Galea Charged By The Feds

((HT: WGRZ-TV Buffalo- Kompos))

How's this for a Tuesday laundry list...???

Doctor Anthony Galea is now accused of making false statements to federal officials, smuggling, unlawful distribution of human growth hormone (HGH), introducing an unapproved drug (actovegin) into interstate commerce, and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

A criminal complaint against Dr. Galea was filed on Tuesday by U.S. Attorney William Hochul of Buffalo.

In a news release, Hochul claims an affidavit supports the complaint that Dr. Galea "repeatedly entered the United States from 2007 to September 2009 in order to treat numerous professional athletes in the country. The athletes were said to be from Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and the Professional Golfers' Association. It is alleged that Dr. Galea's billings to three athletes from the NFL alone amounted to approximately $200,000."

Here's the copy of the criminal complaint against Galea...

Here's the investigation from 2 On Your Side...

"Get Off My Mound..." Braden to A-Rod

((HT: Traina))

The HQ heard about this driving from the Nationwide tournament in Valdosta yesterday.

The Oakland A's Dallas Braden didn't like A-Rod returning to first by running across "his mound." Is the pitcher's mound sacred territory...???

Dunno, but to Braden it is... here's the reaction from afterwards...

"He's a tremendous player and a tremendous talent, and I don't care if I'm Cy Young or the 25th man on a roster; if I've got the ball in my hand and I'm out there on that mound, that's not your mound. You want to run across the mound? Go run laps in the bullpen. That's my mound."

Rodriguez responded by saying, "He just told me to get off his mound. That was a little surprising. I've never quite heard that -- especially from a guy that has a handful of wins in his career."

A-Rod with the burn... haven't heard those since high-school...
Here's the play...
Thanks to MLB Network/CSNBA/baseballjeremiad

K-Rod Upset With Brian Bruney (?)

((HT: NYPost/King, Sherman))

Brian Bruney stationed himself in left field at the end of the Yankees' batting practice session with the hope of talking to Francisco Rodriguez when the Mets took the field today.

The Yankees' reliever got what he wanted.

"(Bruney) wanted to talk to him but K-Rod didn't want to hear it,'' a source said. "You could say (Rodriguez) was intense.''

The incident occurred two hours before the third Subway Series game between the Yankees and Mets at Yankee Stadium and lasted about 60 seconds.

Rodriguez got in Bruney's face while Bruney didn't react to Rodriguez' words or finger pointing. Yankees reliever Jose Veras jumped in and moved Rodriguez away. Rodriguez kept trying to get to Bruney who didn't move. Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland ran into the fray and moved Bruney away.

Bruney denied there was physical contact.

Asked what transpired in the outfield, Bruney tried to make light of the situation by saying, "We were talking about our dinner plans for later.''

Bruney attempted to downplay the incident when asked before the game about it he described it as "cordial.''

Bruney started a war of words Saturday by saying that Friday night's Mets meltdown in the ninth inning "Couldn't have happened to a better guy.'' Rodriguez was on the mound when Luis Castillo dropped Alex Rodriguez' pop and cost the Mets a victory.

Francisco Rodriguez countered Saturday.

"I don't even know who that guy is. Instead of sending a message through the paper, next time he sees me at Citi Field, come up to me and say it to my face. Don't be sending a message through the media.''

Before Bruney and Rodriguez had words yesterday,20Joe Girardi wasn't too concerned about the relationship between rival relievers.

"It's boys being boys, to me it's no big deal,'' Girardi said. "You say enough is enough.''

Here's the outside confrontation

Selena Roberts Discusses A-Rod

((HT: MyFoxNY))

Selena Roberts sat down with Fox NY's Duke Castiglione to discuss the book and her take on the newest, bestest lightning A-Rod we've got these days...

The Hits Just Keep Coming

So, we went through an initial outbreak of A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) stories went it was first released that he had used steroids. We got, the admission, in advance of a book that had been written by Selena Roberts and David Epstein, writers for SI.com that A-Rod had taken steroids as far back as his early days with the Texas Rangers. A-Rod went on TV with the Professor (Peter Gammons of the 4-Letter Word) and confessed his sins, plead for forgiveness and we all moved on. A-Rod was hurt early in Spring Training and is currently close to being healthy and ready to play for the New York Yankees.

((A-Rod photo Courtesy: Theodorakis/N.Y. Daily News))

Now comes the latest twist/twists in the sordid life/story that is Alex Rodriguez. 2 Things that came out today...as the book is about to be published and released mind you. One, A-Rod may have been taking steroids for a time after Texas. In fact there are allegations that he was seen with former Yankee Pitcher Kevin Brown in 2004 somewhere where HGH was present. This all from the Book, which again, is about to be released publicly on Monday.

