Steroid Nation

Steroid Shorts: Philly farmhand suspended for 50 games

1.  Philly farmhand Hectro Made was suspended 50 games for violating baseball's steroid policy.  (The Enquirer):

Phillies infielder Hector Made was suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance under Baseball's minor-league program. Made was acquired by the Phillies last July in the trade that sent catcher Sal Fasano to the New York Yankees. The 22-year-old from the Dominican Republic hit a combined .267 with four homers and 32 RBI with Tampa and Clearwater in the Florida State League. He became the third minor-leaguer suspended under the drug program this year.

2. Bonds Watch.  Barry Bonds hit 2 hone runs to bring him to within 19 of Hank Aaron.

Muscle loss? Cubs fans talking about Mark Prior's prior steroid use

Great update on Weebro Fantasy Blog here.

We saw the first report this morning.  There was a second report this afternoon.  Both concern Mark Prior's history of injury, accusations of juicing, and his recent problems.  Is there something here, or are fans kicking a guy when he is down?

The Chicagoist.com is claiming inside Cub sources for Prior's problems related to prior 'roid use.

Chicagoist recently got a juicy tip from a source that the real reason for Prior's reduced velocity this spring has more to do with his going off steroids than recovering from any injury. The ‘roids use would sure help explain the countless freak injuries – steroid use is known to make users prone to injury. Remember Sammy Sosa’s sneeze-induced back injury? When baseball enacted tougher testing policies, Prior got clean and that is the reason for the noticeable lack of pop on his fastballs. Our source's story came from people within Cubs management within the past few days, and seems to be credible.

Funktopia is also talking up this story.  They carry photos of Prior prior, and Prior current.
Here is 2004 Prior, prior to multiple injuries (click to enlarge).

Here is Prior in 2007 spring training (ditto).

There seems to be a decided difference in lower body mass.  We need to look for his weight stats.  Has he lost weight over the year?  Funktopia says this:

A few years ago when Prior was accused of taking steroids, I thought it was crazy talk, but now I'm not so sure. The constant injuries are there. His velocity has dropped from 97 mph to about 89. And the most damning piece of evidence of all...the disappearance of Calfzilla.

Prior's teammates at USC nicknamed him Calfzilla because of the fact that he had massive cartoonish calves. Now all of the sudden, they're gone. Now before you say "Come on...his calves get a bit smaller and you accuse him of steroid use?" you have to keep in mind that his calves were bigger than most apartments in my neighborhood. And now, they're nothing.

That is a point to be made.  Prior looks very skinny now.  As we understand it pitch velocity is highly related to lower body strength.  Where is his lower body?  Did the injuries restrict Prior's ability to work out?  Or has hiw weight los due to something else?

Perhaps a larger point is this: with strong anti-doping policies in MLB, we might not be having this discussion.  Many drug-cheats would be nailed.  Fans would feel more confident that injuries were injuries, and not due to physiologic stress brought on by use, or discontinuation of anabolic drugs.  Below are 2 more photos of Prior, prior.  His arms have lost muscle mass too:

    

Speaking of Dwain Chambers, that old Sea Devil

Steroid Nation loves to follow the career of Dwain Chambers.  Chambers, an incredible sprinter from England, currently serves a long track suspension for anabolic steroid use related to BALCO.  To his credit, he tried out for NFL Europe, then stuck with the Hamburg Sea Devils.  One of our stories is here.

This story from NFL Europe brings us up to date with Chambers.  This guy runs a 4.19 40.  Yeah, that's legit.  However, he was struggling with football skills.  Like catching the ball.  However, Chambers grew up in the UK;  he has been a football player for weeks, yeah weeks.

At 29, Chambers, a former European 100-meters champion, a bronze medalist at the world championships, and a former European record holder with a 9.87 time set back in 2002, is attempting to make the transition from the track to the gridiron. Chambers' personal role model in this effort is Renaldo Nehemiah, the world record-setting hurdler who had three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, coming out of gridiron nowhere to the Super Bowl.

