Bill Parcells Went Too Far In Releasing Zach Thomas

In Bill Parcells' tyrannical rage to revamp the Miami Dolphins, Zach Thomas, who has more tackles than any linebacker in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was released by the Miami Dolphins on Thursday afternoon.

A fifth-round pick in 1996, Thomas has spent 11 seasons with the Dolphins, recording more than 1,500 tackles. "Zach Thomas has been a great player on this team for many years," Ireland said. "And because of the type of player and the kind of person that Zach is, this was not an easy decision." But Thomas' age and salary worked against him as the Dolphins begin a major rebuilding process with Parcells running the front office and Tony Sparano taking over as coach. Thomas will turn 35 in September and was scheduled to make $5.65 million in base salary in 2008.

"In addition to his numerous accomplishments on the field, he was a leader off of it as well," Ireland said. "We want to thank Zach for everything he has done for the Dolphins organization and the South Florida community."

I'm sorry, but I thought releasing Trent Green was a terrible idea. Granted, he isn't a spectacular quarterback as he used to be, but he's the best they have with the most experience. I mean, c'mon, do you really want a guy like Cleo Lemon leading your team?

As bad as releasing Trent Green was to me, releasing Zach Thomas was even worse. The idea is to create the BEST team possible right? So why release Zach Thomas, who has MORE TACKLES THAN ANY LINEBACKER IN THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME? Wouldn't that qualify as THE BEST, which is how you would want your team to ultimately turn out to be. This makes no sense.

Thomas has been selected to seven Pro Bowls and is one of only three players to record 100 tackles in each of his first 10 seasons.

Watch the New England Patriots gobble this guy up. They don't care about age, they just care about being the best. After all, they did pick up Junior Seau at one point last season.

A Deadly Shooting Cancels Northern Illinois' Weekend Events

Northern Illinois officials canceled all of this weekend's athletics events, including two home Mid-American Conference basketball games, after Thursday's deadly shooting rampage at the DeKalb campus.

Huskie director of athletics Dr. Jim Phillips announced Thursday that the university called off all of its weekend's sporting events -- both home and away.

The shooting at Northern Illinois killed five students and injured more than a dozen others. The gunman opened fire with a shotgun and two handguns from the stage of a lecture hall. Damn, he meant business.

The university president says the gunman fatally shot four women and a man. Authorities say the gunman, a former grad student, committed suicide.

The cancellations involve two home baskeball games in the NIU Convocation Center -- a women's basketball game against Ohio University scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. ET and a men's basketball game against Western Michigan on Sunday at 3 p.m. In addition, NIU's women's track and field, women's gymnastics, men's and women's tennis, wrestling and men's golf teams will not travel to away competitions this weekend.

Roger Goodell's Spygate Answers Deserve Further Investigation

A day after meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in Washington D.C., Sen. Arlen Specter said he continues to be troubled by a number of issues surrounding the league's handling of Spygate and will continue his investigation.

From ESPN:

Among the issues that continue to trouble Specter are:

• Goodell's imposition of a penalty -- the loss of a first-round draft pick, a $500,000 fine to coach Bill Belichick and a $250,000 to the team -- before the Patriots had turned over evidence, including notes dating to 2002 and six tapes from the 2006 season and 2007 preseason, requested by the league. The Patriots were caught videotaping defensive signals from the sidelines in their Sept. 9 season opener against the New York Jets. The commissioner imposed his penalty on Sept. 13, four days before New England provided the tapes and notes.

"Did they know the scope of the wrongdoing before the penalty was imposed?" asked Specter, a former Philadelphia district attorney. "The answer is no."

NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello, in response on Thursday, said Goodell's hasty punishment stemmed from the fact that the Patriots had been caught at the Jets game and Belichick's admission that he had been taping signals since he became New England's head coach in 2000. Belichick reportedly told Goodell that he thought he was within the rules to tape other team's signals as long as the information wasn't used in the game at hand.

"[Goodell] issued the discipline as quickly as could to send a strong message to teams that this wouldn't be tolerated, and there'd be a severe penalty if you violated the rules," Aiello said. "The discipline included they had to turn over everything that had related to that taping procedure."

Specter heard that explanation from Goodell on Wednesday. On Thursday, Specter said, "The word absurd and ridiculous keep coming to my mind, because he [Goodell] says it with a straight face."

