Sportsfrog.com

• Percival perseveres. Almost two years after he retired, Troy Percival returned to the big leagues.

The St. Louis Cardinals called up the former All-Star closer on Tuesday, hoping he can help a bullpen that has struggled this season.

• Wednesday night will be a record for old fuckers in baseball when seven pitchers in their 40s are scheduled to start.

The New York Yankees’ Roger Clemens (44), Philadelphia’s Jamie Moyer (44), Detroit’s Kenny Rogers (42), San Diego’s Greg Maddux (41), the New York Mets’ Tom Glavine (41), Houston’s Woody Williams (40) and Atlanta’s John Smoltz (40) are set to pitch on the same day.

• Andruw Jones is redefining the term contract year. Jones was mired in a 1-for-31 slump that had knocked his average below .200. In fact, he had gone 53 at-bats without managing even an extra-base hit since his last homer: June 9 off Jason Marquis of the Chicago Cubs .

But, with two outs and two runners aboard in the fifth, Jones got hold of a 3-1 pitch from Mike Bacsik (1-5). The hitter’s back foot literally came off the ground as he ripped into the pitch, a reminder of the form that produced 92 homers over the last two seasons.

• I know I was wondering what LeBron would do. Yawn…..

Cleveland’s All-Star forward ended uncertainty about his status with the U.S. national team on Tuesday night by saying he will play in next month’s FIBA America’s Tournament, where the Americans will try to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.

Try to qualify. Oh how the mighty have fallen. USA! USA! We’re number 8. We’re number 8.

• I never thought I would ever see Mike Ditka addressing congress. Next Donald Trump will dance at Rosie O’Donnel’s wedding (to a man).

Former NFL players told a sympathetic House Judiciary subcommittee tales of multiple surgeries, dementia and homelessness, all while trying to fight through the red tape of the National Football League and the NFL Players Association’s disability system.

I believe that pro football shortens life spans and grinds players into nothing. With the billions the league has, to torture these former players financially is a sin of the highest order. It is time for the NFL to do the right thing.

• How hot is James Loney? Magma, that’s how hot. He is so hot that Nomar has moved across the diamond to third base, that is until Nomar goes back to the disabled list. Loney has played in 11 games and only has a 1.363 OPS.

• Roger Clemens in the year 2057.