..Chambers has that rare thing that scouts search for, and which cannot be taught. He's got speed. "When I first got into the idea of American football, I ran a 4.19 40," he says. Cue scouts' mouths to open wide and drool to appear.

The NFL.com article covers territory we covered in previous posts, like Bob Hayes and Renaldo Nehemiah.  However, dig this 4 by 100M team:

...Why not assemble Chambers, Harry Williams (10.3 100 meters/21.3 200 meters at Tuskegee), Berlin cornerback Dennis Davis (10.3/21.1 at       Georgia Tech), and Hamburg corner Justin Wyatt (10.4 in high school) into an NFL Europa relay team and challenge the German national team? They'd probably lose on the track, but not if they ran a rematch in pads.

He got game: Denzel Washington's son in NFL-Europa

We ran across this tracking former sprint juicer Dwain Chambers, who plays wide receiver for the Hamburg Sea Devils.  His teammate is the son of actor Denzel Washington, John David Washington.  Story here in the St Louis Post-Dispatch.

BERLIN (AP) -- John David Washington just wants to carry the ball for the Hamburg Sea Devils. No matter that he isn't expected to start -- he's getting a bit of star treatment.

Washington is the son of actor Denzel Washington. At a recent fan day for the German team in NFL Europa, the son was swamped by photo-snapping fans wanting a touch of Hollywood.

Washington is trying to perform well enough to impress the St Louis Rams.  With former NFL running backs on the team, playing time comes hard for the smallish JD who starred at Morehouse (Atlanta) College.

Washington played at Morehouse College and broke most rushing records at the Division II school. He is out to prove to the St. Louis Rams that a 5-foot-9, 200-pound running back can play in the NFL. He played on their practice team last year.

For now, he is playing behind former NFL players Quentin Griffin and Tony Hollings, and Jermaine Allen of Britain.

"I think J.D. would have been better than any running back we had a few years ago, but this is an unusually good year for running backs in this league," Martino said. "He's a good back, but right now he is not on the same level as the others."

Sounds like JD has some work to do before he grabs some 'Glory'.

Washington wants to disprove a Rams scouting report that says he needs more strength and speed to go with quick feet and great vision. In the meantime, he gets along well with his teammates and is hardly about to flaunt his celebrity.

"I'm from the old school; hard work pays off," Washington said. "I'm hoping that I can go back and stick with the Rams."

Olympic sprinter Tim Montgomery in for huge surprise at Riddick trial: accused of dealing 'kilo-quantity...drugs'

In a massive surprise, former track star and track coach Steve Riddick's lawyer accused BALCO-involved,Olympic gold medal winner, and one-time world-record holder Tom Montgomery of some serious drug dealing.  The charges came as Riddick's fraud trial opened in New York today.

Riddick, was Montgomery's sprint coach, and an Olympic gold medal winner in the 4 x 100 relay.  However, at this point, he is sprinting toward a different finish...a 'not guilty' finish.

Tim Montgomery, who just days ago plead guilty to fraud charges, looks to be facing more than a jail term.  The father of one of Marion Jones' offspring has to be stunned at Riddick's lawyer's statements today.  From the Staten Island site SIlive.com: (and AP news)

In a surprise twist on the trial's first day, Riddick's defense lawyer Bryan Hoss said Montgomery had fallen in with scam artists and convicted drug dealers following his implication in the BALCO steroid scandal, then allowed himself to become wrapped up in their criminal schemes.

"Tim Montgomery started brokering kilo-quantity transactions of drugs with these people," Hoss said.

He did not elaborate and would not comment to reporters afterward, citing a judge's instruction not to talk to the press.

Federal prosecutors also would not comment, but they appeared displeased that the allegation had been raised.

Montgomery has not been charged with any drug offense, nor had there been any previous indication in the year-old case that drugs were involved.

If Riddick's lawyer can substantiate those charges, this could be a startling revelation about the one time 'world's fastest man'.

