“Steroids don’t help you hit a baseball.”-Jason Giambi
“I don’t know if steroids are going to help you in baseball. I just don’t believe it. I don’t believe steroids can help eye-hand coordination [and] technically hit a baseball.” –Barry Bonds

Arguments to this are absurd in my opinion.  I guess its just a coincidence that most of the sure fire hall of famers from the last 10 to 15 years are now showing up as steroid users.  Beyond that is an issue nobody addresses when they make the argument that steroids don’t help.  Whether steroids help or not, there is an intent behind taking them.  It is the same intent when somebody tries to use a corked bat or when somebody tries to throw spitters or doctor a ball.  Do steroids help?  Do corked bats help?  Do spitballs help?  All three are debateable and I will absolutely agree that it is not a settled issue as to whether they help a player who uses them.  IT IS THE INTENT WHICH IS THE PROBLEM.  When a player attempts to use a corked bat, he is trying to gain and unfair advantage and cheat whether or not it actually helps.  When a pitcher throws a spitter he is trying to cheat whether or not it helps.  When a player takes steroids or HGH he is trying to cheat whether or not it helps.  That is my issue.  These players tried to cheat and should be punished for it.  Many a player has been banned from baseball for eternity for compromising the integrity of the game.  This should be right up there with the Black Sox or Pete Rose.  Trying to cheat is cheating.  I wish those in the media who argue steroids don’t help would wake up and realize they were still breaking rules and trying to cheat, and trying to cheat is cheating.

Some in the media also erroneously claim that these players shouldn’t be punished for their 2003 anonymous positive tests because of their “anonymous” nature (this argument is from Bonds’ lawyers to get the tests thrown out) and the “fact” that there were no substances banned by MLB at the time.  Completely erroneous.  As far as Bonds’ legal case is concerned, steroids are listed as illegal under federal law in the Controlled Substances Act.  MLB said they wouldnt’ punish anyone for an anonymous positive test.  The FBI and US legal system does not have to abide by MLB rules, so throw that argument out and include the evidence against Bonds in the case.  As far as MLB not having any banned sustance list, that is completely false as well.  In 1971 MLB implemented a rule (still standing) which makes it illegal to use any prescription medication without a VALID prescription (meaning legit doctor for legit medical reasons).  This memorandum also stated “baseball must insist its personnel comply with federal and state drug laws.  It is your obligation to be familiar with these drug laws.”  Steroids and illegally issued HGH both fall under this rule, and thus they have been banned substanes since 1971.  Ignorance of the law does not excuse illegal behaior.

I could rant alot more on different subjects about this but I’ll save that for later.  In other news Mom’s bone marrow transplant will probably be taking off pretty soon.  This week they will start some preliminary tests on her while the donor undergoes a physical examination and if everything looks good then we could be close to green lighting the transplant.

In poker news, just as I predicted, a week into this month after my first cashout in a long long time, I am down for the month.  Struggling every day capped off by yesterday’s BRUTAL day.  I’ve been wanting to switch to shorthanded no limit because all I hear is how easy the games are.  I got on and let’s just say the day was capped off when I raise with AA, call behind, BB moves all in for a large reraise, I reraise all in for an even larger reraise and J3 of spades insta-calls the all-in, backdoors two jacks and takes down the monster pot.  I don’t get it.  I got back on today for a short session and won a little but we’ve got alot of work to do to get back in the green for the month.

One last piece of good news.  Its still early on in our relationship but I think I may have found the one.  I may have found a new rubber band for my roll.  I was rummaging around last night looking for something and found an amazing purple rubber band.  Its thicker and pretty strong, and it fits my roll perfectly.  After the crushing loss of my Mirage rubber band I think this might be the replacement for a long time to come.