The following is an editorial.
While baseball is not the only sport that has had steroid/human growth hormone/drug problems over the years, it is the one that is most in the news of late.
With Congressional investigations, potential perjury charges for former witnesses, and who knows what else on the horizon, the steroid issue is once again casting a dark shadow upon what is supposed to be America's favorite past time.
Major League Baseball has had enough public relations problems with this issue. It is my humble opinion that it is time to get a lot tougher than they have been on the subject.
After Mark McGwire admitted to taking steroids during his pursuit of breaking Roger Maris' single season home run record, MLB authorities did nothing because the ones McGwire took were not "officially illegal" at the time. TOUGH! McGwire should have been stripped of the title!
Alex Rodriguez recently admitted to taking human growth hormone during his 2001-2003 seasons with the Texas Rangers. While this does not necessarily mean that he is still taking anything he shouldn't be, any titles/awards Rodriguez "earned" between 2001-2003 should be removed for the dishonor he has done them!
And do I really need to start on Barry Bonds? Given all the court issues sounding him at the moment, why didn't any MLB official administer a drug test while he was in pursuit of breaking Hank Aaron's all time career home run record? Were they afraid of the results?
Although it is not just baseball with image problems, sports figures are more in the public eye than one might first think. What kind of example is this for any potential student athlete thinking about a career in sports?
Now don't get me wrong. I LOVE BASEBALL!
I watch as much as I can from the first pitch of preseason to the last out of the World Series.
But this sport cannot afford any more dents in its already tarnished armor.
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And on a totally unrelated note, this was our 100th post at our new home on Blogger .com!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
HAVE A HEART!
Dear Readers:
February is National Heart Health month. Kind of appropriate with Valentine's Day on the 14th.
I could post a lot of information and/or statistics surrounding cardiac care, but in this case I will get right to the point.
If you do not know the current state of your heart's health, HAVE IT CHECKED OUT!
Yours truly is over eight years beyond the initial onslaught of congestive heart failure and a year past the operation that saved me from an aortic aneurysm.
Granted, in the eyes of some I am not living as physically active a lifestyle as I once was, but I am still here!
I have been watching my sodium intake and my sugar levels, for although I am not diabetic, some heart patients do have a risk of becoming so. Diet, exercise, and prescriptions come with the territory, but let's be honest with each other. All the preceding situations may seem like hassles, but they beat the alternative!
So please, get your heart a physical! Y
After all, if I could find the guts to share the above...
Lee Houston, Junior
Editor-In-Chief: News, The Free Choice e-zine
February is National Heart Health month. Kind of appropriate with Valentine's Day on the 14th.
I could post a lot of information and/or statistics surrounding cardiac care, but in this case I will get right to the point.
If you do not know the current state of your heart's health, HAVE IT CHECKED OUT!
Yours truly is over eight years beyond the initial onslaught of congestive heart failure and a year past the operation that saved me from an aortic aneurysm.
Granted, in the eyes of some I am not living as physically active a lifestyle as I once was, but I am still here!
I have been watching my sodium intake and my sugar levels, for although I am not diabetic, some heart patients do have a risk of becoming so. Diet, exercise, and prescriptions come with the territory, but let's be honest with each other. All the preceding situations may seem like hassles, but they beat the alternative!
So please, get your heart a physical! Y
After all, if I could find the guts to share the above...
Lee Houston, Junior
Editor-In-Chief: News, The Free Choice e-zine
Sunday, February 8, 2009
THE SUNDAY FUNNIES: FEBRUARY 8th 2009
Sometimes folks, I honestly don't know where my mind wanders, but for those concerned: yes, it is big enough to be out on its own!
After I saw this image elsewhere on the Internet:
...it quickly wandered off and came back with the following.
Natasha: "Oh Boris, you are so clever!"
Boris: "I know."
Natasha: "New Freeze gun you built vorks very quickly."
Boris: "I know," he said, while actually blushing at the compliment.
