NEW YORK — The Baseball Hall of Fame is starting a drug education program for students and young adults — in the same year Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa will appear on ballot for the first time after careers tainted by steroid accusations.

While adding PEDs to RBIs and ERAs among its interests, the Hall emphasized that its new initiative wasn't tied to the former stars up for election or the people who will choose them.

The Hall plans to promote a healthy lifestyle that is free of PEDs. The program will be called “Be A Superior Example,” or “BASE” for short.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Having won the first two AL pennants in franchise history, the Texas Rangers want to keep their key players around for a while.Slick-fielding shortstop Elvis Andrus and the Rangers finalized a $14.4 million, three-year contract. The deal covers his three years of salary arbitration eligibility, and Texas would like to discuss an even longer agreement with agent Scott Boras.

At long last, Memphis is part of the Big East.The Big East says the Tigers officially accepted an invitation to be part of the conference's next incarnation in 2013. Memphis is the seventh school, and fourth from Conference USA, to sign up for future membership in the Big East since December. The Tigers will compete in the Big East in all sports.

BISMARCK, N.D. — The University of North Dakota said it will resume using its contentious Fighting Sioux nickname despite threats from the NCAA, marking the latest twist in a protracted fight about a name its critics consider offensive.A state law that required the university to use the nickname and a logo that shows the profile of an American Indian warrior was repealed last year. But late Tuesday, supporters of the name filed petitions demanding that the issue be put to a statewide vote.The NCAA has told UND that continued use of the nickname and logo will expose the school to sanctions.