The Story, as told by the New York Daily News here

Selena Roberts talks more about things on the Dan Patrick show here

And there is more. Apparently, the book also documents Rodriguez tipping pitches. Yes, that's right, tipping pitches...to the opposition.

Check out Roberts and Epstein's interview with SI.com here

According to the story and subsequent interview, this happens quite frequently in Major League Baseball. We aren't sure why or for that matter what this means, but it certainly raises quite a few eyebrows...among other things. Folks, as much as we don't like to hear stuff like this, the book...and the stories coming from it, are certainly exposing a side of baseball that we...or anyone else really likes or wants to hear. We would say that MLB has a response...but quoting the Selig...

Well, just read the Bud Selig interview with SI's Tom Verducci here , it explains things much more clearly than we can.

A-Rod's Acheing Hip Gets Scoped

[HT/AP]

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had arthroscopic surgery Monday to repair a torn labrum in his right hip, and his projected timetable for recovery remained six to nine weeks.

Dr. Marc Philippon performed the 1-hour, 20-minute procedure at Vail Valley Surgery Center in Colorado.

"The surgery went exactly as we planned," Philippon said during a conference call. "No surprises."

Other options considered were a more aggressive surgery that would have sidelined Rodriguez up to four months and a conservative approach that would have included rest and treatment.

"There is no doubt in our minds that this was the best option," Philippon said. "This was the best option for Alex and the Yankees."

General manager Brian Cashman expects the three-time AL MVP back on the field "sometime in May." Rodriguez will need a more extensive operation after the season, and Philippon said Rodriguez will "absolutely" be ready for spring training in 2010.

Rodriguez was expected to be released from the hospital later Monday and to start his rehab. He was to perform range of motion drills and ride a stationary bike.

"Alex is doing well," Philippon said. "Over the next few days, until Friday, we will work on his range of motion. Hopefully by Friday or Sunday, we will starting working on his muscle memory and adding range of motion that involves the rotation of a batter when he swings."

Philippon said he found a small impingement and the lining of a cyst that was removed last week. The labrum was repaired.

Toronto manager Cito Gaston said the Yankees can overcome the loss of Rodriguez to start the regualar season.

"They're going to miss him, but I still think they have enough offense that they'll do fine until he comes back," Gaston said before Monday's game against the Yankees. "They will have to pitch, though. They certainly have the pitchers there that are capable of pitching well."

Photo Courtesy: AllTalkSports

A-Rod Gets A-Surgery

The beauty about a newspaper like the New York Post is that they never sugar coat anything...

George A. King, v 3.0 has the story of a very expensive investment and the impending surgery he's about to have...

"The Yankees have more trust in Dr. Marc Philippon than the rich had in Bernie Madoff."

That's his opening line...

Sweet...

Surgery is set for Monday morning at 7 fo those of you in Vail and would like to attend...

Rodriguez will require additional surgery after the season and it's not known if he will be ready for the start of spring training in 2010.

"To be reasonable it could vary from six weeks to eight or nine weeks. It will depend on his muscular re-balancing, his muscular strength return and stability,'' Philippon said on a conference call this morning.

"There is always risk with surgery but the approach we are using is definitely much safer than letting Alex play the way he is now,'' Philippon said. "There is no more risk doing this procedure than (the aggressive path). The only thing I can say is that because the cam (impingement) would still be there, long term there would be a risk of re-tearing his labrum. But short term, because I will remove part of the impingement we feel the risk is very limited that he will re-tear his labrum during that six, seventh month period.''

A-Rod's Domincan Republic teammates are somewhat pissed at him because he waited until just before the tournament started to tell folks of this revelation. They're still hot about his not wanting to offend either national originality that he didn't play for in WBC 1.

So now we all wait and see if the Good Doctor ((At least the Pinstripers better hope so)) finds anything else while he digging around in there...

Or... If You Believe Scott Boras...

It's just a torn labrum in the hip...
ESPNews anchor Michelle Bonner catches up with A-Rod's personal auctioneer/PR Machine/cash cow at a ballpark with a very sexy music selection for Spring Training...

Frankly, those of us at OSG HQ didn't know that hips had labrums- or is it the other way around...?

A-Rod Out For 10 Weeks With Hip Surgery

Color us surprised... especially after the whole PED admission-thing...

But...

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez will have surgery to remove a cyst from his right hip and will be out 10 weeks, Rodriguez's brother told ESPNdeportes.com on Thursday.

