OK...so I go to Mazatlan for Spring Break and I leave the world behind for a week. Had a great time doing...absolutely nothing. Sat on the balcony of the condo we rented...on the beach...read a book or two and got a great tan. Absolutely fantastic. Now I'm wondering if I can go back...not for a week...not for a month...maybe for an extended period of time. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN" ME! I get home and nothing is any different in the sports world. Of course I didn't expect the morons to go away. I just kind of hoped they would take a break like I did. Lay low and stay out of the spotlight. Lay low and stay out of trouble. Lay low and act like you have been there before and know how to handle yourself. No such luck.

MLB opened another season this week and so far the most prolific thing I have read or heard is...complaining about the umpires. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? The season is not a week old and I have read blogs complaining about umpires, I have listened to broadcasters complain about umpires, from local broadcasts to National broadcasts, to people at work complaining about the umpires. Alright already. Every umpire working a MLB game this season is going to suck at some point in time this year. I hardly think they are holding personal grudges against teams or players. I don't think they are intentionally trying to mess up Joe Blows (arbitrary name for the normal fan in the stands) night at the ball park. And I don't think they are purposely trying to be bad at what they do. Actually I would think they take pride in doing what they do just as most of us...if we are lucky...take pride in what we do. All I can say is this. How long do you think the MLB season is going to be if all we get to listen to is how this umpire or that umpire screwed our favorite team or player on any given night. As much as I couldn't stand the whole steroid thing...I'll be looking forward to a discussion about it by the end of the year if this is what I get to listen to all year. Especially if it is like this after LESS than one week of the season has been played.

Speaking of MLB. I read today where Brian McNamee has autographed baseball paraphenalia from Roger Clemens that he, McNamee, has decided to autograph as well and then sell. Are the proceeds going to some kind of steroids awareness program or to some other viable charity? At least 80% of the profits are going to McNamee. Seems he so despises his former client now that he wants nothing to do with any of the paraphenalia Clemens signed for him. He said he doesn't want the gifts anymore. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? This is the scumbag who held on to syringes for years so that he would be able to supply evidence of Clemens' steroid usage if it ever came to that. This is a guy who received, as gifts from Clemens, autographed baseball paraphenalia all the while dating syringes of every supposed steroid shot he ever gave Clemens, or Rogers wife Debbie, for the purpose of...hanging Clemens out to dry when the time came. And now he has the audacity to sell said gifts for his profit. Honestly, I really don't care if he sells this stuff off. But give the proceeds to some other charity other than the Brian McNamee Fund. This smells so bad on so many levels. I'm having a really hard time giving any credence to his testimony now that he has done this. I questioned his motives before when I heard he saved syringes and stuff but this has removed all questions for me. He is all about him and his integrity and character are now as much in question as Clemens ever were. Given the opportunity to sit next to Clemens or McNamee in any situation...I'd pick Clemens.

On to the NFL. Matt Leinart is a party boy and we have pictures to prove it. He is a father and he is a professional football player and he got chastized by his head coach and some people have questioned the coach for doing that. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? Leinart is acting like the coddled and spoiled rich kid he has probably been all of his life (OK, this line might get me in trouble), at least in college. He's 24 years old, with a ton of money, and a very interesting lifestyle to be sure. And, in all honesty, at least he isn't out there shooting someone, or getting shot. At least he isn't taking his behavior out in the streets and going to strip clubs and busting up patrons or employees...and continually going back for more...regardless of the attempts at discipline. But his coach has every right to call his future QB out on this. Signing the contract, whether anyone else agrees or not, put Leinart in a situation where he is representing a community and is most likely the future face of the organization. Frankly, I couldn't care less if Leinart spins around in a hot-tub with a bevy of beauties. And it was in his home. But that doesn't remove the responsibility he has to the Arizona Cardinals and the community. Matt, at the very least, when you are being responsible enough to take the car keys from your guests who will be drinking in the presented style...take their cell-phones so that you can act like a teenager in your home and nobody else will be any the wiser. And Coach...keep up the good work. 

