NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez benched himself at his own grievance hearing. The New York Yankees star walked out in the middle of a session Wednesday, furious that arbitrator Fredric Horowitz refused to order baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to testify. The move, followed by angry statements accusing Selig of bias and the entire arbitration process of flaws, appeared to be a prelude to a lawsuit challenging whatever ruling Horowitz makes on A-Rods 211-game suspension. Horowitz was in the midst of the 11th day of hearings on the grievance filed by the players association to overturn the penalty given to the three-time AL MVP by Major League Baseball in August for alleged violations of the sports drug agreement and labour contract. "I lost my mind. I banged a table and kicked a briefcase and slammed out of the room," Rodriguez said during a 40-minute interview on WFAN radio. "I probably overreacted, but it came from the heart." Rodriguez has not testified in the grievance and said he had been warned that repeating his denials of wrongdoing on the stand could result in attempts at additional discipline by MLB. MLB argued that it could decide what witnesses it wanted to present to justify the discipline, since the penalty must meet a "just cause" standard. The league said Chief Operating Officer Rob Manfred spoke to reasoning behind the discipline during his six hours of testimony. Rodriguez and the union asked Horowitz to compel Selig to testify. After the arbitrator refused, Rodriguez uttered a profanity at Manfred just before leaving the hearing room at MLBs office, two people familiar with the proceedings said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because what takes place at the hearing is supposed to be confidential. "In the entire history of the Joint Drug Agreement, the commissioner has not testified in a single case," the commissioners office said in a statement. "Major League Baseball has the burden of proof in this matter. MLB selected Rob Manfred as its witness to explain the penalty imposed in this case. Mr. Rodriguez and the players Association have no right to dictate how baseballs case is to proceed any more than baseball has the right to dictate how their case proceeds. Todays antics are an obvious attempt to justify Mr. Rodriguezs continuing refusal to testify under oath." The hearing continued for about two hours after Rodriguez left the room, one of the people said, and is scheduled to resume Thursday morning. "We have put on evidence. We have more evidence to put on. We are evaluating our options," said James McCarroll, a lawyer for Rodriguez who also spoke during the WFAN interview. "We havent said the case isnt being completed. We havent said that the case isnt complete." Horowitz, chosen by management and the union as their independent arbitrator last year, has the discretion to eliminate the suspension or alter it. The statements by Rodriguez and McCarroll made it appear the 14-time All-Star intends to sue MLB and the union unless the penalty is eliminated. Rodriguez already has filed one suit against MLB and Selig, accusing them of a "witch hunt," and another against the Yankees team physician and his hospital, alleging malpractice in the diagnosis and treatment of a hip injury. Manfred is technically part of a three-person arbitration panel that also includes union General Counsel David Prouty and is chaired by Horowitz "Im done. I dont have a chance," Rodriguez said during the WFAN interview. He issued a statement earlier in the day attacking the procedures established in the agreements between MLB and the union. "I am disgusted with this abusive process, designed to ensure that the player fails," Rodriguez said. "I have sat through 10 days of testimony by felons and liars, sitting quietly through every minute, trying to respect the league and the process. "This morning, after Bud Selig refused to come in and testify about his rationale for the unprecedented and totally baseless punishment he hit me with, the arbitrator selected by MLB and the players association refused to order Selig to come in and face me. The absurdity and injustice just became too much. I walked out and will not participate any further in this farce." The players association was disappointed with Horowitzs decision but was less confrontational than Rodriguez. "The MLBPA believes that every player has the right under our arbitration process to directly confront his accuser," the union said in a statement. "We argued strenuously to the arbitrator in Alexs case that the commissioner should be required to appear and testify. While we respectfully disagree with the arbitrators ruling, we will abide by it as we continue to vigorously challenge Alexs suspension within the context of this hearing." McCarroll blamed Horowitz for precluding evidence Rodriguez wanted to introduce and hinted of a court fight. "Whether the case is finally decided in this forum, created by Major League Baseball, Bud Seligs forum, or another forum, nobody is throwing the case out," he said. Joseph Tacopina, another Rodriguez lawyer, spoke on CNN and accused Selig of "cowardice and hypocrisy." He said Manfred testified the decision on discipline was Seligs. Rodriguez denied using performance-enhancing drugs or obstructing MLBs investigation into the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic. Rodriguez was the only one of the 14 players disciplined this summer to challenge his suspension. "Over time, the arbitration process in baseball has been amazingly pro player," MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said. "It was that process which created free agency. It allowed Steve Howe to remain on the field despite numerous drug violations and resulted in the shortening of suspensions like John Rockers. The notion that this same process is not fair enough or good enough for Alex Rodriguez is ridiculous." Rodriguez said he had hoped to testify Friday. MLB had insisted Rodriguez submit to an "investigatory interview" prior to his testimony, but he cancelled his scheduled appearance last week, claiming illness. MLB agreed to