Robservations: Slugger accused of steroid use
|
Apparently Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa has been called on the carpet concerning alleged use of steroids.
Sosa was approached last week by Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly, who handed the major league home run leader a card with the address of a lab that could analyze his blood or urine for any performance-enhancing substances.
Now first of all, I’m the world’s biggest fan of Reilly, the columnist that takes the back page of each issue of SI.
Why do I like him so much, you ask? Well, if you ever read his stuff, then you’ll know why. Put simply, it’s because not only is he very smart and quick-witted, he’s just enough of a smart-aleck to make the fact that he writes so well about sports almost secondary to the fact that he just writes so well.
That’s why now I’m so torn, friends. The writer I most admire has turned his wisecracking pen on the ballplayer I love the most.
Rick, couldn’t you have picked on Bonds, like everybody else?
Anyway, according to articles relaying the incident, Reilly told Sosa the testing would improve his image and legitimize his offensive performance.
Sosa, who insists he is steroid-free and has said he would be the “first in line” to receive testing should the players’ association and baseball agree to it, was insulted.
Well duh, Sammy. Of course you were insulted. Wasn’t that the point?
Of course, thank goodness for Reilly’s sake he approached a baseball player with his little skit. Can you imagine if he’d gone after Jevon Kearse, or Lennox Lewis? The janitorial staff would still have been sweeping up his teeth.
At any rate, in my view, Reilly’s right on this one. If Sosa isn’t on “the juice,” he should walk right into that suggested lab and have the tests, then consider the accusations that he’s on steroids to be somewhat of a compliment on how well his drug-free physique is maintained.
Otherwise, by acting insulted and refusing to comment, he’s looking more and more guilty all the time.
• This just in from across the desk…
Sports writer Dale Stubblefield just handed me an article from CNNmoney.com, where he apparently has been reading up on his extensive portfolio.
According to the article, About 82 percent of high-ranking corporate executives cheat at golf. Conversely, 99 percent of the big-wigs questioned in that same study say they consider themselves honest in business.
Go figure. Big-time corporate weasels shaving strokes, stepping on opponents’ golf balls and “forgetting” whiffed shots — when they’re playing for money, no less. Not much of a surprise, is it?
But the article raises a good point: Do you want to do business with a cheater? No, of course not. You want to do business with an honest person, right?
That’s why I recommend you buy more and more copies of the Southern Standard, and continue doing business with me — your friendly neighborhood sports editor.
Because when I tell you I shot a 104, then brother, I shot a 104.
• Here’s hoping all of you had a safe and happy Fourth of July, and that after blasting all those fireworks, you still have enough fingers left to flip these pages and continue on through today’s section.