Natasha: "Moose-sickle looks vonderful. But vhat makes you think this plan vill vork and ve get frozen squirrel-sickle too?"
Boris: "With our batting average, we've got to get lucky at least once during this series, don't we? But be quiet and hide. I think I hear squirrel zooming in now. Provided he does not know about our new nefarious plot soon we will have matching set of ice sculptures!"
Narrator: "Boris was right. Rocky was flying quickly onto the scene. But little did our fiendish duo know that Rocky was already on to their nefarious plot and knew exactly what to do to save his friend."
Natasha: "Boris. Did you hear vhat Narrator said?"
Boris: "Natasha. Be quiet. I'm trying to hear what the Narrator is saying."
Narrator: "Flying as fast as he could, our brave hero zooms around his frozen friend so fast that the heat friction melted all the ice, freeing the imprisoned moose, who runs as fast as he can, following his best pal to the tropics, where they will rest and warm up till our next episode."
Boris: "Drat! Drat! Drat!"
Natasha: "Boris, calm down."
Boris: "I can't Natasha. Not only does latest fiendish plan fail, but censors still will not let me say anything nastier than 'Drat" despite fact it's 2009!"
Natasha: "Boris. Please stop tantrum long enough to put freeze gun down. Boris, vatch vere you are pointing that thing! Boris, I--"
ZAP!
Narrator: "Too late. But don't worry folks, they will thaw out in time for our next episode. So be here next time for The Big Chill or There's No Business Like Snow Business."
Rocky, Bullwinkle, Boris Badenov, and his femme fatale Natasha are all copyrighted by Jay Ward Productions and much beloved by this writer.
Meanwhile our resident comedienne Ms. Waxy Dragon, the three year old baby dragon avatar of an avid Internet user, is so busy laughing her head off at the above skit that she will be back next week with more Sunday Funnies.
After I saw this image elsewhere on the Internet:
...it quickly wandered off and came back with the following.
Natasha: "Oh Boris, you are so clever!"
Boris: "I know."
Natasha: "New Freeze gun you built vorks very quickly."
Boris: "I know," he said, while actually blushing at the compliment.
Natasha: "Moose-sickle looks vonderful. But vhat makes you think this plan vill vork and ve get frozen squirrel-sickle too?"
Boris: "With our batting average, we've got to get lucky at least once during this series, don't we? But be quiet and hide. I think I hear squirrel zooming in now. Provided he does not know about our new nefarious plot soon we will have matching set of ice sculptures!"
Narrator: "Boris was right. Rocky was flying quickly onto the scene. But little did our fiendish duo know that Rocky was already on to their nefarious plot and knew exactly what to do to save his friend."
Natasha: "Boris. Did you hear vhat Narrator said?"
Boris: "Natasha. Be quiet. I'm trying to hear what the Narrator is saying."
Narrator: "Flying as fast as he could, our brave hero zooms around his frozen friend so fast that the heat friction melted all the ice, freeing the imprisoned moose, who runs as fast as he can, following his best pal to the tropics, where they will rest and warm up till our next episode."
Boris: "Drat! Drat! Drat!"
Natasha: "Boris, calm down."
Boris: "I can't Natasha. Not only does latest fiendish plan fail, but censors still will not let me say anything nastier than 'Drat" despite fact it's 2009!"
Natasha: "Boris. Please stop tantrum long enough to put freeze gun down. Boris, vatch vere you are pointing that thing! Boris, I--"
ZAP!
Narrator: "Too late. But don't worry folks, they will thaw out in time for our next episode. So be here next time for The Big Chill or There's No Business Like Snow Business."
Rocky, Bullwinkle, Boris Badenov, and his femme fatale Natasha are all copyrighted by Jay Ward Productions and much beloved by this writer.
Meanwhile our resident comedienne Ms. Waxy Dragon, the three year old baby dragon avatar of an avid Internet user, is so busy laughing her head off at the above skit that she will be back next week with more Sunday Funnies.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
THE PUZZLE CORNER: FEBRUARY 7, 2009
On February 3, 1959, a plane crash cut short the musical careers of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper: Giles Perry Richardson, Junior along with the life of pilot Roger Peterson. As music lovers observed the fiftieth anniversary of that tragedy, this week's Puzzle Corner is in tribute to them.
1. What is one of, if not the most, quickly recognizable tributes to these three lost musicians?
2. How is that plane crash often referred to as?
3. Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper were part of what music promotion at the time of the plane crash?
4. While any loss of life is tragic, the three musicians were not to be the original passengers. Who were?
The answers will appear in next week's Puzzle Corner. But for now, here are the results from last weekend.
WHAT'S THAT SONG?
The lyrics are from Sugar, Sugar. A 1969 release from The Archies. It was their biggest hit, but actually the third of five career (to date) releases, which does not make the group a one hit wonder as some people perceive them to be.
REBUS
Reversal of Fortune
1. What is one of, if not the most, quickly recognizable tributes to these three lost musicians?
2. How is that plane crash often referred to as?
3. Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper were part of what music promotion at the time of the plane crash?
4. While any loss of life is tragic, the three musicians were not to be the original passengers. Who were?
The answers will appear in next week's Puzzle Corner. But for now, here are the results from last weekend.
WHAT'S THAT SONG?
The lyrics are from Sugar, Sugar. A 1969 release from The Archies. It was their biggest hit, but actually the third of five career (to date) releases, which does not make the group a one hit wonder as some people perceive them to be.
REBUS
Reversal of Fortune
WEEK IN REVIEW: FEBRUARY 1-7, 2009
Unfortunately, I have been under the weather most of this week, so I did not get to report on some of these stories as deeply as I wanted to. But since our last review…
The Pennsylvania groundhog Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which allegedly means six more weeks of winter before spring arrives. Gee, has anyone checked a calendar to confirm this?
The Obama administration is hopeful that the economic stimulus package will get approved within the foreseeable future, despite continuing Republican opposition to the idea.
Sadly, veteran actor of stage and screen James Whitmore passed away.
In sports, the Pittsburgh Steelers won against the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl 43. It was an interesting, but traditionally short half time show, this year by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, but I wonder if the Boss kept his promise of “I’m going to Disneyworld!” afterwards?
Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting that Sports Illustrated can confirm that the New York Yankees were aware that Alex Rodriguez failed a drug test scanning for steroids in 2003.
As always, for more news anytime, just visit the In Other News... box at the bottom of the screen.
The Pennsylvania groundhog Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which allegedly means six more weeks of winter before spring arrives. Gee, has anyone checked a calendar to confirm this?
The Obama administration is hopeful that the economic stimulus package will get approved within the foreseeable future, despite continuing Republican opposition to the idea.
Sadly, veteran actor of stage and screen James Whitmore passed away.
In sports, the Pittsburgh Steelers won against the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl 43. It was an interesting, but traditionally short half time show, this year by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, but I wonder if the Boss kept his promise of “I’m going to Disneyworld!” afterwards?
Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting that Sports Illustrated can confirm that the New York Yankees were aware that Alex Rodriguez failed a drug test scanning for steroids in 2003.
As always, for more news anytime, just visit the In Other News... box at the bottom of the screen.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
SUNDAY FUNNIES EXTRA!
This is something I wanted to post today, but did not feel that it warranted inclusion within a regular Sunday Funnies column.
These are not the best of times right now folks. I know that every generation can point to "their moment", whether it be the Great Depression, World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, the Oil Boom/Bust...
Well, I think the pattern is well established by now.
The point I am trying to make is that while we adults worry about the present and the future, so do our children.
Not just whether or not they will pass the next math test or what grade they will receive on their last homework assignment, but how the things that affect us adults will affect them.
Now unfortunately I do not have the rights to reprint it here, but if your local newspaper does not carry it amongst the other comic strips, I urge you to surf the web and find today's (February 1, 2009) installment of Baldo by Hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos. Gracie asks her father about life and his answer is pretty heart felt.