Joe Dunand, Alex Rodriguez's older brother, told Enrique Rojas of ESPNdeportes.com during a phone interview that immediate surgery was recommended, and that rehabilitation would take about 10 weeks. A source close to the situation told ESPNdeportes.com that the surgery is scheduled for Monday in Colorado.

There has been no confirmation from the Yankees regarding the scheduled surgery.

On Thursday, Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters he did not have any information regarding Rodriguez.

"I have not heard anything yet," Girardi said. "I will try to go and find out what's going on."

Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo would neither confirm nor deny the report, according to the New York Daily News. "When we have information we'll give it to you," Zillo told the Daily News. "We're not giving out any information right now."

The development also means that A-Rod will not be able to participate with the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic.

"It's a big blow for the whole family. Alex is destroyed," Dunand told ESPNdeportes.com. "We were all very excited to see him play with the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. But the most important thing is to have a successful surgery so that Alex may continue his career."

Dunand was originally reported by ESPN as going by the name of Joe Rodriguez. Subsequent calls to Dunand confirmed he prefers to go by that surname. According to ESPNdeportes.com, Dunand is the son of Victor Rodriguez and Lourdes Navarro, Rodriguez's father and mother.

Stan Javier, general manager of the Dominican Republic's team at the WBC told
ESPNdeportes.com: "I haven't received any information on the results of the medical exams performed on A-Rod."

The Yankees are 20-23 in the 43 games Rodriguez has missed since he joined the team in 2004.
Rodriguez felt tightness and stiffness in his right hip this spring and was examined by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad on Saturday, the Yankees said. An MRI exam showed the cyst.
Rodriguez then went to be evaluated Wednesday by Dr. Marc Philippon in Vail, Colo. It has been a rough spring for the All-Star third baseman.

Rodriguez arrived at the Yankees' camp last month in Tampa, Fla., shortly after a report that he had tested positive for steroids in 2003. During a news conference, he admitted he had used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001 to 2003, saying they came from the Dominican and were provided by his cousin.

Jay Crawford gets to ask all the medical questions to Dr. Michael Kaplan below...
((HT: ESPN))

"It Was Amateur Hour..." A-Rod Addresses Media

Through a cousin he won't name and from the Dominican Republic, Yankess star Alex Rodriguez addressed his steroid rumors today at a press conference in Tampa, Florida.

The MVP of which was, easily, Yankees Director of Communications Rick Cerrone...
Andy Pettitte answered questions for two hours. A-Rod answered for 45 minutes.
ANd, of course, he was "young and stupid" on more than one question...

"I knew we weren't taking Tic Tacs," said Rodriguez, who was joined at the head table by Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi.

Before a horde of reporters at Steinbrenner Field, Rodriguez began by reading a statement in which he again apologized for taking banned drugs.

Then Rodriguez turned to his teammates and searched for the right words.

It took 37 seconds -- a break in which he looked side to side, blinked several times, bit his lip and took a sip of water -- then finally looked up and faced Derek Jeter & Co.

"Thank you."

Rodriguez said his cousin introduced him to "boli," saying it was an over-the-counter substance in the Dominican. From 2001-03 with Texas, he said his cousin injected him about twice a month during six-month cycles to get an energy boost.

"I didn't think they were steroids," he said. "That's again part of being young and stupid. It was over the counter. It was pretty simple."

"All these years I never thought I did anything wrong."

[ed.note- until you got caught]
Here's the opening statement...
((HT: YES Network/ESPN))


More analysis later...

A-Rod...? What's The Truth...?

Now... do you believe him...???
Thought so...
"A-Roid" actually uses the word "loosey-goosey"...
((HT: ESPN))

And offering a voice of reason, here's Mike Francesa...
((HT: YES Network))

Never thought you'd hear those two phrases together, did you...?
"Voice of Reason" and "Mike Francesa..."
Strange days indeed...

You Can Call Him A-Roid

Alex Rodriguez owned up. A-Rod, or A-Roid if you will, admitted to the 4-letter word that he took "performance enhancing drugs" for 3 years. His excuse, the pressure of being baseball's highest paid player.

"When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day," Rodriquez said in an interview with ESPN that was broadcast Monday shortly after it was recorded.

"And I did take a banned substance and, you know, for that I'm very sorry and deeply regretful. And although it was the culture back then and Major League Baseball overall was very -- I just feel that -- You know, I'm just sorry. I'm sorry for that time. I'm sorry to fans. I'm sorry for my fans in Texas. It wasn't until then that I ever thought about substance of any kind, and since then I've proved to myself and to everyone that I don't need any of that."