waive its right to penalize him for testimony during an interview it might deem untruthful, one of the people said. "The system is wrong, and whether youre in federal court or state court or in kangaroo court that we are today, players need protection," Rodriguez said on WFAN. "The union has already told me that if I go on on Friday and they think I lied, they can give me say another 100 games, so now youre to 311. So now well appeal that. In the appeal process, I would say I didnt do it, so now youre up to 411, and this can go on for the next seven or eight years." He repeatedly disparaged Selig, who has been in charge of baseball since 1992 and said in September he plans to retire in January 2015. Rodriguez said Selig wants him as "a trophy" to put "in his big mantel on his way out." "My only message to the commissioner is, I know you dont like New York, but come to New York and face the music. He hates my guts, theres no question about it," Rodriguez said. "One hundred per cent its personal, and I think this is about his legacy, and its about my legacy, and hes trying to destroy me." Rodriguez said four years ago he used PEDs while with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03. He has denied using them since. He briefly discussed his relationship with Biogenesis head Anthony Bosch, who is co-operating with MLBs investigation. "It was nutrition and it was weight loss," Rodriguez said. "And Bosch wasnt the only guy. I travelled the world to see doctors, cutting-edge stuff, but always between the parameters of Major League Baseball. 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The defending champions sent their preliminary list to FIFA on Tuesday, with coach Vicente del Bosque to announce the final 23-man squad on May 25. Costa is set to lead the attack in his native Brazil, with Atletico Madrid teammate David Villa and Chelseas Fernando Torres also included, while David de Gea replaces injured goalkeeper Victor Valdes. Nashville Predators Jerseys .com) - Semyon Varlamov more than earned his third shutout of the season as he made a career-high 54 saves to lift the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. MINNEAPOLIS -- With bags under their eyes as big as the ones they had to pack for a rugged five-game road trip, the weary Memphis Grizzlies trudged into Target Center knowing they had one more fight before they could get back to the comforts of home. The Minnesota Timberwolves gave them all of that and more and sent the Grizzlies packing with a costly defeat. Kevin Love had 24 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for his third career triple-double in Minnesotas 102-88 victory over Memphis on Wednesday night. "A lot of time zones. A lot of travelling. A lot of battles," said Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, who had just seven points on 3-for-15 shooting. Ricky Rubio had 14 points, seven assists and three steals and Kevin Martin scored 21 points for the Timberwolves, who are trying to play spoiler down the stretch of what has been a disappointing season. "We wanted to find some sense of motivation and thats what we found tonight," Love said. "We just wanted to knock off a team that is fighting right now." Marc Gasol had 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Grizzlies. But Zach Randolph had just four points on 1-for-8 shooting and Memphis dropped a game that coach Dave Joerger called a must-win before tipoff. The Grizzlies (44-31) entered in seventh place in the jam-packed Western Conference, but with Phoenix (44-30) and Dallas (44-31) all in the mix for the last two spots. ""We were just kind of running in mud the whole night," Joerger said. "Youre going to have games like that, where youre very heavy-legged. Weve been playing with a playoff focus. Each game has meant so much since like Christmas. Youre starting to see the effects of it now." Ronny Turiaf had 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in his first game since Feb. 19 and the Timberwolves shot 53 per cent despite missing Nikola Pekovic with a sore right ankle. The Grizzlies were a tired bunch when they arrived in Minnesota after splitting the first four gamees of the road trip.dddddddddddd With three teams essentially fighting for two spots, they just dont have time to be tired right now. The Wolves led by seven at halftime, and Rubio attacked Memphis right out of the second-half gates. He had six points, a steal and an assist in the first 4 minutes and kept the pressure coming. He drew three fouls on Conley to force him to the bench midway through the period, hit a 3-pointer and fired a 50-foot outlet pass to Kevin Martin for a layup during a flurry that helped build an 18-point lead. Rubio left the game briefly with a sprained left ankle after a spill under the basket, but the damage was already done. A 12-2 run in the fourth pushed Minnesotas lead to 100-80 with 3 minutes to go. "Everybody else has something on the line," Wolves coach Rick Adelman said. "So we want to go out and play as well as we can and spoil it for them and see if we cant be a factor in it." Randolph, Conley and Tayshaun Prince combined to shoot 7 for 32 and the Grizzlies gave in to a team that appeared to have given up on this season after falling out of contention in the hyper competitive West. Randolph finished with single digits in scoring for just the fourth time this season and first since Jan. 15. The Grizzlies now return home to face the Nuggets before going to San Antonio and hosting Miami in a tough three-game stretch. The Suns get the Clippers, Trail Blazers and Thunder this week while the Mavericks start a four-game road trip. "Youve got to put this one behind us," Randolph said. "Weve just got to forget about it. We know this aint us. We know we can play better." NOTES: Wolves C Gorgui Dieng had eight points and nine rebounds and received a big ovation before the game when it was announced that he was named Western Conference rookie of the month. ... Memphis F Jon Leuer, a Minnesota native, finished with four points in 3 minutes. ... The Grizzlies only turned the ball over 11 times, but it led to 19 points for Minnesota. ' ' '