Steroid Shorts

Around the horn:

1.  ABC carries a story on youth and steroids.

2.  Florida concerned about steroids in youth.  Story Gainesville.com.

3.  Wisconsin Stout football players caught with steroids apparently are trying to cut a deal with authorities.

SI featured Iowa cheerleader photographed at Illinois' Memorial Stadium

Very nice that Sports Illustrated featured Iowa Hawkeye cheerleader Meredith Hoffman . Did they have to photograph her at University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium?  Especially since she loves Iowa's Kinnick Stadium? (smile)

2. Why I love The University of Iowa: The University of Iowa offers a tradition of both academic and athletic excellence. Cheering at Kinnick Stadium in front of 77,000 Hawkeye fans is unlike any other experience and something I will treasure for years to come!

Seems Ms Hoffman is into Illinois teams:

8. My favorite teams are: The Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears

One more misguided Cubs fan!

See what an out-of-control blogger has to say about Hawkeye cheerleaders.

Steroid spiked products part of rogue nutrition firm's offerings

Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals of Norcross, Ga deceived customers with a line of natural products, which actually contained spiked ingredients according to prosecutors in Georgia. MS-NBC carries the story here. US DEA announcement here.  The NFL bans players from endorsing their products.  Ergogenics story here.

Hi-Tech was found to be using ephedra, banned after Corey Stringer died while using Ultimate-Orange, which contained the dangerous drug.  Northwestern University football player Rashidi Wheeler,  and Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler, also died after taking ephedra products.

A host of bizarre charges run through the prosecutor's documents including these, that the firm:

• Discussed killing a U.S. Food and Drug Administration agent and blackmailing an assistant U.S. attorney. Neither plot was carried out, but a Hi-Tech co-founder was subsequently jailed after being convicted of being a felon in possession of a “firearm silencer.”
• Used the herbal stimulant ephedra in Hi-Tech diet products after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned its use on April 12, 2004, finding it presented “an unreasonable risk of illness or injury.”
• Sold "herbal" supplements that actually contained the active ingredients of prescription drugs that could interact dangerously with other medications.
• Illegally imported and sold banned steroids.
• Manufactured phony ecstasy tablets that were sold on U.S. streets.
• Created a muscle-building drink that was later marketed as a cleaning solution in an effort to mislead investigators.

The firm using a contaminated lab in Belize is alleged to:

..advertise and sell what were described as generic prescription drugs from Canada but were actually products that they were manufacturing in “substandard and unsanitary conditions” in Belize, according to the indictment.

Among the substances were the steroids Oxymethelone and Stanozolol, controlled drugs Ambien, Valium and Xanax, and prescription drugs Viagra, Cialis, Lipitor and Vioxx, it said.

Kurt Vonnegut: Football and baseball fan --occasional author-- dead at 84

The New York Times has a long piece on great American writer Kurt Vonnegut  who died yesterday at  age 84.  Vonnegut died of brain injuries suffered from a fall several weeks ago.

Vonnegut spend some time in our fair Iowa City in the late 60s, when he taught at the famous University of Iowa Writer's Workshop (see below). 

Lou Gehrig wants the stem cell research bill to pass Congress

There appears to be a big gunfight on the horizon over stem cell research.  Reports here at Reuters:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House threatened on Tuesday to veto a new bid to lift U.S. President George W. Bush's restrictions on federal funding of stem cell research as the Senate began considering the bipartisan bill.

and Therapeutics Daily: 

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2007 (AFP) - The US medical community is pressing on with its plea to end limits on government financing for embryonic stem cell research, but President George W. Bush refuses to lift the restrictions.

Beneficiaries of stem cell research would include victims of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (did I prove I am a doctor writing that), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.  ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Information here on ALS and at the National Institutes of Health on stem cell research.  Those dying nerve cell functions may be 'regenerated' using multipotent stem cells (information from the Cal Ripken funded Lou Gehrig Disease -ALS- research center at Johns Hopkins)

Stem cells might also be used in treated athletic injuries. Link to NY Times story here:
(Thanks to the Wizard of Odds)

The latest curative leap to heal professional athletes and weekend warriors alike may sound like science fiction, but it could transform sports medicine. Some doctors and researchers say that in a few years the use of primitive stem cells from infants' umbilical cord blood could grow new knee ligaments or elbow tendons creating a therapy that becomes the vanguard of sports injury repair.

