An Unfair Perception? PEDs: MLB v Other Sports

Here we go again...

Not just one, but two "stories" (and they might be just that, stories) linking professional athletes to performance enhancing drugs and/or hGH or a combination of the two. It almost seems as if the Miami New Times and Sports Illustrated were going head-to-head for headline grabbing.

For the Miami New Times, they unloaded (and will continue to unload) information and evidence linking Yankees star third baseman Alex Rodriguez to a now-closed Miami area anti-aging clinic called Biogenesis. Within the article, other players were outed including players that already have or will serve 50-game suspension for violating MLB's policy on performance-enhancing drugs: Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon and Yasmani Grandal were among the names written in personal notebooks by the clinic's owner, Anthony Bosch. Also mentioned are Nelson Cruz and Gio Gonzalez.

This story has been tabbed by many to be of the same scope as BALCO, and if this is the case (and has been promised by New Times), there is more evidence, and likely, more names to come. But that's where the issues arise and should concern baseball fans.

This isn't the first lab/clinic busted which is involved with the sale, distribution, delivering of PEDs, hGH, etc. to MLB players. Probably won't be the last either. It has been said that overall enforcement/oversight concerning these "businesses" (anti-aging clinics) is lacking. Kind of like the old saying: "While the cat's away, the mice will play".

With every anti-aging clinic that springs up and may eventually comes under investigation by the DEA or any other federal agency, MLB gets zero cooperation from the federal government per a report by Michael S. Schmidt of The New York Times. Unless a local TV station and/or newspaper picks up on the story and is willing, by some means, provide information to MLB, Bud Selig and his investigative arm are left completely out in the cold. MLB will meet with those involved in the New Times story, with lawyers in tow, of course.

MLB usually requests information from the DEA, but are told the case is still open; therefore, no information can be released.

MLB released a statement. ARod released a statement denying any association. Gonzalez took to Twitter with his denial. The Texas Rangers, Cruz's team, released a statement that essentially said "no comment". More on that in a bit.

Ray, Colin and a Couple of Harbaughs

The Super Bowl matchup is set: the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers will square off in SB XLVII. Now we know there are two weeks (well, a little less than that now) in which to absorb as much as humanly possible about the teams and their players.

The main focus for each team?

For the Ravens, it is undoubtedly Ray Lewis. While many are quick to praise Lewis for his NFL career, there are detractors which bring about events that transpired in Atlanta over a decade ago.  Honestly, I don't need to delve into those events.  After the Ravens defeated the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship, more than just Wes Welker's wife reminded us of what happened. (Since her statement, Welker's wife has issued an apology.)

Lewis is the face of the Ravens. I know there are those that will mention Ray Rice and Ed Reed, but make no mistake about it. The Ravens are Ray Lewis' team. Ever since the day he was drafted it was his team.

We will be lambasted with video, audio and written word of all Lewis has brought to the Ravens franchise. Some of us will quickly grow weary of such for as much as Ravens fans love "Ray Ray", there are those that despise him. The ring matters to him in this his last "ride". We will witness that last time Ray Lewis don a Ravens uniform.

Think what you will of Ray Lewis, the person. No one can ever doubt Ray Lewis, the linebacker, the football player.

For the record, this isn't a salute to Lewis.

And looking over at the opposing sideline, it can only be Colin Kaepernick.

NFL Divisional Wrapup - Steelers/Ravens

The first game of Saturday had all the makings of defensive struggle. Steelers and Ravens, what more could be expected, right?

Well, it was that despite the final score of 31-24 with the Steelers advancing. The Steelers overcame a 21-7 halftime deficit to gain a nod in the AFC Championship game.

The defensive struggle part? It really was. The two teams combined for 389 yards of total offense. The problem was on the Ravens side, offensively. They could only muster 126 yards of offense. And don't forget the five total turnovers as well. All led to points.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The game's first turnover came on a bit of a bizarre set of circumstances. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was being rushed and was hit from behind by Ravens DE Terrell Suggs. The ball hit the ground and evey stopped playing...except DE Cory Redding. Redding scooped up the ball and ran into the endzone. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin challenged the play and was unsuccessful. That left Pittsburgh with no more challenges remaining as Tomlin had already used his first earlier in the quarter.

The second Steelers turnover came at the 10:32 mark of the second quarter. RB Rashard Mendenhall was going into a scrum of linemen when his own teammate, OL Chris Kemoeatu, knocked the ball loose from Mendenhall's arm. On the sixth play following the fumble recovery, the Ravens scored a TD. Ravens 21, Steelers 7. The Ravens converted two turnovers into 14 points.

After halftime, it was time for the tide to turn in the Steelers favor.