Lately, I don't have enough time to put into writing full blown topics on sports news so here are a few of my thoughts on varioius topics.  I tend to do this on Sundays, hence the title, Sunday Socal Rants:

• A-Rod:  Why is his "hah" thing such a big deal?  Yeah I know its Bush league, but did that really cause the third baseman to miss the catch?  When I see an NBA game and all the fans behind the basket waving things to distract a player at the charity stripe, this seems so trivial.  If you ever attend an NCAA game and hear fans yelling and screaming at opposing players then you will see how meaningless this really is.  It sounds like some of you should go root for Gonzaga or some other Catholic school where taunting is outlawed.
• Dale Earnhardt:  Is he really that good of a driver that people are making all this fuss over landing him on their team?  Hendricks Motor Sports doesn't want him and that should tell you something.  Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Tony Stewart are all better drivers and even guys like Mark Martin have performed better over the last few years.  I think it's mostly name recognition because wins certainly are not a factor in wanting this guy or you would choose 10 other drivers for your team.
• LeBron:  I would not bet against the Cavs when they play the Spurs this week.  Of course, I still think the Pistons are cursed by having Flip Saunders as a coach and then bringing on one of the most unlucky players ever in Chris Webber.  The Pistons never stood a chance and will never win another NBA title as long as Flip is at the helm.  LeBron is the real deal and belongs with the big boys.  Hopefully this is just one year of many to come and in the future the East will be a battle ground between the Cavs and Heat for supremacy.
• NHL:  Does anyone really care that the Ducks and Senators are playing for the Stanley Cup?  I have seen zero on the major networks and I don't even know who is carrying the games on the TV.  It should be a big deal, but it isn't.  Of course the US is owning Canada again in what is essentially a Canadian sport.  Sorry Dan!
• Roger Clemens:  He is now scratched from his first start because of some tightness in his groin.  Geez, I get tightness in my groin every time I see Sharapova serve a tennis ball.  I think it is all a ploy so that Roger can get his first start against the cellar dweller Pirates.  He is sure to get a win against them, but oh how sweet it would be if the Buccaneers could somehow steel that game away from the Rocket. I have a feeling this is the deal that will eventually cost Brian Cashman his job.
• French Open:  Almost as bad as hockey but we do still have one lone American contending.  Serena Williams advanced to the quarterfinals, but then again does anyone really care.  Since Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi left center court, I just can't get into tennis.  As much as I like Andy Roddick, the Americans don't have anyone that can stand toe to toe with Roger Federer.  Of course we do have the Williams sisters, but tennis is only 25% of their life, and you just can't win forever when you are not dedicated to your sport.  No matter how dominate you once were, the Williams sisters are finding out they can be beaten.
• Floyd Landis:  He doesn't stand a prayer in his arbitration meeting.  With a manager trying to black mail Greg Lemond, any appeals chance he had is now shot.  The guy cheated and we are about to see the first Tour de France title ever stripped, stripped from an American.  Somewhere, I think Lance Armstrong is smiling because he is just so lucky it wasn't him.  Armstrong is the Barry Bonds of cycling.  He never tested positive, but was he really clean?
• Hank Aaron:  No one wants to say it, so I will.  Aaron is a very bitter old man.  The guy is a legend and an ambassador for the game of baseball.  He went through hell breaking Ruth's record and he should know better than anyone what Barry is going through.  He should attend the game or at least make an effort to attend.  Also, he should publicly support Bonds as he approaches his record.  Aaron probably used "greenies" which are not only illegal but are also on MLB's banned list of substances.  If they are not performance enhancers then why are they banned?  They do allow players to get up for games and perform and if Aaron used them then his record is just as tainted as Bonds.  Get real Aaron and become a stand up guy.  Bonds will break your record and you can look classy or petty.  Which one is it going to be?

That's all I got for now, but I am sure I will start fuming over something else this weekend.  I have graduation ceremonies this week as well as baccalaureate services today so I might not respond to any comments that quickly, but feel free to leave your opinions below.

SoCalSportsFan

 

The Floyd Flip Flop will someday be as famous as the Fosbury Flop, or maybe as infamous as the other is famous.  The Fosbury Flop is a method used in the high jump while the Floyd Flip Flop is the method that Floyd Landis is using to defend himself from the terrible accusations that he "doped" while participating in the Tour de France.  Landis was interviewed by Matt Lauer on the NBC Today Show Monday and in it he said he did not ingest anything that would cause his high testosterone level.  Then last night on the Jay Leno show, he said that one theory is that he may have ingested something that would cause these high levels. 

Floyd, get your story straight.  You are blaming the press because you can not come up with theories to match the information being leaked and then you go and refute everything you say in one interview on the very next one.  Does anyone really believe he is innocent after hearing him defend himself on national television?  I don't.  At least Lance Armstrong has always steadfastly maintained his innocence and never changed his answers on his potential doping whereas Floyd can't keep his stories straight.  Would his attorneys please keep him off of television too.  He has the worst "poker" face.  He just looks all nervous and guilty when he speaks.  Oh well, it's not like they are going after him for tax evasion.

SoCalSportsFan

Did anyone else watch the interview with Matt Lauer (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/)  this morning?  I know Floyd can't catch a break with the media and reports are being leaked faster than a Barry Bonds' grand jury statement, but is this really the best excuse he can give?

He stopped well short of saying I did not put anything into my body, he only said that he did not cheat.  There is a big difference between the two.  If you don't think taking steroids is cheating then he can legitimately make that claim.  He might also think since everyone else is using steroids that it should be legal for him.  Whatever he believes, he did not come out and say I did not inject myself with synthetic testosterone and I know he is smart enough to know what he is saying and what he is not saying.  His lawyers have prepared him very well so that he can go to trial and not be prosecuted for perjury.

Also, it appears he is expanding his attacks on the French press and upon the testing center because all of the testing information has been released prior to his approval.  For some reason he claims that if the center used the appropriate protocols, meaning they notify him first, he would have had enough time to get his story straight and he would not look like an #### when he keeps changing his tune.  If you would just tell the truth, you would not have to keep changing your story and seeking for excuses to what is obvious to the rest of the cycling world.   Admit it, take the punishment, and move on. 

SoCalSportsFan

*Lastly, it appears the folks at Fox do not want pictures because the editor does not allow it anymore nor does it allow links.  Maybe if you are html profecient, which I am not, you can continue this practice.  I will need to take a few lessons from someone.*

 

Floyd Landis triumphant entry into Paris will soon be forgotten and overshadowed by the fact that his B sample also came back positive.  Landis still wants the opportunity to clear his name so he agreed to be interviewed by Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Report.  The following is a transcript of the upcoming episode.

SC:  Welcome to the Colbert Report, Mr. Landis.  Can I call you Floyd?

FL:  Sure Stephen, call me Floyd.

SC:  That’s Mr. Colbert to you Floyd.  Well, let’s get right to what everyone wants to know, did you inject yourself with an outside substance?

FL: Mr. Colbert, I did inject myself with anything!  I would never do that.

SC:  But Floyd, I read that you took cortisone injections for your arthritic hip. 

FL:  Well yes Mr. Colbert, I did inject myself with cortisone.

SC:  And cortisone is a steroid from the corticosteroid family, so you did inject steroids.  FL:  Okay, I injected cortisone, but that is considered legal because it is used for pain.

SC:  Is it possible someone may have tampered with the contents of that syringe?

FL:  I suppose anything is possible, but I don’t think so.  Just my trainer and I handle all of my supplements.

SC:  So you’re saying, you did not take any steroids during the race.  Am I correct in that?

FL:  Yes.

SC:  What about prior to the race and what explanation do you have for your unnaturally high levels?

FL:  No, it is a common misconception that you have to take steroids to be competitive.  I have never used them; my body just produces a high level of testosterone naturally.  Maybe it was the beer and whiskey I had after stage 16 that caused my testosterone to shoot off the charts.

SC:  Beer and whiskey;  Come on, then that means every male watching this show might be elevating their testosterone levels as we speak.  Did you not have any beer or whiskey during any of the other stages?

FL:  No, I was trying to drown my sorrows after falling eight minutes behind Oscar.

SC:  Whose Oscar?

FL:  Oscar Pereiro, he is the Spaniard who came in second.

SC:  I think you mean first don't you.  After all, after this second test you are going to be stripped of the title and he will be crowned the victor.  Why do you hate America?

FL:  I don’t hate America.

SC:  But you DID ride for the Swiss Team Phonak, but they have recently fired you, and now you let a Spaniard win!  Why didn’t you stay on Lance Armstrong’s US Postal Team? 

FL:  Lance and I don’t get along too well. 

SC:  Maybe because you are jealous of his 7 wins?

FL:  I have nothing but the utmost respect for Lance and what he accomplished in this sport and his fight over cancer, but I wanted to be the lead rider for his team, and Lance had other ideas.

SC:  Do you think you will win in your arbitration case with the US Doping Agency?

FL:  I don’t know, but I intend on proving it.

SC:  How will you prove your body produces high levels of testosterone on just one stage of the race?

FL:  I think after the show I am going to go down a six pack of Coors and chase it with some Jack Daniels. 

SC:  It might not elevate your testosterone, but it might just help you forget.  Good luck Floyd and thanks for coming on the Colbert Report.

SoCalSportsFan

*This is fictitious for those who would believe it to be true although the dialogue contains many true statements. To see a photo of Floyd receiving his testosterone click on this link.*

I just read the latest news article on Floyd Landis and if I were him I would just apologize and admit that I am guilty.  This latest statement by his attorney is laughable at best.  His attorney, Jose Maria Buxeda admits that the second sample will test positive and then went on to say,

 “However, Landis is "certain" he hasn't ingested banned substances and is "pretty sure" he can prove his innocence,”

Of course Landis is certain he did not ingest anything, he injected it into his rear end.  “Pretty sure” he can prove his innocence is not the same thing as I did not dope.  (I think this picture clearly shows that someone from Landis' race team is inserting a testosterone laced suppository up his arse.) His original statement in which Landis had to recite was bad enough, but now his attorney has all but admitted that Landis did the unthinkable.  There is an old saying that goes, “With friends like these who needs enemies.”  The same could be said for Landis’ attorney.  Take a look at this statement by Buxeda who is trying to explain why Landis could have a higher ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone,

"For instance, in cases of dehydration, maximum effort etc. sometimes the body does not behave as it usually does and that could maybe explain abnormal results, as it could be if the result is confirmed in our case,"

Once again trying to prove dehydration or any other natural cause for a high ratio does not explain the “synthetic” testosterone that has been confirmed to be the cause of the high ratio.  In other words, the fact is that the testosterone level was disproportionate because of something that was added to your system and not created by your body.

Let me be the first to congratulate Oscar Pereiro, picture to the right,  on his Tour de France win.   Pereiro was Phonak's lead rider from 2002-2005 until Floyd Landis moved over from Armstrong's team  to become their number one guy.  I find that just a wee bit ironic.

SoCalSportsFan

Today as we await the verdict on the Floyd Landis an interesting comment was left on my post titled, “I Know Why Landis Doped.”  The comment basically alleges that Landis did win the Tour de France, but he will be stripped of his win by the International Cycling Union, the sanctioning body for cycling. 

My point of contention is that if you cheat and you are caught and then stripped of the win, then you did not win at all.  If a high school team is found to violate recruitment rules or play ineligible players, then they are forced to forfeit games they have already competed in and won.  The record books are changed.  Ben Johnson had his gold medal stripped by the Olympic committee when he was found to have used an illegal steroid. 

