Baseball finally nails Ryan Braun.
Major League Baseball has suspended Brewer Ryan Braun without pay for the remainder of the 2013 season (65 games) and any possible postseason games this year. Braun will not contend with the suspension and accept his punishment.
Braun is one of several players being investigated for their connections to the Biogenesis of America. Braun also had beaten a positive drug test on appeal in 2012 which would've cost him a 50 game suspension.
The Truth is Now on baseball's side.
While doling out suspensions for any player that violates baseball's drug policy is significant news, getting Braun suspended, finally, was huge for baseball. Braun humiliated them last year with that beaten drug test and getting him suspended now removes that blemish left by Braun.
Of course Braun could've tried to fight this suspension but due to the fact that he didn't and took this deal says that the evidence collected against him was just too much to fight successfully. Braun probably saw that he was going to lose this case and instead of fighting it and have the suspension applied predominantly next season, he decided to accept his fate this year seeing how the Brewers aren't likely going to make the postseason anyway currently being last in the NL Central. This way he'll be available for all of 2014.
Now what about the rest of the players being investigated for their involvement with Biogenesis. This suspension tells me that more are on the way and that they could happen this year. It's important to note, however, that Braun is not fighting this suspension. Other players might fight just to stay on their team that could be contending for the a playoff spot.
I'm still not completely sold that teams need to trade for players to possibly replace those being investigated in this scandal. If the players involved exhaust the appeals process, it still might go into the off season to sort out. However, I would not be surprised now if teams start making those kind of moves.
Showing posts with label PEDs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PEDs. Show all posts
Monday, July 22, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Ray Lewis a Dirty Birdy?
Bad titles are all I have, okay.
Sports Illustrated has a report that will be released on Monday that links Ray Lewis to a Performance Enhancing Drug. Mitch Ross who is Co-owner of the Sports with Alternatives to Steroids (SWATS) says he spoke with Lewis after his triceps tear back in October. Lewis had requested several products to speed up the healing process with Deer-antler spray being the funniest one they had. However, the Spray actually contains a banned substance called IGF-1 which is on the NFL list of banned substances. Ray Lewis addressed these accusations during Media Day of all times and denied using PED's.
Who you rooting for now America? (Forget Randy Moss claiming to be the best WR ever). While Ray Lewis will play in the Super Bowl, this story now possibly becomes a distraction for the team, especially considering that Ray is the heart and soul of that locker room. I think the Ravens are better than that but it's still a possibility.
To all you people out there that say "we don't care about PED's in football as much as baseball," are you Colts fans? Broncos fans? Patriots fans? Because guess what: Ray Lewis lead his team to victory in against all three of those teams in the playoffs and was the lead tackler in each contest. Not to mention the morale boost he gives the defense from simply being on the field also has to be taken into consideration. Still don't care about PED's in football?
P.S. Yes, I'm a 49ers fan and there is a bias but I'm not the one releasing the report on Ray.
Sports Illustrated has a report that will be released on Monday that links Ray Lewis to a Performance Enhancing Drug. Mitch Ross who is Co-owner of the Sports with Alternatives to Steroids (SWATS) says he spoke with Lewis after his triceps tear back in October. Lewis had requested several products to speed up the healing process with Deer-antler spray being the funniest one they had. However, the Spray actually contains a banned substance called IGF-1 which is on the NFL list of banned substances. Ray Lewis addressed these accusations during Media Day of all times and denied using PED's.
Who you rooting for now America? (Forget Randy Moss claiming to be the best WR ever). While Ray Lewis will play in the Super Bowl, this story now possibly becomes a distraction for the team, especially considering that Ray is the heart and soul of that locker room. I think the Ravens are better than that but it's still a possibility.
To all you people out there that say "we don't care about PED's in football as much as baseball," are you Colts fans? Broncos fans? Patriots fans? Because guess what: Ray Lewis lead his team to victory in against all three of those teams in the playoffs and was the lead tackler in each contest. Not to mention the morale boost he gives the defense from simply being on the field also has to be taken into consideration. Still don't care about PED's in football?
P.S. Yes, I'm a 49ers fan and there is a bias but I'm not the one releasing the report on Ray.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Lance Armstrong Admits PED Use
While the interview will not air until Thursday on OWN, an anonymous source has told the Associated Press that Lance Armstrong did confess to Oprah Winfrey that he did use Performance Enhancing Drugs to win the Tour de France.... I'll pause for minute so everyone can take off their Livestrong bracelets. Before the interview on Monday, Lance made an apology to his Livestrong charity earlier in the day. The confession comes after the USADA stripped Lance of his 7 Tour de France titles and banned him for life from the sport of cycling back in August of 2012.
One of the most inspiring men in the history of professional sports has admitted that he's essentially a fraud. To be fair, the entire sport of cycling does seem to have a huge doping problem but it certainly doesn't absolve Lance of his drug use and his efforts to conceal it. In the age of PED's, he was the one athlete we just couldn't see using drugs to win in a sport. When we first heard the rumors regarding Lance, we didn't want to believe it. As the evidence mounted, we looked everywhere for possible reasons not to believe it and even attacked those who said the reports were true while knowing deep inside we knew we were wrong. It wasn't until August leading up to yesterday that we saw the reality of all it: Armstrong did in fact use Performance Enhancing Drugs.
