1999 to me." Armstrong's decision to ride gives the powerhouse Astana team a superstar lineup in France, including 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador. He missed last summer's race because Astana was barred from riding for previous doping violations. Also riding with Astana is Germany's Andreas Kloeden, American veteran Levi Leipheimer and top support rider Yaroslav Popovych. Astana is considered by far the strongest multistage team. IN OTHER CYCLING NEWS Cyclist Kayle Leogrande, who sued the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency seeking to prevent the group from completing a drug test on him, received a two-year doping ban Monday after the agency continued with the doping case and wound up with a "nonanalytical positive" - proof of doping through witnesses, documentation and other evidence. Baseball Henderson tops Hall of Fame list NEW YORK | Career steals leader Rickey Henderson heads 10 first-time candidates on this year's Hall of Fame ballot, joining holdovers Mark McGwire and Jim Rice. Other newcomers are Jay Bell, David Cone, Ron Gant, Mark Grace, Jesse Orosco, Dan Plesac, Greg Vaughn, Mo Vaughn and Matt Williams. Just 23 players are on the ballot, the smallest group ever. A 10-time All-Star who played from 1979-2003, Henderson holds the career records for steals (1,406) and runs (2,295), and his 2,190 walks are second to Barry Bonds' 2,558. IN OTHER Baseball NEWS Free agents CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets and Brian Shouse were offered salary arbitration by the Brewers, ensuring Milwaukee would receive compensatory picks in next year's amateur draft if they sign elsewhere. The New York Yankees declined salary arbitration with all eight of their former players who became free agents, including Andy Pettitte, Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi. The Boston Red Sox and Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa, a 22-year-old righthander who has never played professional Baseball, have agreed to a major league contract, according to reports. Mike Hampton is set to return to the Houston Astros, reaching a preliminary agreement on a $2 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the agreement said Monday. Outfielder Raul Ibanez was offered salary arbitration by the Seattle Mariners , who did not offer arbitration to their other former players who became free agents: utilitymen Willie Bloomquist and Miguel Cairo. A.J. Burnett, one of the top free-agent pitchers this offseason, was offered salary arbitration by the Toronto Blue Jays . college football Clemson hands reins to Swinney CLEMSON, S.C. | Clemson is sticking with Dabo Swinney, giving the Tigers' interim coach a five-year contract to replace former boss Tommy Bowden. Swinney took over as interim coach Oct. 13 when Bowden resigned. The Tigers won four of their final five games under Swinney to become bowl eligible. Athletic director Terry Don Phillips had traveled the country interviewing candidates, including defensive coordinator Bud Foster of Virginia Tech. IN OTHER COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell was recovering from surgery to repair nine breaks in two fingers of his non-throwing hand, but he's not expected to miss any playing time. Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford tore ligaments in his non-throwing hand during the Sooners' win against Oklahoma State and is expected to have surgery following the Big 12 championship game. Virginia Tech's Ryan Shuman was the ACC's Lineman of the Week. Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said his offensive coordinator, Dave Christensen, would become head coach at Wyoming. in other news Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Corey Brewer will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his right knee. Stephon Marbury was ordered to stay away from the New York Knicks while the team looks for a solution to the latest controversy surrounding its point guard. WNBA president Donna Orender said the league-owned Houston Comets - the franchise that won the league's first four championships - would be shut down because the league has not been able to find new owners.

AUSTIN, Texas | Lance Armstrong will ride in the 2009 Tour de France, marking the first time he will compete in that race and the Giro d'Italia in the same year.

"I'm committed to riding for the best guy," Armstrong said Monday, acknowledging the taxing schedule could leave him riding in a supporting role in France.

The Giro runs May 9-31, and the Tour begins July 4.

With such a quick turnaround between two races, the seven-time Tour champion acknowledged his body might not perform at the same level it did when he won his last Tour in 2005.

"If you've been away for three or four years, it would be silly for anybody to think I could pick up where I left off," Armstrong said from Tenerife in the Canary Islands where Astana is training.

"I can tell you I feel better than ever, I feel stronger than ever on Dec. 1. How that translates to racing, we'll have to see. Mentally, in terms of motivation, this feels like 1998-1999 to me."

Armstrong's decision to ride gives the powerhouse Astana team a superstar lineup in France, including 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador. He missed last summer's race because Astana was barred from riding for previous doping violations. Also riding with Astana is Germany's Andreas Kloeden, American veteran Levi Leipheimer and top support rider Yaroslav Popovych. Astana is considered by far the strongest multistage team.

IN OTHER CYCLING NEWS

Cyclist Kayle Leogrande, who sued the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency seeking to prevent the group from completing a drug test on him, received a two-year doping ban Monday after the agency continued with the doping case and wound up with a "nonanalytical positive" - proof of doping through witnesses, documentation and other evidence.

Baseball

Henderson tops Hall of Fame list

NEW YORK | Career steals leader Rickey Henderson heads 10 first-time candidates on this year's Hall of Fame ballot, joining holdovers Mark McGwire and Jim Rice.

Other newcomers are Jay Bell, David Cone, Ron Gant, Mark Grace, Jesse Orosco, Dan Plesac, Greg Vaughn, Mo Vaughn and Matt Williams.

Just 23 players are on the ballot, the smallest group ever.

A 10-time All-Star who played from 1979-2003, Henderson holds the career records for steals (1,406) and runs (2,295), and his 2,190 walks are second to Barry Bonds' 2,558.

IN OTHER Baseball NEWS

Free agents CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets and Brian Shouse were offered salary arbitration by the Brewers, ensuring Milwaukee would receive compensatory picks in next year's amateur draft if they sign elsewhere.

The New York Yankees declined salary arbitration with all eight of their former players who became free agents, including Andy Pettitte, Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi.

The Boston Red Sox and Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa, a 22-year-old righthander who has never played professional Baseball, have agreed to a major league contract, according to reports.

Mike Hampton is set to return to the Houston Astros, reaching a preliminary agreement on a $2 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the agreement said Monday.

Outfielder Raul Ibanez was offered salary arbitration by the Seattle Mariners , who did not offer arbitration to their other former players who became free agents: utilitymen Willie Bloomquist and Miguel Cairo.

A.J. Burnett, one of the top free-agent pitchers this offseason, was offered salary arbitration by the Toronto Blue Jays .

college football

Clemson hands reins to Swinney

CLEMSON, S.C. | Clemson is sticking with Dabo Swinney, giving the Tigers' interim coach a five-year contract to replace former boss Tommy Bowden.

Swinney took over as interim coach Oct. 13 when Bowden resigned. The Tigers won four of their final five games under Swinney to become bowl eligible.

Athletic director Terry Don Phillips had traveled the country interviewing candidates, including defensive coordinator Bud Foster of Virginia Tech.

IN OTHER COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell was recovering from surgery to repair nine breaks in two fingers of his non-throwing hand, but he's not expected to miss any playing time.

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford tore ligaments in his non-throwing hand during the Sooners' win against Oklahoma State and is expected to have surgery following the Big 12 championship game.

Virginia Tech's Ryan Shuman was the ACC's Lineman of the Week.

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said his offensive coordinator, Dave Christensen, would become head coach at Wyoming.

in other news

Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Corey Brewer will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his right knee.

Stephon Marbury was ordered to stay away from the New York Knicks while the team looks for a solution to the latest controversy surrounding its point guard.

WNBA president Donna Orender said the league-owned Houston Comets - the franchise that won the league's first four championships - would be shut down because the league has not been able to find new owners.