Shrinkage, Liver Damage, and Bloating: Steroids Are Awesome

In her book, Marion Jones used two pages, bold letters, and red type to exclaim that she had never used steroids and would never use them. In 2004 Jones emphatically declared, "I have never, ever used performance-enhancing drugs." Well, I guess the cat's out of the bag now. The three-time Olympic gold medalist pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators when she denied using performance-enhancing drugs. Accordingly, she retired from track and field after the hearing was over.

Many people are asking how she did it, how she kept a lie like this for so long, even after winning all 5 of those medals in 2000. How can someone tell themselves for nearly 7 years that what she took was "flaxseed oil". Hell, she convinced herself to the point that she spent her money to sue Victor Conte, founder and president of Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO), for continuously stating that he had saw Jones inject herself with roids.

The Internation Olympic Committee has a statue of limitations for up to eight years regarding circumstances such as this. Marion Jones could possibly be stripped of all her medals from the 2000 Sydney Olympics which would include gold in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 1,600-meter relay and bronze in the long jump and 400-meter relay.

Now, if it wasn't bad enough that she cheated then lied about it, Jones will probably also be prosecuted for her involvement in a check-fraud scheme. During the hearing Marion Jones admitted lying when she told investigators that she knew nothing about Tim Montgomery's scheme to cash millions of dollars worth of stolen or forged checks. In addition to Montgomery, Jones' agent Charles Wells and former coach Olympian Steve Riddick, have all been convicted in the scam. The maximum sentence on each count is five years and a $250,000 fine, for a total of 10 years and $500,000.

The "bodies" are adding up the longer the BALCO investigation goes on. Currently there are over 15 athletes known to have taken and received supplements from BALCO.

• MLB players: Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, Benito Santiago, Jeremy Giambi, Bobby Estalella, Armando Rios
• Athletes: Hammer thrower C.J. Hunter (former husband of Marion Jones, sprinters Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery and Kelli White, middle-distance runner Regina Jacobs, boxer Shane Mosley.
• NFL players: Bill Romanowski, Tyrone Wheatley, Barrett Robbins, Chris Cooper and Dana Stubblefield.

Worth the risk?

Giambi Will Cooperate in Steroids Investigation

According to sources within Major League Baseball there will be a meeting between those of the Mitchell Investigation and the Jason Giambi camp in July. Due to the frantic schedule of the various lawyers involved it wouldn't be possible to expect a meeting before June is over. It was accounced on Thursday that Giambi had in fact agreed to meet with the Mitchell Investigation. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig had threatened Giambi with disciplinary action after his comments that eluded to him taking steroids. An anonymous source close to the investigation has said that Giambi's meeting won't be recorded and there won't be a transcript. If he had been recorded it would have been possible to match his testimony for a federal grand jury from 2003. He has said he will talk to Mitchell about his "personal history regarding steroids" but, with much chagrin to fans, he will not discuss other players.

East Coast Bias - June 15th

Today's Headlines

-Game 4 of the NBA Finals

-Jason Giambi vs. Bud Selig

-Current (as of June 14th) MLB All-Star Snubs


Weekly Segment

Prognostications, Predictions, and Picks

-Who Will Have the Better Career? Kevin Durant or Greg Oden?


In today's podcast me and Jason discuss game 4 of the NBA Finals and the current dynasty of the San Antonio Spurs. We also get into current MLB All-Star snubs and whether Jason Giambi deserves to get disciplined by Bud Selig and Major League Baseball. On our weekly podcast segment "Prognostications, Predictions, and Picks" we discuss the future of Greg Oden and Kevin Durant.

Just an FYI for all you listeners, since me and Jason happen to both be Philadelphia guys we will start a new weekly segment entitled "Weekly Phil" on Monday. On "Weekly Phil" we will go over some Philadelphia sports news including the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers, and the Sixers.


The podcast should be a little louder now. On Monday's podcast I will make sure that we record at a higher volume so you folks don't have to have your volume all the way up in order to hear us. Thanks again for your patience guys and gals!

Bud Selig Lays Down The Law....

In another effort by Bud Selig to appear as a strong MLB Commissioner he has made an ultimatum to Yankees slugger Jason Giambi. Either he cooperates with Senator George Mitchell's bogus, costly, and ultimately useless investigation into steroids or face a suspension. According to current MLB rules testing positive for steroids or other performance enhancing drugs warrants a 50-game suspension. There is a problem however in Giambi's case. Jason Giambi has never tested positive for steroids or performance enhancing drugs since the plan was implemented. When the New York Daily News asked an attorney to give his opinion on the legitimacy of the suspension he said, "It's just a dead argument, legally." So if this is a dead argument legally what kind of repercussions does the MLB front office face if Giambi decides not to talk and take the disciplinary action? You would expect Giambi to appeal whatever action is taken against him and more than likely win. These threats made by Bud Selig not only make him look like a bully but a bully who can't back it up. If he keeps making these idle threats he will continue to only weaken his authority. Most of that is purely hypothetical but could become reality quite quickly if Giambi decides not to cooperate when the Tuesday deadline Selig made comes. Also, according to sources in the MLB front office the Mitchell investigation wouldn't be asking Giambi to name names, only to corroborate what was leaked from the BALCO investigation. Fans and journalists want names of players who have cheated the game and cheated their clean counterparts.

Bud Selig Asks Giambi To Talk

According to sources close to ESPN Insider Buster Olney, Jason Giambi would be used as a bargaining chip to try to give credibility to the Mitchell Investigation. The Mitchell Investigation was set up by Bud Selig and Major League Baseball to investigate the use of steroids in baseball. The Mitchell Investigation is headed by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell. Jason Giambi is the most well known player who has come out and admitted to using steroids. Giambi's testimony could prove very useful in confirming details leaked from the BALCO investigation. Since Giambi is on the Yankees disabled list he has time to kill. Giambi has the option to say yes or no, and both answer bring consequences. If he says no Selig could possibly suspend Giambi and cause some drama with the players association. If he says yes he could give the Yankees incentive to terminate his contract which has already been something Brian Cashman has entertained. Baseball sources also told Buster Olney that each month the Mitchell Investigation is costing the league 2 million dollars.