Lie To Me, A-Fraud

NYTimes: Reading Microexpressions During a 2007 interview with Katie Couric, Alex Rodriguez demonstrated what Dr. Paul Ekman calls, from left, gestural slips, unilateral contempt and microfear.

The psychologist who inspired the new TV show "Lie to Me" reviews A-Fraud's 2007 interview with Katie Couric and finds lies aplenty. Shocking!

NYTimes: The Voice Was Lying. The Face May Have Told the Truth.

A-Fraud A Complete Fraud

ESPN: Report: A-Rod tested positive in 2003

According to a report by Sports Illustrated, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2003, when he was with the Texas Rangers and won the AL home run title and MVP award.

According to the report, which was posted Saturday morning on SI.com, sources told the publication that Rodriguez was on a list of 104 players who tested positive that year, when Major League Baseball conducted tests to see if mandatory random drug testing was needed.

In 2003, there were no penalties for a positive result.

Put the tiny hypodermic next to his stats in the Baseball Encyclopedia, because he's just another Juice King. Fraud.

Happy birthday to Hank Aaron, BTW, he just turned 75 this week. Hank Aaron is the Home Run King of baseball and all these modern blow-up players are frauds. Liars, chest and thieves the lot of them.

Finally - Jim Rice Elected to Hall of Fame

Boston Herald: AP file
In this March 1989 file photo, Red Sox designated hitter Jim Rice gets set to take batting practice at training camp in Winter Haven, Fla.

'Bout time. Jim Ed's numbers look better and better as the steroid freaks shrink back to the size of their testicles. He got 76.4% of the vote; 75% is required.

Rice's stats, from the Jim Rice for the Baseball Hall of Fame website:

JIM RICE Highlights:
One of league's dominating hitters for 12 years, from 1975-1986
Averaged .304, 29 HR, 106 RBIs during this period
4 - 200 hit seasons, 11 - 20 HR seasons, 8 - 100 RBI seasons
only player to get 200 hits / 35 HRs 3 consecutive years
6 times Top 5 in MVP voting
8 time all-star
8 time Top 10 slugging, including 5 times in Top 2
4 times league leader in Total Bases
Only AL player since 1937 to have 400+ bases in one season
Outstanding defensive left fielder
Career Totals: 2,452 Hits, 382 HR, 1,451 RBI, 79 Triples

Remember: These achievements came in the pre-steroids era when hitting 30 HR a year was a big deal.

Oh, and Rickey Henderson was elected to the Hall of Fame today, too, but Jim Rice is the big story.


Boston.com: Rice Elected to Hall

Boston.com photo gallery: Rice Through the Years

Bob Ryan, Boston Globe: Nudging Rice over the borderline

Boston Herald: Sox’ Rice gets call to Hall, finally

Boston Herald Photo Gallery: Elected

Big Papi to Play "The Babe" at Yankee Stadium

Left, National Baseball Archives via Associated Press; Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
In a nod to Babe Ruth’s famed called home run, the All-Star home run derby at Yankee Stadium is planning a contest in which a fan will try to call a shot for David Ortiz.
NYTimes: Who’s Calling the Shots, the Yankees or Ortiz?

The Yankees were upset when they found out about a promotion that would cast David Ortiz of the Red Sox as a modern-day Babe Ruth at Yankee Stadium during the All-Star Game festivities.

Who better to play the rotund home run hitter with a giant personality? Who would the Yankees have play the Babe? Jason Giambi, the juicer? (Maybe before he calls his shot, he could reenact his grand jury testimony and show the boys and girls how he shot his testosterone "in the ass". That would be heart-warming.) A-Rod, the pretty loser? (A-Rod's unfortunate habit of caving under pressure might affect the TV schedule; it could take him days to hit a home run on command).

No, Ortiz as the Babe is perfect. Babe did start off as a Red Sock, after all. And like Ortiz, Babe was renowned for his larger-than-life personality. While Babe did not own a Bedazzler and is not known for rhinestine-studded sportcoats, you can imagine him wearing one with Ortiz in some Red Sox-Yankees promotion for MLB.

From the World of Sports

Jon Lester jumps into Jason Varitek's embrace after completing his no-hitter.
Hank Aaron still considers himself the Home Run King. So do the rest of us, Hammerin' Hank. We don't count those juicers against you.

In preparation for the Eastern Conference Championships, meet the Detroit Pistons. Here's another Pistons preview.

Further proof that Danny Ainge is a Mormon: He has six grandchildren. Six!

