Bonds won't

[Old School]

Mitchell urges players to cooperate in steroids inquiry; Bonds won't

February 26, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Barry Bonds and other players under suspicion of using performance enhancing drugs have been asked by Major League Baseball's lead steroids investigator to turn over medical records and submit to interviews.

A letter urging the cooperation of Bonds and other players tied to the BALCO scandal was sent Feb. 1 by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, who is leading baseball's steroids inquiry. The letter, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Sunday on it Web site, was accompanied by medical waiver forms that, if signed, would allow investigators to view Bonds' and other players medical records.

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Members of Congress have told Mitchell they might intervene if baseball's own investigation is hampered by lack of player cooperation.

Bonds' lawyer Michael Rains told the Chronicle that Bonds cannot cooperate as long as he remains the focus of a possible perjury indictment. Rains did not immediately return calls from the Associated Press on Sunday night.

Rains said Bonds wanted to help but could not do so while facing possible indictment on perjury charges related to his testimony before a grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, the Northern California lab that allegedly provided performance-enhancing drugs to the athletes.

Bonds reportedly told the grand jury he thought Anderson had given him flaxseed oil and arthritic balm, rather than the BALCO steroids known as "The Clear" and "The Cream." A federal grand jury is investigating him for possible perjury and obstruction of justice charges.

The Chronicle published stories in 2004 that reported Bonds and former New York Yankees slugger Gary Sheffield testified they didn't knowingly take the drugs.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig ordered baseball's investigation in March 2006.

While he has never been charged, suspicion continues to dog Bonds, who will enter the season 22 home runs short of breaking Hank Aaron's career record of 755.



Updated on Monday, Feb 26, 2007 1:30 am EST

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[THE KOD]

Bonds=

liar liar pants on fire

 

[Old School]

Bonds=

liar liar pants on fire

Sad thing is KOD..he had the whole world by the ass and it wasn't enough..

ever sadder when he and Rose put themselves ahead of the game..and I stress the game..

Wipe away their stupidity and selfishness and their enshrinement into the Hall of Fame makes every visit to Cooperstown at great one..

Glory built on selfish principles is shame and guilt.

William Cowper
English poet & translator (1731 - 1800)

 

[2muchchalk]

i got bonds hitting his 23 hr before the break, then getting hurt and hanging them up.

 

[THE KOD]

You can count Detroit Tigers' slugger Gary Sheffield among the players who do not plan to cooperate with former Sen. George Mitchell's steroids investigation, according to a USA Today report.

Mitchell has urged players that have been linked to the BALCO drug scandal to submit to interviews and to turn over their medical records. But Sheffield said that he has been advised by the Major League Baseball Players Association not to be of help in the probe.

"The (players) association told us this is just a witch hunt," Sheffield told the newspaper. "They don't want us to talk to them. This is all about getting (Bonds).

"If this was legitimate and they did it the right way, it would be different," Sheffield said. "But this a witch hunt. They're just trying to collect a lot of stuff that doesn't make any sense and throw the (expletive) against the wall."

Mitchell, who was hired by commissioner Bud Selig just before the start of the 2006 season, warned team owners in January that a lack of cooperation with his investigation into steroid use will "significantly increase" the chances of government involvement.

Donald Fehr, the players association's executive director, reportedly said that he has offered advice to players. But ultimately it is the players' choice whether to cooperate.

"We have not been commenting on the investigation," Fehr said, "but we will advise players on what their rights are. They make their individual decisions."

Mitchell, the former Senate majority leader, sent a letter on Feb. 1 urging cooperation from Bonds and other players involved in the BALCO scandal, according to a story that appeared on the San Francisco Chronicle's web site on Sunday.

The letter was accompanied by medical waiver forms which, if signed, would effectively allow investigators to view Bonds' and other players' medical records.

The lawyer for Bonds, Michael Rains, reportedly told The Chronicle that the Giants' slugger wanted to help, but could not as long as he remains the focus of a possible perjury indictment.

Bonds enters the 2007 season needing 22 home runs to break Hank Aaron's career record of 755.

.............................................................

Sheffield, another roider for many years.

I refuse to cooperate = guilty as the nose on his face.

 

[THE KOD]

Holyfield named in online steroids ring

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published on: 02/28/07

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Athletes were involved as customers in an illicit steroid distribution network that led authorities to raid two Orlando pharmacies and arrest four company officials, a New York prosecutor said.

Albany County (N.Y.) District Attorney P. David Soares refused to identify any steroid recipients, saying prosecutors were focused on producers and distributors.