So, I would like to pose this question to the Fox bloggers and see if we can arrive at some consensus of opinion;  did Landis win?  Do you consider someone who cheats and wins an event to be the winner?  Do you consider someone who has a medal taken away even though they physically came in first to be the winner?  I do not.  The tricky part is that many winners who have medals or first place finishes may have cheated also, but they were not caught and therefore still retain their titles.  What say you?

 

SoCalSportsFan

Back before the Tour de France started, I got into somewhat of a debate with another blogger and I said an American cycler would not win the Tour this year.  Of course after Floyd Landis won, I had to apologize and say that I was wrong.  Oh ye of little faith!  I was right because Floyd will be stripped of his title in the weeks to come unless he can prove where the synthetic testosterone came from that was found in his urine. 

The fact is that cycling is considered the dirtiest sport in the world.  The temptation to use steroids is overwhelming and everywhere.  Even a man of character like Floyd Landis, who was raised in a Mennonite home, was not able to withstand the enticement of using steroids to help him win the Tour de France.  I think I know why he used the steroids and I do not think he was a habitual user. 

Landis let us know about half way into the race that he had a degenerative hip disorder which would eventually cause him to need hip replacement surgery.  When he gave this announcement, I thought it was a ploy to give the other riders false hope so that they might ease up on him.  In fact, the very next day after the announcement he won the next stage.  Hard to believe a guy on a bump hip could do that to the field, but he did.  Then when he fell eight minutes behind the leader in the next few stages the tour was all but over for him.  Eight minutes behind in a race like this is an insurmountable amount of time to make up in just less than five days, but the next day Floyd raced like a man possessed or a man on steroids and won back all but thirty seconds of the lead.  

Landis was tired of playing second fiddle to Lance Armstrong.   For three years on the US Postal team, he watched as Lance hoisted the winning cup over his head.  Armstrong did not resign Landis, so he switched to the Swiss Phonak team where he was the lead rider.  The fact is that many believe that Lance only won because of his strong team and that any of his riders could have won with the team he built, but if that were true, why did no one from Lance’s team win this year.  Lance was the greatest Tour de France rider ever, period.  I am sure all of this weighed on Floyd’s mind and eventually he succumbed to temptation. 

Some things don’t add up that is for sure, but I can honestly say that there is no medical reason for his testosterone levels to be so out of whack on just one day.  He must have injected the testosterone on the day before stage 17 or the morning of.  He has admitted injecting himself with corticosteroids for pain much the same way Curt Schilling injected his ankle to pitch in the ALCS against the Yankees, but that would not affect his testosterone levels.  If he had a genetic predisposition to high levels, then it would have shown up in all of his races and it hasn’t. 

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we first set out to deceive.  Floyd Landis' web is just getting more and more confusing.  I wish Floyd would come out and tell the truth, but I doubt he will.  He and his lawyers are reporting that they expect the second sample to say the same thing, but they don’t know why his levels are so high.  His story is changing every hour.  Let’s hope they can come up with a  believable story soon before his head swells up like Barry Bonds.

SoCalSportsFan

*The second sample's results are expected to be in on Thursday*

I watched an interview on ESPN with Floyd Landis the other day and I kept waiting for the moderator to ask him some tough questions.  Certainly he did not ask the kind of tough questions that Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Report asks his guests.  Is there anyone in the business of interviews that does a better job than Stephen Colbert?  I don't think so.

Anyway, I kept waiting but since he never did,  here goes my list and a few questions Mr. Colbert might ask.

1.  So you say you have naturally occuring high levels of testosterone, why has none of your other samples ever tested so high before in any other stage of this race or other races? 

2.  Is it because you have big balls? 

2.  What exactly is wrong with your thyroid?  I thought the thyroid regulates thyroxin which helps regulate your metabolism.  So what does that have to do with your testosterone levels?

3.  What medications are you currently taking?

4.  How does it feel to be suspended by Phonak?  Not exactly a ringing endorsement from your own team. 

5.  Why are you riding for the Swiss?  Aren't you an American? 

6.  How often were you tested during the race?  Was it only on stage 17?  Many people have the idea that you were tested all along the race, but for some reason I got the idea you were only tested prior to the race and then randomly during the race.  These guys were su####ious and tested you after that miraculous stage 17.  In the Tour de France, no one makes up 8 minutes of time on the leader in one stage.

