McGwire's brother about as bad as it gets

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3854411&name=olney_buster&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fentryID%3d3854411%26name%3dolney_buster

A candidate for least interesting story of the year so far, for me, is word that Mark McGwire's brother, Jay, has circulated a book proposal in which the brother says the former slugger used steroids.


I think the overwhelmingly one-sided public opinion on whether or not McGwire took steroids was cemented long ago, shaped largely by his refusal to testify about the issue before Congress on March 17, 2005. And now, four years later … NEWSFLASH: BROTHER SAYS MCGWIRE USED STEROIDS.

What's next?

NEWSFLASH, 2009: FORMER TEAMMATE CLAIMS NOLAN RYAN OCCASIONALLY DRILLED HITTERS INTENTIONALLY.

NEWSFLASH, 2009: NEW BOOK REVEALS RIPKEN HAD SERIOUS WORK ETHIC.

NEWSFLASH, 2009: FORMER CLUBHOUSE KID COMES OUT ON EVE OF HALL OF FAME INDUCTION AND SAYS RICKEY HENDERSON OFTEN SPEAKS OF HIMSELF IN THE THIRD PERSON.

This is almost worst than rubber-necking, trying to catch a glimpse of a wreck's aftermath. This is almost like pulling off to the side of the road to hang out and take digital shots of the cleanup.

The McGwire saga is almost entirely played out. He made his choices, including his decision to not testify openly at the Congressional hearing on March 17, 2005. For that, he will never get in the Hall of Fame, because his decisions that day cast him into an inescapable Catch-22.

If he says nothing, he'll probably continue to receive a vote total in the 25-percent range, as he has in his first three years on the Hall of Fame ballot. On the other hand, if he were to come out and admit that he used steroids, then I suspect about 40-50 percent of the writers would never vote for an acknowledged steroid-user.

And it's not absolutely clear, by the way, that McGwire really even spends his days fretting about all that. He certainly understands by now that he's been convicted in the court of public opinion, and the fact that his brother is indicating that McGwire used steroids doesn't change any of that; all it does is create a media squall that will go away in a few days, until the next McGwire-related tidbit drifts out from somebody trying to make a few bucks.

A lot of columnists are writing that he should come out and come clean and be open, for the sake of garnering forgiveness, for the sake of his Hall of Fame chances. If McGwire asked for my advice (and he wouldn't), I'd tell him that there would be only two reasons why he might want to speak out.

No. 1: He should open up if he is absolutely devoted to the idea of following up on his words from the March 2005 hearing and is willing to throw his whole heart and soul into the fight against steroid use. If this is something for which he does not have a deep passion, well, any suggestion from him that he wants to help would come off as insincere, a weak effort to win a few public-relations points in a battle he will never win.

Most importantly, No. 2: McGwire should talk about it if he feels it's important for the sake of his own children.

Several years ago, I worked on a piece on Ken Caminiti, and in the midst of a discussion about Caminiti with Wally Joyner, I asked Joyner benignly about whether he had spoken to his late teammate about steroids. And during that conversation, Joyner told me that he had asked Caminiti to get steroids for him, and that he had used them very briefly -- he took two pills before flushing the rest down a toilet.

What Joyner said that day was that he wanted the record straight for the sake of his daughters: He did not want somebody coming out after the fact and making accusations, leaving Joyner to explain himself to his children. Wally wasn't selling a book when he talked to me. He just wanted, above all else, to do the right thing as a parent.

Maybe McGwire doesn't need that. Maybe he's settled the whole issue with his kids. Maybe all the McGwires, except for the brother, have moved on.

Maybe it's time that the rest of us do, too.

Richard Justice feels this family squabble should never have gone public.

McGwire has been working out with Matt Holliday and Bobby Crosby.

UK game tonight

I will be at the UK game tonight watching them take on Auburn. I believe the outcome will be UK 74, Auburn 66.

Heel injury forces Steele to end career at Alabama

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/sec/2009-01-21-alabama-steele_N.htm

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama point guard Ronald Steele has decided to forego the rest of his senior season.
Crimson Tide coach Mark Gottfried announced the decision Tuesday evening after Steele had missed the past two games with a heel injury. The Tide lost both games.

He returned after missing all of last season following three knee operations. Steele was averaging nearly 13 points and four assists a game.

He is one of only two players in Tide history with 1,000 points and 400 assists in his career and was a preseason All-American as a sophomore. Then injuries took their toll.

Steele received a degree in financial planning in December of 2007.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: Alabama | Tide | Mark Gottfried | Ronald Steele
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

My NBA All-Star Votes

West

Guard - Chris Paul

Guard - Kobe Bryant

Forward - Dirk Nowitzki

Forward - A. Stoudemire

Center - A. Bynum

East

Guard - R. Rondo

Guard - D. Wade

Forward - Lebron James

Forward - Chris Bosh

Center - Dwight Howard

U of L beats the Fighting Irish and Pitt - who's next?

