Sports briefs for June 16, 2004

Wednesday, June 16, 2004 | 9:23 a.m.

BALCO founder seeks help from President

The founder of a Bay Area lab at the center of a steroid scandal is seeking President Bush's help in negotiating a plea that would keep him out of prison and could implicate potential U.S. Olympians.

Victor Conte's attorney, Robert Holley, sent the letter Monday to Bush, Attorney General John Ashcroft and three federal prosecutors. The contents of the letter were first reported by the San Jose Mercury News and later confirmed by Holley to the Associated Press.

"Mr. Conte is willing to reveal everything he knows about officials, coaches and athletes in order to help to clean up the Olympics," the letter says.

Cassell has surgery

Sam Cassell had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his hip, and his agent said the Minnesota Timberwolves' point guard will recover in plenty of time for training camp.

MLB launches probe

Two top Major League Baseball officials will visit the Dominican Republic this week to investigate the case of an Arizona Diamondbacks prospect who allegedly used his nephew's identity to appear younger.

Lou Melendez, vice president of international baseball operations, and Ed Burns, vice president of baseball operations and administration, will start checking Thursday, said Rafael Perez, administrator of Major League Baseball's office in Santo Domingo.

Birth records obtained by the Associated Press show that the real name of pitching prospect Adriano Rosario is Ramon Antonio Pena Paulino, and that he was born Jan. 9, 1982, making him 22.

The real Rosario, who is Pena's nephew, turned 19 last month.