By RON COOK, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

No asterisk needed for Aaron's career

Finally.

At long last, someone whose opinion really matters -- legitimate Home Run King Hank Aaron -- has spoken out about how players from baseball's Steroids Era should be remembered.

Can you say asterisk?

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Cook: Tigers do the right thing for Leyland

Baseball got some much-needed good news last Friday. The Detroit Tigers gave manager Jim Leyland a two-year contract extension through the 2011 season just when it seemed they might be on the verge of making a terrible mistake by pushing him out of the game. The sport is much better with Leyland in it.

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Cook: Fleury blooms when it counts

Like all NHL coaches, Detroit's Mike Babcock has the perfect understanding of the significance of the first goal in a big hockey game.
"It's important if we (get) it," Babcock said. "It's not important if we don't."
That's the man's story and he's sticking to it.

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Cook: NHL gets lucky with Penguins-Red Wings rematch

There has been plenty of talk this spring about a widespread conspiracy in the National Hockey League.

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Cook: NHL gets lucky with Penguins-Red Wings rematch

There has been plenty of talk this spring about a widespread conspiracy in the National Hockey League.

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Cook: Fired-up Malkin great news for Penguins

Felt pretty good about the Pittsburgh Penguins' chances of beating Carolina last night about the time Evgeni Malkin was trading punches in the second period with the Hurricanes' Chad LaRose.
When Malkin is that inspired, the Penguins are too much for just about any opponent to handle.
Clearly, this is a man you don't want to tick off.

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Cook: Pens' Fleury grows into big-time goalie

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is much too nice of a kid -- a true gentleman, really -- to address the many critics who have picked apart his game this spring. So we will do it for him after his terrific performance in the 3-2 Game 1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes Monday night.
Take that and, you know, stick it.
Not to be rude.

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Cook: These Penguins may be better than last year

It's still hard to say this Pittsburgh Penguins team is better than the very popular 2008 model.

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Cook: Now Penguins get to test character

Character? The Pittsburgh Penguins insist their cup runneth over. Resiliency? That, too.
We're about to find out for sure.

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Cook: Crosby still gives Penguins a chance

For the simple reason that Sidney Crosby is inspired out of his mind and playing the best hockey of his spectacular career, it's still easy to like the Pittsburgh Penguins' chances of climbing out of the 0-2 hole they find themselves in this morning against the Washington Capitals.

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