Hey, everybody...have you heard? Tony Romo, the Cowboys QB finished 34th in a golf tournament. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME?  I'm not sure what tournament and I couldn't care less. I don't care if it was for some kind of charity. Here is my question. Why is this newsworthy in any way shape or form? Tony, did you know that a lot of NHL players travel with their golf clubs and when they go to places like Florida and California they play a ton of golf. I know several myself that are outstanding golfers who have won a few local tournaments now and then and they didn't get any press for that. And they wouldn't want it. Let me guess...Jessica Simpson was with and she was reporting the scores for you. That or our sports press is so hard up for any story that this is what got in for news. Bet all Cowboys fans are happy to hear you play golf. Do you think they wonder if you can get them to the Super Bowl? As the tournament you played probably wasn't a pro-am (as I didn't really recognize any names) and you did finish...34th...why would anyone care? Just curious.

Bob Stoops, Oklahoma Sooner Head Football Coach, read an article wherein the fact that West Virgina "WANTED" last years Fiesta Bowl win more than the Sooners did and was prompted to act. He has hung the article up in the Sooner locker room as inspiration for the upcoming season. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? Right now OU is going through Spring Football with many of their key performers not participating while they recover from injuries. DeMarco Murray is still not over the kneecap injury that shortened his season. Chris Brown is not participating. Several key defections and graduations from the defense must be addressed as well not to mention Malcolm Kelly's departure for the NFL has left you with a need to find another wideout. Especially with Adron Tennell not practicing yet, either. If I get stuck watching many more games of the Bradford to Iglesias pitch and catch show I may kick a hole in my television. The good news is that all the young kids who will need to step up are getting quality reps and time. But maybe the focus at this point in time should be on filling holes with capable bodies. Then we can get on to cliche moves like holding up newspaper articles that question your teams initiative. And, Coach Stoops, I love the job you've done at OU but...maybe you should read the article as well. The last few BCS games haven't really been played up to expectations by the players...or the coaching staff.

The college football season is what...6 months away? How many people or publications are doing predictions now...and why? ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? Look at the paragraph immediately preceding this one. This is about the OKlahoma Sooners who I care about almost as much as I care about my family. This team has been mentioned anywhere from Number 1 in the country to Number 3 in the country. They lost Malcolm Kelly, Allen Patrick, Curtis Lofton and Reggie Smith to NFL and secondary and linebacker corp  was blasted with graduations. Besides Lofton at linebacker Lewis is gone now as well. Mike Reed was released from the team and Ryan Reynolds and Austin Box are hopefully ready to step in. QB and offensive line will be the strong point this year going in. Where Murray and Brown will be is, hopefully, ready to play but...who knows. Iglesiais had an awesome year last year...how much of that was because he was generally lined up opposite Kelly who was getting double covered most of the time. Am I saying the Sooners shouldn't be considered the #1 , #2, or #3 team in the country when the season opens up? NO! What I am saying is that early predictions when every team has issues like these are a waste of time, effort and print.

Jacques Lemaire, the Minnesota Wild coach is one victory away from his 500th in the NHL. This will tie him with his first coach in Montreal, the legendary Toe Blake. Who else did Lemaire play for in Montreal? Let's see...hmmmm...got it right here in the old memory file...Scotty Bowman. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? No wonder this guy knows how to coach. He learned from two of the best. Good luck against Calgary tomorrow night in your quest Jacques.

And that's the bottom line...

BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!!!!