Customers allegedly include Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr., according to the Times Union of Albany, which first disclosed the investigation, citing unidentified sources.

The paper said the names of Matthews, along with former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and former baseball star Jose Canseco were allegedly included on customer lists for Applied Pharmacy Services in Mobile, Ala. The two owners have been indicted by an Albany County grand jury.

Matthews, speaking to reporters at the Angels' spring training camp in Mesa, Ariz., said he wasn't "in a position to answer any specific questions."

"I do expect it to resolve itself here in the near future. ... Until we get more information, I just can't comment on it," he said Wednesday.

Canseco's attorney, Robert Saunooke, told The Associated Press he would be surprised if the former slugger had been a client.

"I would find it highly unlikely," Saunooke said. "All the steroids that he got were prescribed to him or were from people in the gym. There's never been anything he's gotten online."

Saunooke added that neither he nor Canseco had not been contacted by any investigators in the case.

"Just Senator Mitchell," he said, referring to baseball's ongoing investigation into steroids.

A message left with Holyfield was not immediately returned.

The Times Union said investigators found evidence that testosterone and other performance-enhancing drugs may have been fraudulently prescribed over the Internet to current and former Major League Baseball and NFL players, college athletes, high school coaches, a former Mr. Olympia champion and another top contender in the bodybuilding competition.

The paper said customers of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando included several former and current professional athletes. Among those allegedly linked to the company were former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jason Grimsley and a team doctor for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Grimsley's agent, Joe Bick, declined comment.

The paper said a New York investigator flew to Pittsburgh last month to interview Dr. Richard A. Rydze about why he allegedly used a personal credit card to purchase about $150,000 in testosterone and human growth hormone in 2006.

Rydze told the investigator the drugs were for his private patients, the paper said, citing an unidentified person briefed on the interview.

There are no allegations Rydze violated any laws.

Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett told the AP that Rydze works for the club mostly on game days. He is listed among the seven doctors under the "medical staff" designation on the official team employment roster.

"We can't comment any further because we are still gathering information," Lockett said.

A message for Rydze wasn't immediately returned.

Meanwhile, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said it was investigating the purchase made by Rydze, who works there.

"We have initiated an internal review and at this time we have no further factual information or comment," said Susan Manko, a UPMC spokeswoman.

Soares was in Florida on Tuesday for raids conducted by federal and state agents at two Signature Pharmacy stores. Four company officials, including a married couple who are both pharmacists, were arrested.

Prosecutors were expected to ask that the four be extradited to New York during a hearing on Thursday. According to the arrest warrants, all four were indicted on charges of enterprise corruption, criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal diversion of prescription medications and insurance fraud.

Soares refused to answer most questions about the case, which involves sealed indictments. He said his investigation began after an Albany doctor was arrested for allegedly trafficking in narcotics online.

"I cannot elaborate anymore and I cannot provide you with any more details without compromising an investigation which even at this point is at a very sensitive stage," he said.

Arrested on Tuesday were Stan and Naomi Loomis, who own the Signature Pharmacy in downtown Orlando, Stan's brother Mike Loomis and Kirk Calvert, Signature's marketing director. Soares' office identified Signature as a "producer" of the illegally distributed drugs.

Also arrested as a result of the New York investigation were three people Soares' office described as "distributors" from a Sugar Land, Texas, company called Cellular Nucleonic Advantage.

Before the investigation is complete, Soares' office said, up to 24 people could face charges, including six doctors and three pharmacists.

The Loomis' pharmacy contains a small retail store that sells bodybuilding supplements, a drug laboratory and executive offices.

Investigators loaded boxes into a truck and seized drugs, including anabolic steroids and human growth hormone, said Carl Metzger, narcotics commander for Orlando's Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation.

"I can't tell you what percentage of their business was legal and how much involved stacking steroids, but there was a mix," Metzger said.

Soares' office alleged that Signature filled prescriptions, in some cases from unlicensed doctors, knowing they had not met patients. The office said at least $250,000 in illegal and controlled substances were sold directly into Albany County, and New York State sales exceeded $10 million.
..............................................................

 

[AR182]

i don't know who is more embarrassing to baseball....bonds or selig.

 

[skodaa]

Anyone in todays World will take the money and run! Would you, regardless of what you say now is not the same answer you would have with the Cash in your hand.......Think about it b/c thats as close as you'll get to it:nono:

 

[Dayad]

On yesterday's Dan Patrick show he was talking about how Bonds' body has grown, including his shoe size from a 10.5 to a 13. That was amazing to me.

 

[RAYMOND]

how his head size:shrug: