Albert Pujols is unanimous winner of NL MVP award

Albert Pujols’ third National League MVP award put him in select company. Only Barry Bonds has more.

“I’m just humbled,” the first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals said.

Pujols won unanimously Tuesday, becoming the first player to repeat since Bonds won four in a row in 2001-04. Pujols, who also won in 2005, received all 32 first-place votes and 448 points in balloting announced by the Baseball Writers’ Assn. of America. He became the first unanimous MVP since Bonds in 2002.

Pujols, a first baseman, led the majors in home runs (47), runs (124), slugging percentage (.658) and intentional walks (44), and topped the NL in on-base percentage (.443). He was second in the NL in doubles (45) and third in batting average (.327) and RBIs (135).

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Clausen punched outside bar

Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was sporting a black eye behind the tinted visor he wore to practice. According to a university official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the matter, Clausen was punched outside a South Bend, Ind., bar early Sunday morning.

Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick said Clausen was the “victim of a sucker punch.” He made the comments during a taping of his radio show for WLS Radio 890 in Chicago, which normally airs on Saturday. Also, Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis won’t stay on the West Coast to recruit as planned after the Fighting Irish play at Stanford. Swarbrick said that Weis will fly back with the team. Weis had said Sunday he planned to stay on the West Coast recruiting.

Charlie Todd returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter for the game-winning points in Ball State’s 22-17 victory over Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, Mich. MiQuale Lewis’ three-yard run accounted for the only offensive touchdown for Ball State (2-10, 2-6 Mid-American). Tim Hiller completed 33 of 62 passes for 354 yards and a touchdown for the Broncos (5-7, 4-4).

Michigan State Coach Mark Dantonio says running back Glenn Winston and safety Roderick Jenrette have been dismissed from the team for violating team rules.

Tennessee freshman safety Janzen Jackson will start Saturday against Kentucky. Coach Lane Kiffin reinstated him to the team a day after prosecutors dropped attempted aggravated robbery charges pending against him.

NFL

Bills considering Mike Shanahan

The Buffalo Bills consider two-time Super Bowl winner Mike Shanahan a legitimate candidate to be their next head coach. A person familiar with the Bills’ search told the Associated Press that the team has contacted the former Denver Broncos coach. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Bills are not discussing the search.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a concussion but is expected to play Sunday at Baltimore as long as he continues to pass the daily tests given to players who have sustained the injury. . . . Tampa Bay Coach Raheem Morris will call defensive plays for the Buccaneers after demoting defensive coordinator Jim Bates following a 1-9 start. . . . Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a wide-ranging memo about concussions to NFL teams, saying the co-chairmen of the league’s committee on brain injuries have resigned and that he is examining potential rule changes “to reduce head impacts.”

SOCCER

Hamlett won’t return to Fire

Denis Hamlett will not return to the Chicago Fire next year after leading the team to the Eastern Conference finals in each of his two seasons as head coach.

Longtime D.C. United and U.S. national team midfielder Ben Olsen announced his retirement.

Rubin Kazan and Dynamo Kiev played to a 0-0 draw in their Champions League match under heavy snowfall in Kazan, Russia, leaving both teams in contention for a spot in the knockout round.

TENNIS

Federer clinches No. 1 ranking

Roger Federer beat Andy Murray, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, in London at the ATP World Tour Finals and ensured he would have the year-end No. 1 ranking for the fifth time.