I'm getting cranky as I get older. Things that weren't a big deal to me at one time seem to bother the hell out of me now. I'm not talking about being bothered by the greater than thou mentality of over paid professional athletes. I'm not talking about GM's, Commissioner's, Coach's or Sports Officials who think their way is the only way...regardless of what the right thing should be. I'm not talking about "Sportswriters and Broadcast Buffoons" who think they know everything when in all actuality they may be the least informed and less knowing than their egos can admit. NO...these kinds of people have bothered me FOREVER! So it isn't these kinds of people and things that are making me cranky as I get older. They always have made me cranky. No, I'm getting cranky as I get older and I know exactly what it is. That is why I can say I'm getting cranky and I don't wonder why. I am a teacher who has worked in general education and in special education. I have coached a variety of sports over the past 30 years or so after my goals and dreams as a player ended on a surgeons table. I have worked with America's youth (and all of their diverse backgrounds) for most of my life. I have seen great kids come and go and have seen the not so great ones come and go as well. I have seen kids struggle in their youth and turn into successful adults and I have seen the popular kids in school struggle with drug abuse and never truly realize their potential. Hell, I'm not sure I've realized my potential yet! Through all of this I think I have maintained a pretty calm demeanor and attitude throughout my life and my experiences. I have had success with kids and failures with kids. I have suffered great personal tragedies and had great personal success. And throughout all of this I never really felt any sense of entitlement to anything. You get what you have worked hard for and you shouldn't have anything handed to you. Well, what have I earned in this period of time? I had to have an experience that bothered me to reflect on what I have earned and what I think I am entitled to. Last weekend was the MN Boy's High School Hockey Tournament and it ws held at the Excel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul, MN. This is the facility where the Minnesota Wild play their home games. The team I coach did not make it as a participant in this years tournament. In the past we have had access on a first come basis as a coaching staff to tickets to this event in case we didn't make it as a participating team. Last year the Excel Energy Center screwed up and didn't send us our tickets that were ordered by our Blueline club. This year they did but they put us at the bottom of the ladder so to speak. For years we had seats in a level of the Ex that ALL of the coaches sat in. This year the Excel sent us tickets, which each of us pays $72.00 for, behind a goal with student sections and the bands all around us. I've worked with this population for 30 years, right! What could be the problem? Well...there are a couple and they are these. 1.) Tickets that I pay good money for have me sitting with students and bands from other schools. 2.) I have to sit and ATTEMPT to watch a hockey game through students who stand up during play and sit down between periods. 3.) I have to sit behind the drums of a band, watch the gme through the drums and then receive pounding headache as I am forced to endure their pounding at almost every TV timeout and goal scored. Not that I got to see the goal being scored. 4.) And on the last day I arrived at my seat to find the staff at the Excel had re-sold my seat to the band and that I would have to wait for the second game (Championship Game in Class 2A) to get my seat back. How did I find thi out? From the drummer with the green hair and the white and green paint on his face. 5.) An announcement is made prior to every game requesting that people respect others around them and to please not move up and down the isles until there is a stoppage of play. Guess what? If I wanted to sit with the student section and the band I would have become a band instructor. Then I would relish the opportunity to take my kids to a venue that they couldn't care less about (except for the opportunity to be out of school) to let them bang their drums and screech their horns all day long. This would also mean that number 3 wouldn't bother me at all. I paid $72.00 for my weekend tickets and had to sit next to student sections that the majority of the students didn't pay for. Granted, their parents had to up some dough but they had no intention of attending the game. Much like, I'm sure, their offspring had no intention of watching said game. This was social period for these kids and they couldn't care less who was around them. This also was problematic from a #5 point of view. Constantly, while play was going on these kids were up and down the isle in front of us and some even decided to carry on conversations in the isles...while play was going on. Sadly, it wasn't only students. The parental units of some of these kids found it necessary to bound down the isles and give their kids money or tell them where they were meeting after the game or to make sure they were acting responsibly and respecting the people around them. Yea, like they were pefect examples of being able to follow a request by the PA announcer. And after checking my ticket to make sure I had a seat in that section, why didn't the Excel staffer tell me there was a problem with my seat and that the band had been sold my seat. Why did I have to hear it from the Little Drummer Boy? So...what exactly do I think I am entitled to? Decent seats where I have sat for years for this tournament. After all the years we have put in I think we have earned at least that. I have earned the right to NOT be forced to sit with the band, especially from a school I have no affiliation with. If I am going to go home deaf for the remainder of the evening I have earned the right for it to be my choice. I have earned the right to be able to pay $72.00 for tickets to an event...and to be able to sit and watch it without having to bob and weave like a prize fighter looking for the next great shot at my opponent...just to watch a power play. I have earned the right to watch a hockey game and not have to be interrupted by Mr. Johnny Comeondown as he gives his kid money and instruction while disregarding the request of the PA announcer and disregarding plain old respect for those around you.. Do it before you say good-bye to the child in the concourse. I know exactly what is making me cranky as I get older and it is lack of respect for other people around you. It is the self-important attitude that is pervasive in society and mocks respect of our fellow man. It is being instilled in children at an early age and you can see where it comes from in situations like this. I have encountered things like this in other venues like college and professional sporting events. There have been quite a few posts on here lately about people accepting personal responsibility for what they do. Does that only count for professional athletes who used performance enhancing drugs in their careers? Does it only count for bloggers who manipulate a computer to alter their appearance and become someone they aren't? I don't think so. Accepting responsibility for behaviors should go beyond the public realm. It has to happen in everyday life. I wanted my experience at the tournament to be about enjoying hockey. The highlight of my tournament experience was this. Four students decided to stand in the isle in front of us (not at a seat) and carry on a conversation. After five minutes of listening to this and asking them to sit own and NOT being able to see the game I got up out of my seat and stepped up to the four students. When I inquired if they were at their seats I was told that only one of them had a seat there. The other three told me their seats were in another section. My response, "Then go to your seats and quit standing in my way." They promptly left. Why should that have been the highlight of the tournament for me? It shouldn't have. But, I'm getting cranky as I get older. At least I know why. And that's the bottom line... Boomer Sooner!!!