While the motives behind the interview aren't quite clear, it certainly marks the absolute low for Lance Armstrong's decline. He had not just become an icon to an entire sport, he had become a true inspiration to all people around the world, especially to those who face the horrible reality of cancer. To hear that the story of a cancer survivor winning one of the world's most grueling events 7 times be revealed as no more true than a fairy tale is heart wrenching.
Of all the athletes that have been connected to PED's or steroids, Lance Armstrong's drug use has certainly been the ultimate fall from grace.
One of the most inspiring men in the history of professional sports has admitted that he's essentially a fraud. To be fair, the entire sport of cycling does seem to have a huge doping problem but it certainly doesn't absolve Lance of his drug use and his efforts to conceal it. In the age of PED's, he was the one athlete we just couldn't see using drugs to win in a sport. When we first heard the rumors regarding Lance, we didn't want to believe it. As the evidence mounted, we looked everywhere for possible reasons not to believe it and even attacked those who said the reports were true while knowing deep inside we knew we were wrong. It wasn't until August leading up to yesterday that we saw the reality of all it: Armstrong did in fact use Performance Enhancing Drugs.
While the motives behind the interview aren't quite clear, it certainly marks the absolute low for Lance Armstrong's decline. He had not just become an icon to an entire sport, he had become a true inspiration to all people around the world, especially to those who face the horrible reality of cancer. To hear that the story of a cancer survivor winning one of the world's most grueling events 7 times be revealed as no more true than a fairy tale is heart wrenching.
Of all the athletes that have been connected to PED's or steroids, Lance Armstrong's drug use has certainly been the ultimate fall from grace.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
No One Elected into Baseball HOF (You Can Do That?)
If only we could do this with politicians.
The baseball writers who decide who goes into the Hall of Fame effectively concluded that no one gets in this year. They failed to elect anyone into the HOF for a 2nd time in 4 decades. Notables failing to get in include Barry Bonds (36.3%), Roger Clemens (37.6%), and Sammy Sosa (12.5%), all of which mentioned were on the ballot for the first time. There was also Mike Piazza (57.8%), Curt Schilling (38.8% ironically) and Mark McGwire (16.9%). Craig Biggio with 68.2% of the votes was the closest to get in that didn't. You need 75% of the vote to get in.
On initial tries, the steroid and PED users aren't getting in. Sure, many of them will have plenty of other chances at it but it just seems really bad when some others where there have only been rumors about PED use like Mike Piazza aren't allowed to get in. Eventually, the best of the Steroid Era should be allowed into the HOF. Even in an era of drug use, there were the best of the best. It's way too early to tell if any of them will be enshrined but it would be a real shame if no one gets in two years in a row.
P.S. Let's open the PED Users Hall of Fame. Viagra users need not apply.
The baseball writers who decide who goes into the Hall of Fame effectively concluded that no one gets in this year. They failed to elect anyone into the HOF for a 2nd time in 4 decades. Notables failing to get in include Barry Bonds (36.3%), Roger Clemens (37.6%), and Sammy Sosa (12.5%), all of which mentioned were on the ballot for the first time. There was also Mike Piazza (57.8%), Curt Schilling (38.8% ironically) and Mark McGwire (16.9%). Craig Biggio with 68.2% of the votes was the closest to get in that didn't. You need 75% of the vote to get in.
On initial tries, the steroid and PED users aren't getting in. Sure, many of them will have plenty of other chances at it but it just seems really bad when some others where there have only been rumors about PED use like Mike Piazza aren't allowed to get in. Eventually, the best of the Steroid Era should be allowed into the HOF. Even in an era of drug use, there were the best of the best. It's way too early to tell if any of them will be enshrined but it would be a real shame if no one gets in two years in a row.
P.S. Let's open the PED Users Hall of Fame. Viagra users need not apply.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Armstrong to Go on Oprah
It's a little late for Oprah relevance, Lance.
After rumors that Lance Arnstrong might come forward and admit to the world what France has been screaming about for years, there is now news that Lance will have a tell-all interview with Oprah regarding his alleged PED use. The interview might have happened already but it will be shown on Oprah's network OWN at 9 PM eastern on January 17th.
A potential huge story in the making if Lance admits his drug use during the interview. Potential reasons for admitting drug use now? Everything has gone downhill for Lance. He has been ban from cycling, former teammates are turning on him, "Livestrong" has been replaced with "Chuckstrong" (the cancer charity fights are real bloodbaths). Admission could help bring some of those things back as sports fans can be forgiving people. Baseball players who have admitted their PED use and apologized really don't get hassled for it anymore.
It will certainly be a highly watched interview that might be a turning point in Lance's career and life.
P.S. Maybe we could title this "The Admission."
After rumors that Lance Arnstrong might come forward and admit to the world what France has been screaming about for years, there is now news that Lance will have a tell-all interview with Oprah regarding his alleged PED use. The interview might have happened already but it will be shown on Oprah's network OWN at 9 PM eastern on January 17th.
A potential huge story in the making if Lance admits his drug use during the interview. Potential reasons for admitting drug use now? Everything has gone downhill for Lance. He has been ban from cycling, former teammates are turning on him, "Livestrong" has been replaced with "Chuckstrong" (the cancer charity fights are real bloodbaths). Admission could help bring some of those things back as sports fans can be forgiving people. Baseball players who have admitted their PED use and apologized really don't get hassled for it anymore.
It will certainly be a highly watched interview that might be a turning point in Lance's career and life.
P.S. Maybe we could title this "The Admission."
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