Let's get this bill passed and going.  My cousin's husband died after a long and difficult course of Lou Gehrig's disease last year. ALS may be linked to chemicals on athletic fields and golf courses.  We need treatments for this fatal disease.  Lou Gehrig who died of ALS in 1941 says DO IT NOW!

Hank Aaron would rather golf than watch Barry Bonds #756

The Detroit Freep reports Hank Aaron will not be among the crowd rushing to catch Barry Bonds' home run #756.  In fact, Aaron may be having a stroke...a golf stroke.

ATLANTA -- Hank Aaron doesn't plan to be at the ballpark if and when San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds breaks his home run record.

"Uh-uh. No, no. I'm not going to be around," Aaron said in Tuesday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

So where will you be Hammern' Hank?

Aaron said he wouldn't attend if Bonds were close when the Giants play at Atlanta on Aug. 14-16.

"I'd probably fly to West Palm Beach to play golf," Aaron said. "I don't want to be around that sort of thing anymore. I just want to be at peace with myself. I don't want to answer questions."

Aaron said commissioner Bud Selig has told him that Bonds has asked several times why Aaron hasn't contacted him as he approaches the record.

"I don't talk to anybody, really, and I've never talked to Barry, outside of that commercial we did together a few years ago, and a few other short times," Aaron said. "I'm 72, and I'm not hopping on a plane and flying to San Francisco for anybody."

Steroid Briefs: David Wells; The Daily Bruin; Aaron not watching Bonds

1.  David  Wells talks about steroids.  Clipblast.

2.   UCLA Daily Bruin says roids use in kids up form 1.5 to 1.8%.

3.  The Freep reports Namk Aarpm closing eyes when Bonds hits #756.

The BALCO grand jury still open for business: interviewed Bond's former trainer

With the dismissal of Federal Attorney Kevin Ryan (here and here), may wondered if the BALCO investigation will continue or slowly fade away.  Those files apparently remain open because AP reports (in SFGate here) that a former Bonds trainer testified in February.

A former San Francisco Giants trainer testified before the federal grand jury investigating steroid use in sports, a sign the top prosecutor's firing did not derail the probe of star slugger Barry Bonds.

Mark Letendre, 50, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he testified for about an hour on Feb. 14.

"It was all pretty vanilla," Letendre said. "I'm pretty far removed from it."

Since U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan was fired in December, speculation has mounted that the Department of Justice would quietly extinguish the long-running investigation into whether Bonds lied under oath when he told a 2003 grand jury that he didn't knowingly take performance-enhancing drugs.

"There is absolutely no doubt that the U.S. attorney is still running a grand jury and still taking evidence that involves Bonds," said Michael Rains, the lawyer for Bonds. "There is still an active effort to indict Barry."

The trainer didn't have much to say, however the trail does like this:

Letendre was asked about Bonds' size and confirmed the slugger hurt his elbow in 1999. Bonds' former girlfriend Kimberly Bell told a previous grand jury that Bonds blamed the 1999 elbow injury on steroid use. Bonds missed seven weeks that season after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur and repair a damaged tendon in his left arm.

 

Roger Clemens: only his metabolism knows for sure

Deadspin reinvigorates the Roger Clemens issue.  Does he or doesn't he?  Use anabolics that is.

As we prepare for the annual Somebody Ask Roger Clemens To The Prom sweepstakes, Seth Mnookin reminds everyone that Clemens is pretty much as tied to steroid rumors as Barry Bonds is...

What's notable (to me, anyway), is how few people actually asking whether Clemens' remarkable endurance (some would say resurgence) is due to some kind of PED. After all, it's not like there's any shortage of red flags. Clemens is arguably one of two players -- the second being Barry Bonds -- whose Hall of Fame career was (is) capped (being capped) by his most dominant years coming after the age of 35.

Clemens was reputedly named in the Jason Grimsley affidavit which...disappeared into thin air.  We listed this issue as one of the 10 questions of the 2007 MLB season.  Baseball's Steroid Era presents the evidence fir Clemens juicing here.

