Steroids

Anabolic steroids improve male anabolic hormone testosterone. The word anabolic originates from the Greek word anabolic, which means "to build". The hormone's anabolic effect helps the body keep dietary protein, which helps in the development of muscles and strength. These unnatural human growth hormones can be taken in a pill or by injection. It is the desire for a better looking body and increased strength that brings people to the use of steroids.

Steroids in the long run are very harmful to the human body. The hormone causes the decreasing of bone mass and deterioration. Also harming vital organs like the liver. Premature heart attacks and strokes can be an effect of long term use of steroids. Side effects to men can cause feminization to the body. Low sperm count, development of breast and shrinking of the testicles may occur for men. Masculinization which is the opposite of for females may occur as a side effect. Facial hair growing, a deepening of the voice and breast reduction is a possibility for women. Steroids can stop the growth of height in teens. Strong releases of rage and mood swings also come from the use of steroids. The want for more can trigger this rage.

In my mind steroids are for cheaters. People that want an upper advantage and have no respect for those that work hard for their success. Steroids don't belong in sports and something has to done to stop the use of it in sports. First timers that are caught should be suspended for the season, second timers for two seasons and finally the third strike should equal a ban from the sport.

http://espn.go.com/special/s/drugsandsports/steroids.html

Roger Clemens Denies Using Steroids

Roger Clemens is one the greatest pitchers in baseball history. A future hall of famer. The question is, did he have any help? At the age of forty five Clemens is still throwing strong and harder than most. Clemens recently had an interview with Mike Wallace from 60 Minutes. I quote from Wallace, "Apparently you haven't done it yet. People I talk to say, 'Come on. 45 years old? How does he still throw a ball and compete' and so forth? Impossible,". It seems like Clemens has lost much respect and many feel hard isn't what keep Clemens strong but STEROIDS.

Clemens has worked with trainer Brian McNamee for about ten years. McNamee helped Clemens work out his exhausting workouts. Clemens says they have become good friends. When he heard the Mitchell Report he became overwhelmed by what McNamee told George Mitchell. In the report McNamee gave specific examples of the times that he injected Clemens with steroids. During the 1998 season, Clemens pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays and McNamee was the strength and conditioning coach. Clemens is said to have approached McNamee, with talks of steroids. Clemens asked for McNamee's help with a steroid injections, in which Clemens provided the needles. McNamee says each injection took place in Clemens' apartment and that he provided the equipment.

The Star pitcher denies it all. The years McNamee says he injected Clemens, he finished the season with remarkable numbers. Clemens states, "I won-in 1997, I won the Cy Young Award. 2004 when he supposedly, I wasn't doing it". But this doesn't tell us that he didn't have someone else inject him. Clemens only admitted to being injected with lidocaine and B-12 by McNamee which Clemens says were for his joints. Roger also took Vioxx frequently which is harmful to the body.

Clemens just seems to be in a load of confusion. Personally I feel Clemens took steroids. Why would McNamee want to lie about his once thought of as a friend, Clemens. Another star pitcher like Andy Petitt admitted to using steroids provided by McNamee. This makes Clemens denial seem untrue.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/03/60minutes/main3671585.shtml

Sebastian Telfair runs in with The Law

Sebastian Telfair continues to meet up with the law. Investigations on the shooting of rapper Fabulous and the theft of Sebastian Telfair’s necklace are being considered connected. Telfair was outside of a club in New York, when one Fabulous entourage yanked his $50,000 chain off from his neck. Minutes later, after this incident the rapper Fabulous was shot outside of the same club. Witnesses say they saw Telfair making a call after refusing someone to call the police when he was robbed.

Telfair and Al Eden Fuentes, his friend were arrested in Yonkers after police pulled them over for speeding and discovering a loaded handgun in the car. Telfair was stopped shortly before 4 a.m. on the Bronx River Parkway when police say he caught going 77 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone. Police said that Telfair presented them with a Florida driver's license that had been suspended. New York Police officer Adrian Camacho found a loaded 45-caliber handgun under the front passenger seat while checking the car. Telfair and Fuentes, were both charged felony for possession of a loaded weapon. Telfair was also slapped with a misdemeanor charge for operating a vehicle with a suspended licence.

Sebastian Telfair was raised in tough neighborhood in Coney Island. Being able to defend himself made him feel like anything but a punk. So carrying a handgun was necessary for him. One of Fabulous, the rapper, entourage stole the chain from Telfair so maybe he did order a hit. Telfair didn't want to seem like a punk to Fabulous so he showed that he is to be taken seriously. Athletes need to find ways to stay out of trouble and make sure it doesn't find them if not their talent will go to a waste.

http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/10/20/sebastian-telfair-shot-fabolous/

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/04/20/sebastian-telfair-is-packing-heat-and-driving-fast/

Mitchell's Report

This Thursday a 409 page report identified 85 names that have used or have connections to steroid use. This report was submitted by George Mitchell to MLB commissioner Bud Selig. Steroid use is widespread by stars and scrubs, the report stated. This puts a question mark on some of the baseball records that have been broken and threatens the true skill of the game.

The records that have been broken will surely stand but several stars could pay the price in Cooperstown. Mark McGwire was kept out of the Hall of Fame this year because of steroid suspicion.