7.  Do you think this is happening because you are an American?  I mean the UCI is not a French organization nor is the team you ride for an American team.  Phonak is a Swiss team. 

8.  Do you think God is punishing you? I mean you are a Mennonite, but you drink, ride on Sundays, and you certainly are not modest in that spandex, at least not by your denominations standards.

Just some questions that I know Colbert would have asked if he were doing the interview.  For me, I will not say that I am sure he used some type of performance enhancer, but it certainly looks like it from where I am sitting. (On a side note, doesn't it look like he has Hugenormous Balls in that spandex?  According to Stephen Colbert, that is the reason he won!)

SoCalSportsFan

The UCI, the world governing body for cycling, announced that a high profile rider was guilty of using steroids.  Speculation quickly has moved towards Floyd Landis because he has withdrawn from two races since his heroic win at the Tour de France.  Landis’ own team, Phonak, has put a memo on its website saying Landis had high testosterone levels during the race.  (I can see why his testosterone level is rising in the photo above!)

What does all this mean?  Where in the world is Floyd Landis?  Is he cleaning his system while in hiding?  Can he really be so stupid as to use steroids while riding?  The answers to all of these questions are sure to come out soon. 

It means that an American may not win the title this year.  It means that cycling is indeed the dirtiest sport on this earth.  It means that Armstrong may have been right to dump Landis from his team.  It means that Landis may never ride again.  It means that if you cheat, you will eventually get caught.  (Unless you are Bonds and Armstrong)  My guess is that he is guilty.  My guess is that he will blame all of this on his ailing hip.  My guess is that his career is finished unless he somehow can prove he is innocent.  Ulrich's team has already let him go sparking possible lawsuits.  The plot thickens, as does the blood when taking EPO. 

Ulrich is a one time tour winner and a five time runner up to Lance Armstrong.  Basso, another strong contender during Lance’s heyday,  is also suspected by the UCI.  One thing you can say about Lance, even if he did use steroids, he was never caught.  Sounds a lot like Barry Bonds!

SoCalSportsFan

*Since posting this report, more has come out about Landis positive test.  We now know that team Phonak has suspended him until his second sample can be tested.  I also find it ironic that they will not come right out and say Landis tested positive for steroids until his second sample is checked, but in the case of Armstrong, he was accused without the second sample.  Granted, they can never test his second sample because all of his samples were used up in their ongoing witch hunt.

Also, interesting to note, Landis' mother said she would be very disappointed in her son if he did steroids, but she understands the temptations are out there.  These are devout Mennonites and very hard working people.  I hope Landis is innocent, but this case is snowballing fast and it is beginning to look like an avalanche.*

Back in January I started writing a series of posts that I called SoCal’s Daily Affirmations.  I have written with that byline three or four times.  The nice part of this format is that I get to address several issues in one post and then dispense my advice to the people I am writing about in the format of an affirmation from Stuart Smalley.  What that really means is that I could not find one topic that I wanted to rant about so I chose four.  Today I am going to tackle Barry Bonds, Pat Riley, Lance Armstrong, and Larry Brown. 

Barry Bonds is still the most feared baseball hitter in the game and also a threat in other ways.  Last night in the game against Oakland, with one out and the bases loaded, Blanton walked Barry with four straight pitches.  The A’s would rather walk in a run than give Barry a shot at a grand slam.  That speaks volumes about how feared his bat still is.  Bonds is still one of the all time greatest players in my book and he proved it again this past week.  He was on ESPN for a web gem earlier, robbing someone of a HR with a great catch over the wall and then last night he steals a base.  Looks like his knee is feeling better which can only mean one thing, he is playing next year.   Watch out Henry Aaron!  I see Bonds at DH next season and becoming the ALL TIME HR holder.   Barry, please repeat after me, "I can hit with power, I can take walks, I make 20+ million a year, and I can still even steal bases; gosh darn it, who cares if people like me!