I have been following the MLB performance enhancing drug usage scandal as much, well maybe not as much, as anyone. I read and listened to the Marion Jones debacle and shrugged my shoulders and bowed my head. I remember when Ben Johnson lost his status in the track world for using outlawed drugs and did much the same thing. I firmly believe that Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were using performance enhancing drugs when they went on their homerun barrage that helped return the fan to MLB. I also firmly believe that Bud Selig and Donald Fehr knew about it and didn't do anything constructive about it. MLB and the MLBPA have to be responsible enough to step up to the plate and accept responsiblity for this ugly mess we have in MLB. And it starts with their respective leadership. Instead of casting stones at one another they have to put that behind them come to some kind of agreement on what is banned and what and when testing should be done. It is something they have to agree upon and I, personally, think it is the only way baseball will ever get past the steroid era.

I am sick and tired of hearing Bud Selig sound like the tough guy now after he turned a silent ear and eye to this issue when the power hitters were filling the seats again. This guy is a sham and should be considered as such. Here is the tough guy on the result of the Mitchell Report which he authorized on March 30, 2006.

"I haven't seen the report yet, but I'm proud I did it." - a comment on December 12, 2007 the day before the report was made public.

Selig referred to the Mitchell Report as "a call to action. And I will act."

"Discipline of players and others identified in this report will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If warranted, those decisions will be made swiftly." - another comment made by Selig as a result of the Mitchell Report.

Is Fehr an innocent here? Not hardly, but you know what, he knows it. In his press conference regarding the Mitchell Report Fehr accepted some responsibilty for the steroid problem in MLB. At the same time he voiced his concern for the players named in it and how they would be treated by the league. Was Fehr wrong to issue to the players the following statement regarding their cooperation with Mitchell? "While Senator Mitchell pledges in his memo that he will honor any player request for confidentiality in his report, he does not pledge, because he cannot pledge, that any information you provide will actually remain confidential and not be disclosed without your consent. For example, Senator Mitchell cannot promise that infromation you disclose will not be given to a federal or state prosecutor, a Congressional committee, or even turned over in a private lawsuit in response to a request or a subpoena."

The Mitchell Report, authorized by Bud Selig, focused on players using and did not investigate the role teams played. The Mitchell Report claimed that the MLBPA was "largely uncooperative." Can't imagine why. Hadn't the MLBPA agreed to anonymous testing in 2003 only to find out that anonymous went out the window when the names of those who tested positive appeared in government documents during the BALCO investigation. How could that have happened, Bud? And why did Mitchell give Selig an advance copy of the report but not the MLBPA? Jason Giambi was interviewed by Mitchell because of his history and comments regarding steroid usage. He was also threatened with discipline by Big Bad Bud.

So, who do you believe? Bud and MLB or Donald and the MLBPA? Do you believe Roger and Barry or do you believe Kimberly Bell and Brian McNamee? Do you believe the 89 players who weren't supposed to be named in the Mitchell Report, but were, or do you believe a couple of guys who wrote a book about steroid usage in MLB? I don't know. I have such a hard time with it and apparently the lying isn't only in MLB.

Imagine how shocked I was when Robert Irvine, the culinary star of "Dinner:Impossible" on the Food Network disclosed that he kind of "cooked up" some of the stuff on his resume. Like he never really cooked for the Royal Family or various U.S. Presidents. His response..."I am truly sorry for misleading people and misstating the facts." Really? The Food Network's response...it won't be renewing his contract. How about that...simple and easy. He lied and now he will fry.

And then there is Margaret B. Jones who had her critically acclaimed memoir, "Love and Consequences" published last week. Margaret had a rough life being half white and half American Indian growing up in South Central Los Angeles as a foster child hanging with gangbangers and running drugs with the Bloods. Sounds rough doesn't it? Guess what...it ain't true. Maragret B. Jones is actually Margaret Seltzer who is all white and grew up in well to do Sherman Oaks, CA. Didn't hang with gangbangers and probably wouldn't know a Blood from a Crip or a red crayon. Her response..."For whatever reason, I was really torn and I thought it was my opportunity to put voice to people who don't get listened to," she said. "Maybe it's an ego thing...I don't know. I just felt that there was good that I could do and there was no other way that someone would listen to it." Her publisher's reponse. Recalled all copies of the book and has cancelled her book tour. Simple and right to the point. Bingo. You lied...you stay home and put roses between the pages of all the copies of your never to be read book.

