Field of Schemes: public subsidies for major sports »
Finally, America jolts awake over public subsidies for major sports, shaken by notorious Citigroup, the bank receiving $45 billion in government bailout. Before nearly collapsing of toxic assets, Citigroup signed a $400 million naming-rights deal for the Mets’ new baseball stadium on Long Island.
Thus the public pays for naming rights of “Citi Field.” Citizen anger [...]
Rigid denial drives rampant doping »
Denial still frames American perspective on sport doping, and we party on over our games.
And that’s the sure sign nothing is forthcoming to reverse widespread use of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, and more tissue-building substances in sport.
Muscle doping’s progress continues unabated despite decades of testing, anti-steroid education, blockbuster scandal, public bitching, and politicians’ posing [...]
Who’s using steroids? You’d be surprised. »
Typically, the presumed users of muscle dope are football players, baseball players, sprinters, pro wrestlers and bodybuilders, hunk actors–or the famous faces of headline exposure for anabolic steroids and human growth hormone.
That view is marginal, of course, distorted by media coverage. The popular press largely feeds us celebrity doping, the pop icons caught for juicing [...]
Steroids Were Doctors’ Rx For Football in the ’60s »
Bobby Waters, young quarterback in the NFL, held high hopes entering training camp for the San Francisco 49ers in 1962. The 24-year-old was vying to start in coach Red Hickey’s “shotgun” formation, banking on his athleticism in the run-and-gun offense to win the job. John Brodie and Billy Kilmer also contended at quarterback, but both [...]
Chemical History: Anabolic steroids invade football in the ’50s-’70s »
“I couldn’t understand why [rookies] felt making the pros was so tough, until the veterans arrived. … Two huge guys were standing in the locker room doorway. … Their arms looked as big around as my thighs. I was reluctant to ask them to move aside.”
David Meggyesy, former NFL linebacker, 1970
Contrary to a common [...]
The 1980s: Steroid Juicers Rule NFL Jungle »
“If me and King Kong went into an alley, only one of us would come out, and it wouldn’t be the f*cking monkey.”
-Lyle Alzado, NFL lineman, circa 1980s
Steve Courson strode into the Pittsburgh neighborhood drugstore, looking huge and menacing in gym shorts and tank top. Other customers gawked at Courson’s massiveness, the muscles bulging on [...]
Anti-doping? Let’s start by trashing testing »
An established neighborhood of sports
The Alex Rodriguez saga continues, America’s latest morality play over a doping superstar athlete, and the predictable result is more asinine talk—besides the baseball player’s so-called confession—regarding what should be done.
Naturally, a congressman tops the list of clueless quotes. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., sought to co-opt media spotlight on A-Clod and [...]