We won't see Carlos Tevez at Giants Stadium in June; he's been left off Argentina's squad for the friendly with the USA.

Video of the end of Jon Lester's no-hitter:

Two Good Clemens Reads

Boston Globe:
Former New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens (center) gestures as his attorney's [sic] Rusty Hardin (left) and Lanny Breuer (right, standing) try to address members questions during testimony on Capitol Hill.
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Joe Posnanski: My Eight Favorite People in Congress

Hang in there and read the whole thing. His bloghead says "Curiously Long Posts", and he means it.

Gerry Callahan, Boston Herald: Congress sends in clowns
Republicans look like bozos

The Verdict is In

Roger Clemens is a liar.

No, you didn't mishear or misremember that. Liar.

MSNBC: Hall of Fame for Clemens? Try Hall of Shame
The longer he talked, the more he looked like a guilty man and a liar

Boston Herald: Roger the Dodger strikes out on stand

Boston Herald: Rocket misfires again
Wiser man would’ve cut losses long ago

Seattle Times: Clemens should try to misremember this day
LATimes: Clemens doesn't come off as a winner

Boston Globe: A strike on Clemens's character

Dallas Morning News: Clemens' credibility takes a crippling hit from shaky testimony

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Clemens the biggest loser of Steroidgate

Lawrence Eagle-Tribune: Who's telling the truth? No question it's McNamee

Steroid Hearings

Droning on in the background of my house.

My take: Roger Clemens is not the smartest person in the room.

Imagine if Congress spent as much time on Bush & the telecoms eviscerating the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution?

Nah.

Rudy In Freefall

Smell the desperation: Mr. "Immigrants Should Speak English" releases Spanish ad in Florida

Yesterday it was announced that Rudy Giuliani's senior campaign staff ("voluntarily", right) wouldn't be paid for the month of January. Not a good sign. He has also pulled all his paid staff out of Michigan and South Carolina. But it's not helping. In the most recent CNN poll, Rudy is third in Florida with 18%, far behind McCain at 34% and trailing even no money, no organization Mike Huckabee at 21%.

I think it's over for Giuliani, and the writing's been on the wall for some time. However, he still has a few days left to make his signature gaffes. Like this one (from Newsday, via firedoglake):

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Rudy Giuliani loves baseball, but does he know the game?

According to a clip played by sports reporter Jared Max on WCBS-AM Thursday morning, Giuliani spoke about the impact of the steroids scandal on the pursuit of the record for all-time most home runs by Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez.

"Is Bobby Bonds' record a legitimate record that A-Rod should be shooting for," Giuliani asked, "or should A-Rod be judged by the Babe Ruth standard, assuming A-Rod did not take steroids?"

A good question, except Bobby Bonds, long retired from baseball, is the late father of the current homerun record holder, Barry Bonds. It's Barry who is accused of using steroids, though he denies it.

And if Barry Bonds is stripped of his record, it reverts not to Babe Ruth, who had 714 home runs, but Hank Aaron, the former Atlanta player who hit 755 before retiring years ago.

He should have stuck to his usual "Noun, verb, 9/11" script.

Here are some of the headlines in the media about Rudy's flailing campaign:

LATimes: Giuliani is feeling the squeeze
Some staffers forgo their pay as the GOP presidential hopeful bets heavily on a victory in Florida.

Miami Herald: Salary cuts dull Giuliani message

The Weekly Standard: The Giuliani Implosion
From frontrunner to also-ran in eight short weeks.

Melbourne (AUS) Sun:
Rudy Giuliani's nomination snub gamble backfires
ONE-time Republican frontrunner Rudy Giuliani's high-stakes gamble of bypassing the early presidential nominating contests has stamped a "big L" for loser on his forehead.

Later that day; edited to spell "desperation" correctly, I hope.

'Roger the Red-Nosed 'Roider'

A new holiday video for the steroid era:



hat tip to Over the Monster (actually, to the Mom of blogger Roger Booth who forwarded it to him.)

Reactions To Roger's a 'Roider "News"

Clemens throws bat at Mike Piazza, Game 2 of 2000 World Series. 'Roid rage?
USAToady


The most prominent name in George Mitchell's report on steroids in baseball is 7 time Cy Young award winner Roger Clemens. I've suspected the Rocket for a long time because he got too big and stayed too good long into his 40s. I couldn't even play once a week competitive (and that's stretching it) softball after the age of 40 because my body was so beat up. He's been striking out 22-year-olds well into his middle 40s. That's just not normal.