• Specter said it was unsettling to learn that the tapes, as well as notes, turned over by the Patriots in September had been destroyed in Foxboro rather than in the league's New York offices. Aiello said the documents and tapes were destroyed after they were reviewed by NFL officials Jeffrey Pash and Ray Anderson, and that the call to destroy the material came from Goodell, saying "There's no further use for it, so he said get rid of it."

Specter said the league's suggestion that the material, particularly the notes dating to the 2002 season, was destroyed because it might have afforded a competitive advantage is unbelievable.

"Everything has changed," he said. "Nobody could use those. They are scrap paper -- except evidence."

With the evidence destroyed, Specter said there is no way to tell what advantage the Patriots might have gained in the illegal taping practice.

• Specter is particularly concerned about how the taping might have affected New England's games involving teams from his home state in the 2004 playoffs.

In a preseason opener in August of that year at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, the Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles played in what proved to be a preview of the 2005 Super Bowl, won by the Patriots 24-21. And in an Oct. 31 regular-season game in Pittsburgh, the Steelers beat the Patriots 34-20. Those two teams later met in the AFC title game, which New England won, 41-27.

Later Thursday, the Steelers released a statement that read: "We consider the tapes of our coaching staff during our games against the New England Patriots to be a non-issue. In our opinion, they had no impact on the results of those games. The Steelers fully support the manner in which Commissioner Goodell handled the situation and the discipline that he levied against those who violated league rules. We are confident that the Commissioner has taken appropriate action in his investigation of this matter, and will do so again if new information arises which requires further investigation and or discipline."

• Specter believes the NFL hasn't gone far enough in its offer of legal protection to former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh, who has told ESPN.com that he has potentially embarrassing information about the team's taping practices.

The league has offered to indemnify Walsh against exposure to a lawsuit from the Patriots, but the proposal stipulates that Walsh must tell the truth and return anything he took improperly. Under those conditions, the team could still file suit against Walsh even after he turns over evidence to the Patriots and league.

"Matt Walsh is an important guy, and they have made it so conditional," Specter said. "All they got to do is say, 'We're not going to sue you.' It is not a big deal."

Specter said he has spoken with Walsh's attorney three times in the last two days and understands that Walsh is "scared." He said the Judiciary Committee could afford Walsh immunity if Walsh is ever summoned to testify at a Senate hearing. He described both Walsh and his attorney as "cooperative."

• Specter said he was concerned to learn from Walsh's attorney that an NFL security representative, Dick Farley, had been investigating Walsh. Specter said: "I confronted them on that, and Goodell says, 'Yeah, he [Farley] works for us. Yeah, he is a security guy, but we didn't know he was investigating him.' "

Aiello said Thursday that it is an overstatement to suggest the league is investigating Walsh.

"The only thing we're doing is looking at public records and trying to verify his employment history in an effort to learn about him," Aiello said.

I couldn't have said it better myself.....I support Specter 100% in his further investigation of the cheaters (cough) I mean Patriots.

Oh My Gosh! Barry Bonds Failed A Steroid Test In 2000! No Kidding?!

In the midst of the heated Roger Clemens Vs Brian McNamee debates, suddenly a familiar accused steroid user popped back into the picture. The problem was, while everyone accused Barry Bonds of taking steroids, no one had actually proved or convicted him with evidence. Well, that's about to change.

A month after hitting his record 73rd home run, Barry Bonds tested positive for steroids in November, 2000. The allegation comes in the federal perjury case against Bonds and claims he received steroids from trainer Greg Anderson.

Barry Bonds tested positive for steroids in November 2001, just a month after hitting his record 73rd home run of the season, U.S. prosecutors said on Thursday.

The allegation came in a legal filing in his steroid perjury case that referred to Bonds' long-time trainer, Greg Anderson.

Is this surprising? I'm actually surprised they didn't make this discovery sooner. I also find the timing of this discovery to be no coincidence either. Roger Clemens is slightly more respected overall than Barry Bonds. By revealing this information about Barry Bonds to the public at this time, some of the focus and attention should shift away from Roger Clemens and move towards Barry Bonds again.

"At trial, the government's evidence will show that Bonds received steroids from Anderson in the period before the November 2001 positive drug test, and that evidence raises the inference that Anderson gave Bonds the steroids that caused him to test positive in November 2001," U.S. Attorney Joseph Russoniello wrote.

The U.S. government made the assertion in a document that asked a federal court to reject Bonds' motion last month to dismiss the charges that he lied about past steroid use.

In December, the record seven-time National League Most Valuable Player pleaded not guilty to lying to a federal grand jury in 2003 when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

He testified in the BALCO sports steroid case, which ended up jailing his personal trainer, Anderson, and the head of the BALCO lab near San Francisco.

