Ryan Howard Goes to Bat in Home-Size Derby

Since steroid-use and philandering seem to be so yesterday, can we expect sports celebrities to start competing on the home construction field? Will Derek Jeter's recently completed 30,875-square-footer in Tampa be deemed puny by anything Kobe Bryant has up his sleeve? Kobe has been linked to a massive new home under construction in Orange County, Calif., that has a two-level sports court. His agent bought the one-acre ocean-view lot three years ago for $9,450,000, says The Orange County Register.

And now word comes from Florida that Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (above) is building himself a nifty $20 million, 17,500-square-foot mansion with a Venice-like canal in Belleaire Shore, near spring training camp. We would have expected a batting cage, but a canal will do.