Interesting that none other than David Ortiz (Boston.com) mentions Roger Clemens when defending Sammy Sosa.  Why is Clemens on Ortiz' mind?

"It doesn't matter what people say. People say [Roger] Clemens used steroids, people say Mark McGwire used steroids. People say a whole bunch of players used steroids, but nobody can prove that, you know what I'm saying?

Denny McLain does more than mention Clemens here.  This is a story on a McLain talk by The Daily News Report out of Tennessee:

He (McLain) made it clear he believes players such as Ivan Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens all eventually will be exposed beyond all doubt as steroid users. He noted changes in the physical appearance of both Rodriguez and Bonds in recent years, and pointed to Clemens’ sustained greatness as likely evidence that they used performance-enhancing substances.

“Bonds? C’mon,” he said. “... Not to condemn anything (Clemens) did because he had one advantage over everyone else — he had great stuff. But Lord knows how much better he could have been if he had been using the stuff.”

Texas gallops forward on steroid testing for high schools

The Texas Senate this afternoon passed by a vote of 28-2 a steroid testing bill for Longhorn state youth.  Story here at WFAA.com.

AUSTIN – Thousands of Texas high school athletes would be randomly tested for steroids in one of the largest student drug testing programs in the nation, under a bill approved by the Senate Tuesday.

The program, approved on a 28-2 vote, would start in the 2007-08 school year, and it would require an estimated 22,000 student athletes to submit to steroid testing. A positive result would force the student to be suspended from competition for at least 30 days.

A second positive test would sideline the student for one year, and a third would result in a permanent ban from extracurricular sports.

The House is expected to approve a similar bill later Tuesday, and once differences in the two are resolved, legislation would be sent to Gov. Rick Perry for his signature.

Rant for Cycling

We are having a lull in cycling coverage at this point.  Rant seems to be the place to get some  up-to-date info, so check it out....

Aussie teachers & parents still corked at dope testing for their tots

A few weeks ago we reported on a high school rowing team forced to strip, then pee in a cup for a anti-doping test.  Those lovable Aussies continue at it again.  The regulatory blokes want to test school kids for steroids.

A Radio Australia report here says the kid's teachers/parents want nothing to do with this rubbish.

The heads of Australian Independent Schools will meet the government's anti-doping authority today, to protest against the drug testing of school children at sports carnivals.

Last month students from a high school in the east of Sydney were forced to strip and provide officials at a regatta with urine samples, in front of an official from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).

The revelation sparked outrage because ASADA did not seek the consent of the students' parents.

The New South Wales Association of Independent Schools spokesman, Geoff Newcombe, says ASADA shouldn't be allowed to drug test children who are not elite athletes.

But the authority says it has the right to test any children who play sport covered by an anti-doping policy at any time.

Well, well...We can test Australian school kids, but are unable to test American NFL players.  Logical.  And they nailed Rocky at the Sydney airport.  It is all clear now.

Carry on.

Don't blame baseball's power surge on steroid-induced shinking balls; this study says blame shrinking strike zones

Here from Live Science comes two Univ Nebraska-Lincoln's professor's take on MLB's power surge: Not shrinking steroid-induced balls; rather shrinking umpire-induced strike zones.

Benjamin G. Rader and Kenneth J. Winkle wanted to understand the hitting trends for the 1969 to 2006 seasons. The era following 1994–2000, which they call Baseball's Great Hitting Barrage of the 90s, has been the puzzling one. What cooled down the wild hitting bubble, with its home-run rallies and record-breaking performances?

Was it drugs that pumped up those figures and then drug testing, which began in 2003 (although anxiety, trial tests and awareness of being caught started years earlier) that brought them back down a bit? Some have concluded this from many reports, including Ken Caminiti's confession in 2002 to Sports Illustrated that he used steroids in the mid-90s and stated that it was "no secret" that at least half of all players were using steroids.

Olympic sprinter Tim Montgomery pulls a fast one: Pleads guilty to fraud

Tom Montgomery's life continues to catch cleats on the track.  Today the former world record holder in the 100M, father of a Marion Jones child, and Olympic sprinter, plead guilty to fraud charges in New York.