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090120/SPORTS02/901200485/1028

Teammate Edgar Sosa labeled University of Louisville guards Andre McGee and Preston Knowles the "Microwave Twins" for their special brand of defensive pressure.

"They come out there and just heat the ball up," Sosa said. "I wish I could play defense like those guys. They can guard you 94 feet and just be on you."

McGee and Knowles no longer are starters, but they have latched on to their defensive roles during the Cardinals' five-game winning streak. They played a big part in disrupting the offensive flow in victories over nationally ranked Villanova, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh, which was No. 1 going into Saturday's game.

"That's what we try to hang our hats on, especially in crucial situations," said Knowles, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound sophomore. "We try to be reliable when Coach brings us in to stop their best player. If we can do that every single night, we're going to be a wonderful team."

The No. 9 Cards (13-3, 4-0 Big East) travel to Rutgers tomorrow night before heading to No. 8 Syracuse on Sunday. The Orange will present another challenge with a top-notch backcourt led by Johnny Flynn.

McGee and Knowles will be ready. McGee said the two feed off each other on defense, and some of their effectiveness comes from their preparation.

"We all have to really focus on how they are going to attack us and know what position we have to be in to make certain rotations," said McGee, a 5-foot-10 senior co-captain.

U of L coach Rick Pitino said the two do a great job of moving their feet and applying pressure without having to use their hands. It keeps both out of foul trouble.

Pitino singled out the Notre Dame game, when McGee helped fluster point guard Tory Jackson into seven turnovers.

"That's as fine a defensive performance as I've seen… just totally taking the point guard out of running the other team's offense," Pitino said. "He just did a wonderful job of that, and down the stretch it helped our other players get over screens. He buys time for players to get over screens. That's what both players do."

Pitino began the season alternating Sosa and McGee as starting point guard. Following the Minnesota loss, Pitino started Knowles and Smith in the backcourt for two games. When Sosa's performance against Kentucky solidified his starting role, Pitino felt most comfortable bringing McGee and Knowles off the bench for their defense.

It's been working since. Opposing guards have struggled thanks in part to McGee and Knowles.

South Florida's leading scorer Dominique Jones, who had averaged 17.1 points, was held to 11 on 1-of-10 shooting and four turnovers.

Villanova's Scottie Reynolds, after torching Seton Hall for 40 points, had just 11 against U of L to go with two assists and four turnovers.

Pitt point guard Levance Fields had a stellar 4.7-1 assist-to-turnover ratio until McGee and Knowles helped bait him into a season-high six turnovers. Fields had gone six of his previous seven games with one or zero turnovers.

"There are so many great scorers and great athletes, but there are few Bruce Bowen guys who really just strap down defenders," said McGee of the San Antonio Spurs' defensive stopper. "That's one thing I try to pride myself on."

In late-game situations, Pitino has gone with McGee and Knowles when he needed a defensive stop.

Against Villanova, McGee's tip of an in-bounds pass with four seconds left prevented the Wildcats from scoring the winning basket off the lob.

On Notre Dame's final possession in regulation, McGee hounded Jackson into making an errant pass to an empty space and Knowles deflected it into the backcourt. They helped prevent the Irish from getting a shot up despite having 24 seconds to do so.

Churchill broadens focus with new subsidiary

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/01/19/daily16.html

Churchill Downs Inc. is restructuring its operations to broaden its focus from horse racing tracks to casino gambling, online betting and concerts.

Louisville-based Churchill Downs (NASDAQ: CHDN) announced Monday that it has created a subsidiary that will be led by current Churchill Downs racetrack president Steven Sexton, who will serve as president and CEO.

Churchill has begun a search to find someone to replace Sexton as president of the Louisville track, Churchill Downs said in a news release.

Sexton joined Churchill Downs Inc. in 2001 as president of Arlington Park Racecourse. He has been president of Churchill Downs racetrack since 2002 and has been a vice president of the parent company since 2006.

Churchill Downs officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

“The racing, gaming and entertainment we provide customers are very interdependent, regardless of whether they are delivered on-site at our tracks, casinos and OTBs, or online via TwinSpires.com or other online sites,” Churchill Downs Inc. president and CEO Robert Evans said in the release. “In the currently tough economic environment, many companies are announcing reorganizations and layoffs intended to reduce costs. Our changes here, however, are about aligning the right leaders at CDI with the strategic growth opportunities we believe exist.”

Churchill also has promoted William Carstanjen to chief operating officer, responsible for on-site operations, including racing and gambling, at Arlington Park, Calder Race Course, Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots. He also will oversee operations at all of the company’s off-track betting sites.

Carstanjen joined Churchill Downs Inc. in 2005 as executive vice president and chief development officer. In early 2008, he assumed operations responsibility for Fair Grounds and Calder.

James “Ted” Gay will replace Carstanjen as senior vice president overseeing business development. He has been with Churchill Downs Inc. since 2003.

Vote for NBA All Stars

http://forums.eog.com/nba-and-wnba-betting/cast-your-vote-nba-196270.html

Vote here..