The NBA season is over and the Miami Heat are the champions.  For those who don’t believe me, I predicted this would happen way back on December 12 when Pat Riley was made the coach of the Heat.  Go back and read my post which did not garner even one comment.   Many felt it was unfair of Riley to force Stu Van Gundy out and replace the coach with himself.  Well the Heat have their championship and Riley another ring so maybe it is time to acknowledge that Pat coming back was a good thing.  I know all the talk about Dwyane Wade being the reason they won is out there, but Riley was the catalyst to this organization winning it all.  He was the architect of this team and he needs to get his due.  Pat repeat after me, "I can still slick what hair I have left back, I know how to coach, I am mentioned in Glory Road, my players like me, and gosh darn it, I can outdance Shaq."

Lance Armstrong admits to taking EPO and other steroids according to his former best friend, Frankie Andreu, (Gee, I wonder why they aren’t best friends anymore!)  Betsy Andreu, Frankie’s wife, also says she heard Lance admit to using steroids as he was talking with one of Armstrong’s cancer doctors back in 1996.  For the record, this should come as no surprise.  Lance will deny and no one will be able to prove it.  It is all hearsay and Lance has provided an affidavit from his doctor saying he did not admit to taking steroids.  Sounds a bit like the Bonds’ case if you ask me.  Leaked grand jury testimony, attorney-client privilege, and doctor-patient relationship are just a few of the so called sources of information, none of which can be verified.  Barry and Lance will never be proven to have taken steroids because of these types of sources of information, but in our hearts we will always know that both of these men took them.  Assuredly, just as Barry took steroids, Lance Armstrong did take EPO, and in my opinion that should not diminish his record seven Tour De France titles.  What Lance did on a bicycle is equal to or even greater than what Babe Ruth did with a bat.  His record  seven wins may stand forever in the cycling world.  And while taking EPO is risky, almost every cycler who is competitive has taken EPO or other designer steroids at sometime during their career.  Armstrong is no exception.  Did he take EPO from 1999-2005, no one knows for sure, but like Barry, Lance can say he has never tested positive for anything.  That should count for something.  Lance repeat after me, "I am the best cyclist to ever live.  I was paid lots of money for riding a bike, date beautiful women, and now get paid huge appearance and endorsement fees.   I will not stress out about steroid allegations that will never be proven.  I beat cancer and gosh darn it, I should be glad that I am alive!"

Larry Brown is out and Isiah Thomas is in as the coach of the New York Knicks.  Dolan is an ####.  Isiah has single-handedly destroyed the Knicks franchise.  He brought in two guards who are not compatible, over paid, and then fired a legend so that he could coach again.  Honestly, if you wanted to coach that badly, you should have just stepped up to the plate and hired yourself last season.   Why bring in Brown for 10 million a year only to fire the guy at the end of the season.  Brown will land on his feet somewhere, Sacramento, and the Knicks are going to pay through the nose for firing him.  Don’t think you will be able to avoid a huge buyout on his contract because of his roadside interviews because any judge or arbitrator will rule in Brown’s favor.    I for one think Brown is one of the top three coaches in the NBA and the Knicks organization fired the wrong guy.  The only positive for Thomas is that the Knicks only won 23 games so anything he does will look better next year which just might give Isiah one more year.   Larry repeat after me, "I have an NBA championship ring, a college championship ring, and one of the best records in all of basketball.  I am glad to be out of NY and I don't know what possessed me to go there in the first place, (10 Million reasons).  I will coach again and when I do it will not be with three of the biggest egos in the NBA, Marbury, Francis, and Thomas.   Gosh darnit, I married well and have enough money that I should enjoy life without all the hassles.  Watch out Hubie!"

SoCalSportsFan

(On a side note, I find it very difficult not to type Isiah as Isaiah, which is the traditional spelling for that name.)