In December 2000, Rodriquez signed a 10 year contract with the Texas Rangers worth $252 million. A-Rod hit 52, 57 and 47 home runs in his 3 years in the Ranger uniform.

"Back then it was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid," Rodriguez said. "I was naive, and I wanted to prove to everyone that, you know, I was worth, you know -- and being one of the greatest players of all time."

OK, I'm trying to comprehend how having $252 million in your bank account pressures you into filling your body up with drugs. Are you kidding me. That's got to be the lamest excuse as to why you would put a needle in your butt. I had to prove I'm worth it, please. Go buy a 3rd world country if you feel unworthy.

Baseball is now the one taking it up the poop shoot. A-Roid will be the whole topic of conversation as spring training is set begin. This is a huge set back for the game that can't shake the stink of steroids.

Makes you wonder who else is on that list for 2003.

Photo Courtesy: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

The 'Roiding Rangers

Let's look at the Dallas/Ft. Worth angle of the steroid allegations with Alex Rodriquez. In Sunday's Dallas Morning News, columnist Kevin Sherrington writes A-Rod completes the Texas Rangers “All Juiced” team.

Gil Lebreton of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says A-Rod's high gloss shine now tarnished.

Reaction To A-Rod's Positive Steriod Test

As you would expect, plenty of comments and such from the New York papers about the Sports Illustrated story alleging Alex Rodriquez tested positive for steroids in 2003.

Tyler Kepner of the New York Times says Alex Rodriquez has become his own worst enemy. While Harvey Araton also of the New York Times says the Yankees marriage with A-Rod
has 9 more long years ahead.

Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News says A-Rod just needs to come clean. Flip Bondy of the N.Y. Daily News says the Yankees are stuck with A-Fraud.

Leave it to the New York Post to put things in perspective. The Post says with the A-Rod allegations the Bronx zoo is back in business. N.Y. Post columnist Mike Vaccaro writes that A-Rod is just another syringe in baseball.

Finally, Wallace Mathews of New York Newsday with all that is going on with A-Rod, you can expect 2009 to be a big season for him.

Now some Yankee fan reaction thanks to New York Newsday.

SI: A-Rod Tests Positive For Steroids in 03

Sports Illustrated was given a list of individuals who tested positive for steroids in the 2003 Major League Baseball season- one of the 104 names released was Alex Rodriguez.

Four separate sources corroborated the report given SI.

In 2003, the testing administered by MLB was done so anonymously since there was no uniformed policy for the league. It was done to determine whether or not the league should actually have a testing policy since it was widely thought that usage was rampant by its athletes.

Duh...

So, now we've gone from "A-Fraud" to "A-Roid...?"
Guess so...
Surprised...? Guess not...

The New York Yankees star has long denied using performance-enhancing drugs. He declined to discuss the tests when approached by SI on Thursday at a gym in Miami.

"You'll have to talk to the union," he said.

((What...? He'd own up to something like that right off the top...?))

Major League Baseball and the players' union issued statements Saturday, refusing to confirm or deny the report, citing player confidentiality.

An e-mail from the Associated Press to Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, was not immediately returned. The Yankees and Rangers declined comment.

Rodriguez's name appears on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in a 2003 baseball survey, SI said. He reportedly tested positive for Primobolan and testosterone.

In a December 2007 interview with 60 Minutes, three days after George Mitchell's report on drugs in the sport was released, Rodriguez denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

Here's a segment of that interview with Katie Couric where Rodriguez denies any steroid use, denies ever being tempted to use, and who the home run king is...

((HT: CBS News))

Said the union: "Information and documents relating to the results of the 2003 MLB testing program are both confidential and under seal by court orders."

"Anyone with knowledge of such documents who discloses their contents may be in violation of those court orders," the union added.

Baseball's drug policy prohibited the use of steroids without a valid prescription since 1991, but there were no penalties for a positive test in 2003.

SI reported Rodriguez's testing information was found after federal agents, with search warrants, seized the 2003 results from Comprehensive Drug Testing, Inc., in Long Beach, California.

That was one of two labs used by baseball in connection with the testing. The seizure in April 2004 was part of the government's investigation into 10 baseball players linked to the BALCO scandal, the magazine reported. Rodriguez has not been connected to BALCO.

Primobolan, also known as methenolone, is an injected or orally administered drug. It improves strength and maintains lean muscle with minimal bulk development and few side effects. Bonds tested positive three times for methenolone, according to court documents unsealed by a federal judge Wednesday.

Primobolan is not an approved prescription drug in the United States.

Selena Roberts and David Epstein's piece is in black and is certain to leave a black eye...
Larry Smith discusses for CNN...