Montgomery lost a world record in the 100m following details of his BALCO steroid and anabolic involvement.  He never tested positive for steroids.  However, in this deal he may lose more than a world record, painful as that sounds.  He may lose his freedom.

From Fox News:

NEW YORK - Olympic sprinter Tim Montgomery, once considered the fastest man on Earth until his world record was erased in the BALCO steroid scandal, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy in a multimillion-dollar bank fraud and money-laundering scheme.

”I sincerely regret the role I played in this unfortunate episode,” Montgomery said in a statement following the plea. ”I have disappointed many people, and for that I am truly sorry.”

Montgomery’s plea deal ”reflects his minor role” in an alleged conspiracy and does not require him to testify at the trial of his former coach, Steven Riddick, and other co-defendants, according to his lawyers. That trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday.

Will Charlie Sheen take the mound? The Cleveland Indians return to play home games in Milwaukee

Are we straying from steroids-related stories these days or what? We had to go with this story based on our man JT's tip.

The Cleveland Indians will be playing their 'home series' with the Brewers, in Milwaukee's Miller stadium, because of the cold and snow in Cleveland this week.  This marks a return of the Tribe to a home in Milwaukee's park...sort of.

The 1989 film, Major League followed the 'fictional' Cleveland Indians through a season where the owner tried to sabotage the club so badly, they would be forced to move to Florida.  Although about the Cleveland Indians, the film was shot in Milwaukee's old County Stadium.  From Zip.ca (movie database).

Inheriting the Cleveland Indians baseball team from her late husband, covetous ex-showgirl Margaret Whitton wants to move the franchise to Miami, primarily to take advantage of the many personal perks she's been promised by that city. But Cleveland won't yield its lease on the Indians unless the year's attendance falls below 800,000. Figuring that chances for this are already good given Cleveland's inability to win a pennant, Whitton tries to make doubly certain that the fans won't turn out by ordering the club manager to put together the worst team possible.

Weird Trifecta for former Iowa Hawkeye coaches

What a weird week for 3 former University of Iowa coaches.

1.  First, recently departed basketball coach Steve Alford, leaves town on the phone to Hawk signees, which is unusual since he was calling as New Mexico's new coach to invite them to UNM.  Then Alford's old 1.8 million dollar digs showed up online last week, complete with black and gold gym.

2.  Former women's basketball Vivian Stringer, who took the Hawkeyes to the Final Four in 1993, finds out she left staid Iowa girls for a bunch of "nappy-headed ho's" at Rutgers University, courtesy of Don Imus in the morning.

3.  If all this isn't enough, a Hawkeye reject --golf reject no less-- Cedar Rapidian Zach Johnson wins the Masters over the weekend.  Freshly retired Hawk golf coach Steve Anderson must be feeling like quite a Bogey-man for passing on Johnson who played golf at Drake University in Des Moines in the late 90s.

The imperfect weird Hawkeye coaching Trifecta.

Masters winner Zach Johnson more worried about Hawkeye basketball coach than golf game before Masters victory

Local Iowa golfer Zach Johnson (story here in Tom Kirkendall's blog Houston's Clear Thinkers) won the Masters down in Augusta Georgia in condition described as a golf course on steroids.  Ah, but let it be revealed that Johnson was not as concerned about as his golf game as he was about finding a new basketball coach for the Iowa Hawkeyes last week.

Steve Alford fled the Hawkeye coaching position for New Mexico because he wanted to coach at a football school.  Last week about this time, found Iowa AD Gary Barta furiously looking at one coach after another

-- Dana Altman, Rick Majerus, and reportedly others.

From HawkeyeReport Editor Tom Kakert comes this story:

It's kind of funny that one week ago today, Zach called me as he was driving into The Masters from a weekend in Florida working on his game. He was more concerned about who the new basketball coach was going to be.:)  Honestly, he felt pretty good about his chances, but I don't think in his wildest dreams did he see this one happening. Hopefully, I will hear from him tonight, but I bet he has some celebrating to do tonight.