It may not be the most realistic response to the question, but children have enough problems being children as it is without having to worry about the things we do.
These are not the best of times right now folks. I know that every generation can point to "their moment", whether it be the Great Depression, World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, the Oil Boom/Bust...
Well, I think the pattern is well established by now.
The point I am trying to make is that while we adults worry about the present and the future, so do our children.
Not just whether or not they will pass the next math test or what grade they will receive on their last homework assignment, but how the things that affect us adults will affect them.
Now unfortunately I do not have the rights to reprint it here, but if your local newspaper does not carry it amongst the other comic strips, I urge you to surf the web and find today's (February 1, 2009) installment of Baldo by Hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos. Gracie asks her father about life and his answer is pretty heart felt.
It may not be the most realistic response to the question, but children have enough problems being children as it is without having to worry about the things we do.
THE SUNDAY FUNNIES: FEBRUARY 1, 2009
This past week saw the fiftieth anniversary of Walt Disney Productions' Sleeping Beauty.
Originally released in theatres on January 29th, 1959, this was the last fairy tale based movie the studio animated until returning to the genre with 1989's The Little Mermaid.
Of course everyone knows the story of Princess Aurora, who was "cursed" by Maleficent after not receiving an invitation to the baby's christening and of the challenges that the inevitable arrival of the handsome prince must face to save her.
The original release of the film was in, for that period, state of the art stereo and visual formats, which more recent home entertainment releases have tried to reproduce.
And let's not forget that Aurora has since joined that pantheon of Princesses founded by Snow White, and has since gone on to include Cinderella, Jasmine, Belle, and a plethora of others.
Now, here is our own little "princess", Ms. Waxy Dragon with some jokes.
What was Snow White's reply when finding out her pictures would be late?
"Some day my prints will come."
Once upon a time, in a land far away, a beautiful princess happened upon a frog as she sat near the shores of a pond by her castle home.
The frog hopped into the Princess' lap and said: "Elegant Lady, I was once a handsome Prince, until an evil witch cast a spell upon me. One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the dapper, young Prince that I am and then, my sweet, we can marry..."
"Well," said the single princess, but before she could finish her thought, the frog added: "...and setup housekeeping in yon castle with my Mother, where you can prepare our meals, clean the clothes, bear my children, and forever feel grateful and happy doing so."
The dinner menu at the castle that night began with an appetizer of sauteed frogs legs.
See you next week with more Sunday Funnies.
Originally released in theatres on January 29th, 1959, this was the last fairy tale based movie the studio animated until returning to the genre with 1989's The Little Mermaid.
Of course everyone knows the story of Princess Aurora, who was "cursed" by Maleficent after not receiving an invitation to the baby's christening and of the challenges that the inevitable arrival of the handsome prince must face to save her.
The original release of the film was in, for that period, state of the art stereo and visual formats, which more recent home entertainment releases have tried to reproduce.
And let's not forget that Aurora has since joined that pantheon of Princesses founded by Snow White, and has since gone on to include Cinderella, Jasmine, Belle, and a plethora of others.
Now, here is our own little "princess", Ms. Waxy Dragon with some jokes.
What was Snow White's reply when finding out her pictures would be late?
"Some day my prints will come."
Once upon a time, in a land far away, a beautiful princess happened upon a frog as she sat near the shores of a pond by her castle home.
The frog hopped into the Princess' lap and said: "Elegant Lady, I was once a handsome Prince, until an evil witch cast a spell upon me. One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the dapper, young Prince that I am and then, my sweet, we can marry..."
"Well," said the single princess, but before she could finish her thought, the frog added: "...and setup housekeeping in yon castle with my Mother, where you can prepare our meals, clean the clothes, bear my children, and forever feel grateful and happy doing so."
The dinner menu at the castle that night began with an appetizer of sauteed frogs legs.
See you next week with more Sunday Funnies.
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