Huge names like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mark McGwire and Miguel Tejada. The list consist of players who have had a Hall of Fame type career to those that have just tried to make it as an average player. They include both pitchers and position players, and have diverse backgrounds. Clemens was hugely singled out in nine pages of the report. Much of the information on him was leaked out by former New York Yankees conditioning coach Brian McNamee.

Mitchell says everyone involved in baseball over the past two decades is to blame for the steroid era. Commissioners, club officials, the players association and players share the responsibility. There was a failure to recognize the steroid problem as it came to be and construct a plan to deal with it early on. Mitchell recommended that the drug testing program be made independent to every suspected player. A list would be taken of the substances players tested positive for and the time and date the test was taken.

Steroid use is a disgrace to the sport and to those that stay fair to the game. It deprives competition and damages the reputation of players and the game. Steroids have no place in sports. This is terrible for those that look up to these huge stars now Knowing that they've used performance enhancing drugs.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7559772?MSNHPHCP&GT1=10734

Gambling in the NBA

David Stern commissioner of the NBA pointed out a "rogue, isolated criminal" for a betting scandal that has devastated the league and threatened the credibility and trust of every referee. A disappointed Stern stated that he felt betrayed by Tim Donaghy, a former referee of the NBA. Donaghy was the target of an FBI investigation for betting on games, including some he officiated. The FBI first contacted the NBA on June 20 to talk about a referee alleged to be gambling on games. Both sides met on June 21. Donaghy resigned July 9, though Stern said he wanted to fire him sooner but was told it might affect the investigation. Although Donaghy has been charged with a crime, the referee's lawyer told the league his Donaghy was constructing a plea.

Investigators are also examining whether Donaghy provided inside information to outside references like referee schedules. "Not only aren't they permitted to either gamble or provide information to people, they may not even provide other than to their immediate family the details of their travel schedules or the games they are going to work" said commissioner David Stern. Stern compares Donaghy to someone that has committed treason.

The commissioner said there was nothing suspicious about Donaghy's foul call frequency, his bank account size or anything else that would have triggered off the league. Donaghy was a referee for 13 years in the NBA. Stern rated him at the top of officials. This gambling investigation wasn't the first time Donaghy was in trouble with the league. In 2005, the NBA investigated a dispute between Donaghy and his neighbors. Pete and Lisa Mansueto, his neighbors sued Donaghy for harassment and invasion of privacy. They also accused him of vandalizing their property and stalking Lisa Mansueto.

I believe the NBA will recover from this incident. This was one of the most serious situations the NBA has encountered. Stricter rules and regulations may have to be imposed to prevent such incidents.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2947237

Sean Taylor's Mourning Death

The young superstar safety from the Washington Redskins was shot in the upper leg, damaging an artery and causing significant blood loss. The shooting happened a week after someone broke in through a front window at his home in Florida. The unknown suspect left a kitchen knife on one of the bed's in Taylor's home. Taylor tried to defend his home and family while his girlfriend hid under the bed with their daughter and called 911. When the police arrived with medical assistance Taylor was airlifted to the hospital. Doctor's weren't sure whether he would make it or live with permanent brain damage because a major artery was damaged by the bullet.

Taylor's girlfriend told officials that both were awakened by loud noises. Taylor then grabbed a machete in his bedroom that he keeps for protection. Someone then broke through the bedroom door and fired two shots, one missed and the other struck Taylor in the leg causing severe blood loss. Officials couldn't conclude whether the crime was a possible burglary, robbery or maybe a possible hit.

Taylor had found trouble before in his first two years in the NFL. Taylor was fined seven times for late hits and other infractions. He was also fined $25,000 for skipping a mandatory rookie symposium shortly after he was drafted. In 2005, Taylor was accused of pointing a loaded gun at another, during a fight over some vehicles that had allegedly been stolen. Last year, he he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors and was sentenced to 18 months probation. Another fine was summoned by the NFL but was still allowed to play the sport.

This was a horrible loss for the NFL. Sean Taylor in my mind was a future hall of famer. He put up great numbers and was still at the prime of his career. Taylor had the coverage speed of a corner back and could hit like a linebacker. This made Sean Taylor one of the top safeties in the NFL.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312902,00.html

Bonds Indicted With Perjury

Barry Bonds, the San Francisco outfielder was held with perjury by the grand jury. Facts have been discovered that Bonds lied to the grand jury about denying the fact that he used a steroid such as the "cream". Bonds has repeatedly denied using performance-enhancing drugs with him knowing that they were. He was charged with lying when he asked about using steroids given to him by his personal trainer and childhood friend, Greg Anderson. Also charged with lying about Anderson never injecting him with steroids. Bonds says that Anderson would never do such a thing because he knows how Barry feels about performing-enhancing drugs.

Barry came into the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986 as a slim, base stealing outfielder. By the late 1990s, he noticeably reached the weight of more than 240 pounds. His physical growth brought with it a magnificent power surge. Anderson was became the center of the attention with bonds indictment. He spent time in a federal detention centre for denying to testify to the grand jury about Bonds steroids usage. Bonds has been tied with BALCO, a know producer of steroids. Athletes like Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield have been connected to BALCO. Gary Sheffield has testified to the grand jury that Bonds introduced him to BALCO.

Knowing facts like this really lead me against Bonds. I believe Bonds is guilty with perjury. Therefore he should do time for lying to the grand jury.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hwhtPj5yLY_ACQ3SRvIpffKPfSfw