So, do any of you think MLB and the MLBPA could ever get to satisfactory justice the quick and easy way? Hell no! Neither is willing to make the kind of concessions necessary. Fehr will continue to be a stalwart for the players and until they direct him to make changes and find a peaceful middle ground nothing constructive will happen on their end. And as long as Allan "Bud" Selig is the commissioner of MLB the ego driven attitude of its leadership will never be willing to admit any responsibility for this sad part of MLB. Selig is more than willing to jump to the front when it comes to accepting accolades for increased attendance and revenues. He is more than willing to jump all over the accolades that come with establishing International play. He is more than willing to take credit for the success of Wild cards and the playoff format and interleague play. And, maybe he should. But it ain't all it seems Bud. You have to take the good with the bad. You are the presiding leader of MLB during what could arguably be called it's greatest scandal. And you ain't lily white in this deal.

Sadly, in MLB, on the Food Network and in certain literary pages, nobody is who or what they appear to be. I suppose it is like that all around us. So why do we let the baseball thing get us where we turn into something other than what we really are? Or is this really the worst thing going on around us now? Is this really what should be taking up our news pages and our Congress and FBI's efforts on a daily basis? Can't they just say that if you used these drugs you are done? Can't they just say that if you lied about it you are done? You know, as much as I cannot stand the hypocrisy of the Court of Public Opinion I think in some cases I would appreciate the expediency with which these kinds of things are dealt with. It hasn't been proven that Barry Bonds used these drugs or even lied about it but the COPO (Court of Public Opinion) has determined he is guilty. Barry...you're fired. Roger hasn't admitted using them and any evidence against him is...well...curious at best. But the COPO says he is guilty as hell. Roger...you're fired. The 89 guys in the Mitchell Report...sorry fellas...you're fired. Donald Fehr...you're fired. Hey Bud, this Buds for you and...you're fired...twice! 

Maybe it really is time to shut off the television and cancel the newspaper subscription. Now ain't that a sad state of affairs.

 

And that's the bottom line...

BOOMER SOONER!!!

Information used in this post came from the Tuesday, March 4, 2007 of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and from MLB.com and wikipedia (yea, whatever!)

Now that the high school hockey season, at least for my teams, is over I find myself with a lot of time on my hands. And now that the school I work at finally hired a full-time teacher to take over for the teacher we lost around Thanksgiving I have the same dilemna...a lot of time on my hands. So what is there to do with all of this newly received gift of time. I have random thoughts. Not important thoughts really. Just random! How random? I read the other day that MLB has had record shattering attendance in each of the past four years. And I wondered why? You know with all of the negative crap going on I randomly wondered how MLB could have record attendance year in and year out. So I checked. In 2004, the first year of record attendance in MLB, 73,022,969 people went to a MLB game. In 2005, 74,926,174 people did the same. In 2006, 76,043,902 people left their hoes and ventured out to the MLB stadium of choice (or not) and watched a bal game. In 2007 MLB attendance rose 4.1% and 79,502,524 people went to a ball game of the MLB variety. Yea, more and more people are going to MLB games than ever before. MLB credits the rise in attendance to increased competitive balance brought on by economic reforms of the last decade. The winning percentges of all teams were within the .600 to .400 range. By the way all of these numbers come from MLB.com so it ain't like I racked my brain to come up with them. Then I came upon things like this. For only the SECOND time in MLB history all teams winning percentages were in this range. So, it happened before. The 2007 season is the first one SINCE 1988 in which no division winner repeated. So, it happened before. HMMMMMM!!! And yet the past 4 years have shown record attendance increases. "The immensity of this record is staggering, and it serves as a perfect illustration of the passion and excitement for the game that exists across the entire Major League Baseball landscape," Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig said. "Our sport has reached heights that were unimaginable only a few years ago. By any measure, this is truly a golden age for Major League Baseball." - comment on record breaking attendance on 10/2/2007 Random thought! Those heights were considered unimaginable only a few yers ago...why? Could it be that MLB was losing fans because of things like All-Star game tie, no World Series, Contraction issues, Conflict of Interest talk regarding Commissioner/Owner Selig, embezzlement convictions of Selig and Montreal Expos owner during or around contraction era...among other things. And what made them imaginable and obtainable? Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa chasing HR records while on performance enhancing drugs. Peak interest in the game...return fans to seats...records being broken right and left. Yea, baby. And in the conference rooms and board rooms whispers of these performance enhancing drugs and their usage was being disregarded by Selig and others. Bad Bud has commented on this situation numerous times always attempting to separate himself from any responsibilty. HMMMMM! Another random thought! How can he consider this a "golden age in Major League Baseball" in light of all of the MLB players accused of using PED's and with Congress and the FBI involved in investigating these same players. I mean it ain't like the attendance records are making the nightly news...NIGHTLY! Latest random thought! I think Bud likes the media circus in every park that surrounds every team in MLB with regard to PED's and their usage. Keeps his sport in the media spotlight day in and day out! And as long as he can throw up other stuff (record attendance) as a smokescreen to shield his initial neglect of this problem then I guess I can see how he thinks this is a "golden era" for MLB. That or he has Pee'd all over it for so long it has taken on a permanent golden glow. Another random thought...this may or may not end this random thought process.

