Joba jawed with Sox fan at nudie bar - then arrested  —  Yankees star Joba Chamberlain downed vodka-and-sodas and caroused at a Nebraska strip club in the hours before he was busted for drunken driving, the Daily News has learned.  —  The 23-year-old pitcher went drinking at a bar …

For Rays, the rookie Price is right  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - David Price stood by his locker yesterday, somewhat bleary-eyed from a night of little sleep.  —  There were phone calls and text messages from the many well-wishers and sudden media obligations for the Tampa Bay Rays lefthander …

Francona to have back surgery … BOSTON (AP) — Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona will be heading for surgery this offseason.  —  Francona said Tuesday that he's had a back problem and hasn't had full feeling in his arms since May.  He hopes to get that fixed this winter so he can be ready for spring training.

Van Wieren surprises with retirement  —  Braves broadcaster of 33 seasons decides to make exit  —  ATLANTA — Over the past 33 seasons the Braves have annually changed faces and maintained the same familiar sound provided by Pete Van Wieren and Skip Caray.

Jason Varitek question looms  —  This call is tough  —  For the past week or so, whenever reporters asked about his future, Jason Varitek [stats] firmly rebuffed the topic, saying he had other things on which to focus.  —  Sunday night, minutes after the Red Sox [team stats] …

Extension's GM dandy  —  But Hendry deal may be last big one with high payroll, economic climate  —  General manager Jim Hendry's four-year contract extension could be one of the bigger deals the Cubs make this offseason, given the possible impact that economic concerns and the stalled sale of the team might have on the payroll.

Bowden Treated For Skin Cancer  —  Nats GM Says He Was Wrong To Delay Action  —  In June, Washington Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden went in for a routine checkup and asked his doctor about what looked like an ingrown hair on his forehead.  It sometimes bled, but Bowden didn't think much of it.

Canseco regrets writing ‘Juiced,’ naming names  —  Jose Canseco, whose book about steroids in baseball, “Juiced,” focused attention on the use of performance-enhancing drugs and led to congressional hearings on the subject, now says that he should have never written the book and named names of alleged steroid users.

Can Phillies Fans Embrace Optimism?  —  In “The Natural Mind,” his classic 1974 study of drugs and higher consciousness, Dr. Andrew Weil defined two types of paranoia.  Those who exhibit the first feel, when faced with a series of random events, that “the universe is a conspiracy organized for their own benefit.”

ProElite, EliteXC out of business … Less than two years following the formation of ProElite, Inc., the group notified employees and fighters Monday it was shutting its doors effective immediately, multiple sources confirmed to SI.com.  —  ProElite was an entertainment and media company founded …

Backstreet Boys to perform national anthem  —  Move over, B.K. Jackson.  The Backstreet Boys will be singing the national anthem of game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday night, according to team fan experience director Darcy Raymond.  Throwing out the first pitch will be Pinellas County Commissioner Bob Stewart.

Peavy wants full no-trade powers as part of any trade discussions  —  Padres ace Jake Peavy will make full no-trade powers a condition of any trade, his agent said Monday.  —  “Anywhere he goes,” Barry Axelrod said, “we're going to have to have a full no-trade.  That's a position we would take.”