Local Iowa boy makes good, wins the Masters

Local golfer Zach Johnson won this golf tournament they hold down in Georgia today...The Masters.  The 31 year old son of a chiropractor from Cedar Rapids, played at Drake University in Des Moines. The Des Moines Register has the story.

Augusta, Ga. — Iowa’s Zach Johnson stunned the golf world today by winning the Masters.

Johnson, the ex-Drake golfer from Cedar Rapids, tamed August National Golf Club with a birdie binge on the final six holes to finish at 1-over for the tournament.

On CBS, Johnson was fitted for the fabled green jacket by 2006 champion Phil Mickelson in legendary Butler Cabin.

"I can't put it into words," Johnson said.

Also check out Tom Kirkendall's story on the Masters in Houston's Clear Thinkers.  Tom grew up in Iowa City as a Hawkeye fan too.  I hear Tom's local golf pro tutors Tiger Woods.  Sorry about that finish dude.

The last Iowan to win a major was an upset too.  Jack Fleck won the 1955 US Open over legendary Ben Hogan at Olympic in San Francisco.  Photos here.  And thanks to Will at Road Trips for the tip.

Too bad the University of Iowa blew it when they didn't offer Johnson a scholarship.  Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz would never make that kind of mistake.

Update:  Johnson was more concerned last week about filling the Iowa basketball coaching vacancy than his short game.  Guess it all sorta worked out pretty good.

Steroids: Letting the air out of your balls

As documented here at The Bleacher Report, a new ad from http://www.drugfree.org/  discusses the side effects of anabolic steroids.  Effects on systems including: tendons, internal organs, central nervous system, and of course your testicles.

The Bleacher report doesn't care for the ad:

I mean COME ON: We’ve already been told that steroids can cause strokes and heart attacks.  But that’s nothing!  THEY CAN ALSO SHRINK YOUR BALLS!

 

But wait, did you ever stop and think about the fact that YOU WON'T HAVE ANY BALLS TO SHRINK IF YOU'VE ALREADY DIED OF A HEART ATTACK?

If I had one suggestion for the people at drugfree.org, it would be to stop assuming that kids are so stupid.  This idea that some teenager is going to stop taking steroids—not because you warned him about dying of a heart attack, but because it's going to lower his sperm count—is just insane.  And if the kid is indeed stupid enough to be more concerned with the sexual side effects than he is with the risk of his heart stopping, then hell: He's probably dumb enough to miss the message altogether and continue juicing.

So, here are your balls on steroids:

Jim Rice: Always a big hit

Sounds like Jim Rice made a big hits in Massachusetts and Rhode Island last week.  He gave a talks to Triple-A Pawtucket's Welcome Home luncheon last week, and to a luncheon in Lincoln RI.  The Lower Hudson Journal-News reported on the Mass talk.   The Austin Statesman (from the Providence Journal) covered Rice's RI talk.

Rice espoused his non-loyalty to Boston.  Not only that, but a basic philosophy of doing whatever it takes to make a few bucks:

...Rice went on to tell the prospects that he didn't care that he played for Boston, he just wanted to play in the majors.

"Who says you have to play for the Red Sox?" he asked. "Get your money in the big leagues and become a businessman, that's the bottom line. You have to learn how to stay. What do I have to do? If I've got to cheat, I got to cheat. I don't care. I want to be in the big leagues."

 

Barry Bond's agent demands you bow down to your new steroid overlord

Barry Bond's court jester, agent Steve Borris demands you bow down to the anabolic overlord.  Barry deserves your gratitude, your adulation, your worship.  After all, he is Barry Bonds, and Steve Borris is his boy agent, and you are neither. Story in the SF Chronicle.

Barry in the MLB Hall of Fame?  Ask the jester:

"Barry better be unanimous, 100 percent, first ballot," Borris said. "If the Hall of Fame is what it stands for, how can the greatest player ever to play the game not be a unanimous selection?"

Greatest player ever to play the game? Could be, but it's subject to debate.

Unanimous selection? He would be the first. Eleven voters said no to Babe Ruth.