In light of all of the steroid/HGH revelations floating around MLB and the fact that Congress has to get down and dirty with it, a new revelation was revealed (ha, ha) from the Minnesota Twins first day of training camp. Now I don't know about you all but I'm sure there are some who might say this guy is a cheater. You might say that he took a performance enhancing drug so that he could get back into the swing of things sooner. Some of you might think he did it to give himself an edge on his opponents. Some of you probably couldn't give a rats a $ $ why he did it...he just shouldn't have done it. I say he ain't cheatin' he's just really competitive. It was reported in today's issue of the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the first injury from camp was to Manager Ron Gardenhire. Apparently Gardenhire showed up to camp with a sore shoulder. Out of the line-up and not able to throw batting practice, unable to swing his golf clubs effectively and therefore not be ready for his scheduled golf outings this week and possibly not being able to compete in his annual spring bowling spree prompted an outrageous act by Gardenhire. Gardenhire is said to have sought out a fast cure remedy to get himself back into action. A cortizone shot! Freakin' cheater! Oh, my God...how could Gardy do this to us?" Call it in and get congressional help...NOW. Gardenhire is trying to get healthy so he can clean up on all those golfing bets and bowling wagers. He's looking for an upper hand. Soon all of his opponents will know that he cheated. His golfing buddies and bowling buds will be turning their backs on him. He took a steroid to gain an advantage. OK, so it ain't HGH but who cares...he's cheating. Or, maybe he just wants to be able to do all the things he wants to do and is used to doing in Fort Myers. Maybe he wants to just be as pain free as he can while he does these activities. And maybe Gardy is old school and remembers when athletes were regularly injected with things like cortizone to get them back on the field very quickly after injury. Maybe he remembers when this was common practice in baseball, football, hockey, basketball, badmitten, tennis, soccer, parchise, backgammon, etc., etc.! Maybe he remembers when this accepted and common practice was blamed for ruining many careers of prominent and not so prominent athletes because it only masked symptons of the injury and created further injury. Please, someone remind me as I haven't taken my daily supplement of memory restorer...did Congress ever get involved in that debate? It's all so ridiculous now. People throwing stones and accusations and ruining legacies and reputations over what? An age old practice that at one time was as acceptable as summer time and mom's apple pie. Only the players have changed and the stakes are higher. But, alas, I ask you all...are they? To some of us it simply doesn't matter and we, at least I, have been castigated for my lack of caring about it. These are grown men. This practice was accepted forever. When did it change? When did it become sooo freakin' important to throw stones and make these outrageous accusations and put so much on the player's shoulders? When did the court of public opinion become so self important that everyone needed to know who, when, where and why these things were happening? I still remember when the star of the team would get injured and the comments from the fans in the stands would be, "Ah, hell, they'll shoot him up and get him on the field soon." When did we all become roving police with the right to just accuse without any evidence to actually support what we were accusing people of? And then convict without same! I don't know. I try not to think that I am living in the dark ages and I try not to act like it as well. But if the old days are called the "Dark Ages" maybe that is where I belong. Gardy...give 'em hell throwing BP and golfing and bowling! I'm with you, dude! After all...a little old cortizone never really hurt anybody. At least not like this steroid/HGH thing seems to be hurting people...in a whole lot ways. As for me...tonight I think it will be "Leave it to Beaver" reruns on the Nostalgia Channel. And that's the bottom line... BOOMER SOONER!!!