Here's a roundup of media reaction:

Tom Boswell, WaPo: The Rocket's Descent (The Australian paper that picked up this article gave it a much better title: Twin peaks just freaks in steroid circus)

Harvey Araton, New York Times: All-Juice Team Has Finally Found Its Ace: Clemens

Dan Shaughnessey, Boston Globe: Tainted Gloves

Peter Gelzinis, Boston Herald: Did Rocket tell son about moon shots?

Bill Madden, NYDailyNews: Roger Clemens' bid for Cooperstown likely will end with strikeout

Jose De Jesus Ortiz, Houston Chronicle: Scandal to cost Clemens support for Hall
Baseball writers have mixed views on whether pitcher will get their vote

Wallace Matthews, Newsday: Clemens must be judged same way as Bonds

MLB Steroid List: Leaked, Yanked, Here It Is (Updated)

Raw Story

Only one surprise to me: Jason Varitek. But if you look at him, it makes sense. Update: Should have remained surprised. Here's the pdf file of the Mitchell Report; Varitek's name does not appear (I used the search function).

I'll post a better list when ESPN makes it available; obviously the one yanked from WNBC was not correct.

Update 2: Here's the real list, from the New York Times:

Chad Allen
Manny Alexander
Rick Ankiel
Mike Bell
David Bell
Gary Bennett Jr.
Marvin Benard
Larry Bigbie
Barry Bonds
Kevin Brown
Paul Byrd
Ken Caminiti
Jose Canseco
Mark Carreon
Jason Christiansen
Howie Clark
Roger Clemens
Jack Cust
Brendan Donnelly
Lenny Dykstra
Bobby Estalella
Matt Franco
Ryan Franklin
Eric Gagne
Jason Giambi
Jeremi Giambi
Jay Gibbons
Troy Glaus
Jason Grimsley
Jose Guillen
Jerry Hairston Jr.
Matt Herges
Phil Hiatt
Glenallen Hill
Darren Holmes
Todd Hundley
David Justice
Chuck Knoblauch
Tim Laker
Mike Lansing
Paul Lo Duca
Nook Logan
Josias Manzanillo
Gary Matthews Jr.
Cody McKay
Kent Mercker
Bart Miadich
Hal Morris
David Naulty
Denny Neagle
Jim Parque
Andy Pettitte
Adam Piatt
Todd Pratt
Stephen Randolph
Adam Riggs
Brian Roberts
John Rocker
F.P. Santangelo
Benito Santiago
Gary Sheffield
Scott Schoeneweis
David Segui
Mike Stanton
Miguel Tejada
Ismael Valdez
Mo Vaughn
Randy Velarde
Ron Villone
Fernando Vina
Rondell White
Todd Williams
Jeff Williams
Matt Williams
Steve Woodard
Kevin Young
Gregg Zaun

Told Ya

NYTimes: As Baseball Braces for Report, Pettitte and Clemens Cited

As I suspected:

MainstUSA, 10/1/06: Clemens a 'Roider?

Barroid Indicted

The Home Run Steroid King has been indicted by the feds in California, four perjury counts and one obstruction of justice, for lying in testimony to a federal grand jury in 2003. I can't decide. Is this a sad day for baseball, or a day of joy? I suppose it's both. Sad that baseball let itself get to this position by ignoring the rash of Mr.-Potato-Head home run hitters in the 1990s, and joy that the most brazen of the lot will be taken down. It's a little like Al Capone being jailed over back taxes, though; we really wish Barry could be charged with being a junkie, but we'll take the lying indictments.

And any excuse to post this picture:

"Ruth did it on hot dogs and Beer. Aaron did it with class. How did YOU do it?"

The Smoking Gun: Barry Bonds Indicted (the indictment itself)

San Francisco Chronicle: Barry Bonds indicted on 4 perjury counts, obstruction of justice

The Sporting News: Bonds indictment: How others see it
Excepts from commentary from news organizations across the web

Dodgers Fans Greet Barroid*

Fans boo the Giants' Barry Bonds as he takes to left field during the first inning Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
(Lori Shepler / LAT)

latimes.com
Brothers Adam, 26, (left) and Marcus Boyd, 30, of Palos Verdes wear their sentiments, directed at Barry Bonds, during the game on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.
(Myung J. Chun / LAT)

latimes.com
Dodgers fans let Giants slugger Barry Bonds know their feelings during his seventh inning at-bat, which ended up as a bloop single.
(Myung J. Chun / LAT)


Two baseball fans dress up as Barry Bonds and BALCO founder Victor Conte before the game Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
(Lori Shepler / LAT)

All photos are from this LATimes Photo Gallery.

Mr. Potato Head * Chases Hank

This could be my new favorite of all the anti-Bonds signs. But that Philly left field job....it's close.

UPDATE: Sorry, the photo has been taken down, so I've removed it. It was a picture of a woman wearing a huge San Francisco batting helmet, with a sign saying, "Barry, I found your hat."

hat tip to SPORTSbyBROOKS

Brewers Fans Greet Barroid*: He's No Hank Aaron

Fans on the left field third base side display signs with astericks to protest as San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds goes out to his left field position, as the Milwaukee Brewers come up to bat in the first inning of their National League MLB game in Milwaukee, Wisconsin July 20, 2007. Bonds is two home runs short of Hank Aarons career record of 755 home runs established on July 20, 1976 going into tonight's game. REUTERS/Allen Fredrickson (UNITED STATES)

John Cutsforth of Poynette, Wis., holds up a sign referring to Hank Aaron's home run record and San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds chase of it before the first inning of a baseball game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Giants Friday, July 20, 2007, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

A fan holds up a sign as San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds bats during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, July 21, 2007, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Fans hold up signs during a baseball game between the Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants Saturday, July 21, 2007, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Barroid Hits 752*, 753*

***********************************************
A baseball fan holds a up a sign referring to San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds after he hit a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 19, 2007, in Chicago. It was Bonds' 752nd career home run.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

WaPo: Bonds Gets Two Closer
Giants' Slugger Hits Nos. 752, 753

***********************************************

Baseball Censoring Fans

In this file photo Don Regole of Tucson holds a sign expressing his feelings for San Francisco Giants leftfielder Barry Bonds in the fifth inning during their MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, Arizona April 17, 2006. REUTERS/Jeff Topping

Page One story in today's San Francisco Chronicle about how baseball is trying to censor fans who come to parks with anti-Barry Bonds signs, concentrating on graphic artist Don Regole.

SFGate.com: STERILIZING THE RECORD
Fans creating signs about Barry Bonds, home runs and steroids are finding their message can be tough to get across

When Don Regole drove 120 miles from his Tucson home to watch his beloved Diamondbacks face the San Francisco Giants in Phoenix, he brought along nine banners directed at Barry Bonds.

The messages had a consistent theme: The Giants outfielder had cheated by using steroids, and that was bad for the game. One sign read, "Thou Shalt Not Covet Impure Gains." Another implored, "Stop inflating records," with a syringe injecting and pumping up the letters. A third, resembling a scoreboard, shouted, "... Bonds needs 756 days in jail," a reference to Bonds chasing Hank Aaron's career home-run record of 755.

But Regole never got to display his banners at Chase Field on April 27. When Diamondbacks employees at the entrance to the ballpark asked to view the signs he had stuffed in his backpack, Regole was told the posters weren't acceptable. The reason: They were in poor taste.

A month later, after Regole had written the team to complain, he got a letter from the Diamondbacks. One sentence caught his attention: "As Mr. Bonds approaches the homerun record, we have been asked by Major League Baseball to carefully screen the signs that are brought into the ballpark by our fans."

[]

While home games at AT&T Park have provided a virtual sanctuary for Bonds, he has felt the wrath of fans on the road. In Boston, he was eviscerated by a chanting crowd that waved paper asterisks and held up signs that read, "Hey Barry! It's Not a Record. You Cheat," and "Call Hank Aaron and Say You're Sorry." In New York, asterisks and signs were ubiquitous, not to mention a steady stream of invective hurled his way. In Milwaukee, with baseball commissioner Bud Selig in attendance, a fan held up a sign that read, "756* Was it Worth it for An *."

At that same game, though, according to USA Today, security confiscated a banner that said, "Milwaukee Loves Hammerin' Hank, Not BALCO Barry."

SFGate.com: STERILIZING THE RECORD; Photo Gallery

Here's my favorite of his anti-Bonds signs:



A fan in Boston makes his own statement:

A Boston Red Sox fan holds up a syringe as San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds (not pictured) exits the field during their MLB interleague baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts June 17, 2007. REUTERS/Adam Hunger (UNITED STATES)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: The best tribute for Bonds is an *

WaPo: Bonds Hammers His 750th Home Run

Asterisks* for Barroid*

No truly great signs last night, but lots of asterisks. I wish someone would carry a sign with a hypodermic needle (that would be the clear, not the cream).





All of these are from the Boston Globe photo gallery from last night's game.