The latest government motion also referred to a question by a prosecutor during the BALCO case to "determine why Bonds apparently tested positive for anabolic steroids in November 2000."

To date, prosecutors have revealed little about the details they have in the case against Bonds, the greatest hitter of his era long dogged by suspicions about doping.

Jason Kidd Is SO Close To Being A Dallas Maverick Again

The Nets and Mavs agreed in principle Wednesday to send Jason Kidd to Dallas. But Devean George, one of four players New Jersey would have received in return, unexpectedly exercised his right to block the trade.

Who the heck is Devean George anyway? He's not even a starter. He's a reserve player who is probably angry that he's just another guy being used as trade bait.

With the New Jersey Nets poised to complete a blockbuster deal to send Jason Kidd back to Dallas on Wednesday night, Mavericks reserve forward Devean George has unexpectedly exercised his right to block the trade, according to NBA front-office sources. Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that the teams verbally agreed to the deal earlier Wednesday and were preparing to submit the trade for league approval when George informed the Mavericks that he wouldn't consent to being included in the deal, which is his right based on a rare provision in his one-year contract.

The deal -- salvaged from talks on a three-way trade with Portland that developed and fizzled quickly two weeks ago -- has Dallas sending 24-year-old point guard Devin Harris, veteran swingman Jerry Stackhouse, the expiring contracts of center DeSagana Diop and George and guard Maurice Ager to New Jersey for Kidd and forward Malik Allen.

Sources say Dallas would also send the Nets the league-maximum $3 million, the Mavs' first-round draft pick this June and a first-rounder in 2010.

Kidd was with the Nets in Toronto, but didn't talk to the media before the game. He and Allen were both inactive, along with reserve Antoine Wright.

Roger Goodell Is A Horid Commissioner

Did anyone actually watch this or have enough energy to watch this after sitting through the previous Congressional hearing of Roger Clemens? What genius of Roger Goodell to have his meeting with the Senator after Clemens' hearing. That doesn't mean I like Goodell. I just think thats brilliantly clever as a way to shift the focus of attention of Spygate.

Bill Belichick has been illegally taping opponents' defensive signals since he became the New England Patriots' coach in 2000, according to Sen. Arlen Specter, who said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told him that during a meeting Wednesday.

Specter said Goodell gave him that information during the 1-hour, 40-minute meeting, which was requested by Specter so the commissioner could explain his reasons for destroying the Spygate tapes and notes.

"There were a great many questions answered by Commissioner Goodell," Specter, the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told reporters after the meeting. "I found a lot of questions unanswerable because of the tapes and notes had been destroyed."

Goodell said Belichick told him he believed the taping was legal; Goodell said he did not concur.

"He said that's always been his interpretation since he's been the head coach," the commissioner said. "We are going to agree to disagree on the facts." In other words, Bill Belichick believed cheating was legal? And Goodell disagreed, but didn't do anything to stop it?

Goodell also told Specter that that he doesn't regret destroying the Spygate tapes or the notes.

"I think it was the right thing to do," Goodell said.

Still, Specter wants to know why penalties were imposed on Belichick before the full extent of the wrongdoing was known and the tapes destroyed in a two-week span. Asked if he thinks there was a coverup, Specter demurred.

"There was an enormous amount of haste," Specter said.

He scoffed at the reasons Goodell gave for destroying the tapes and notes, particularly about trying to keep them out of competitors' hands and because Belichick had admitted to the taping.

"What's that got to do with it? There's an admission of guilt, you preserve the evidence," Specter said. As for keeping the tapes out of the hands of others: "All you have to do is lock up the tapes."

Belichick was fined $500,000 and the team was fined $250,000 because of the Spygate incident. The Patriots also forfeited a first-round draft pick. That penalty so so light Belichick basically got away with murder. They ended up acquiring the second pick anyway.

Specter has questioned the quality of the NFL's investigation into the matter and raised the possibility of congressional hearings if he wasn't satisfied with Goodell's answers. Specter also raised the threat of Congress canceling the league's antitrust exemption and reiterated that in the meeting with Goodell.

Goodell also said he has not heard from Matt Walsh, the former Patriots employee who performed some videotaping duties for the team.

Walsh told The Associated Press last week during the Pro Bowl in Hawaii that he couldn't talk about allegations that he taped a walkthrough practice by the St. Louis Rams before the 2002 Super Bowl. New England, a two-touchdown underdog, won that game 20-17.

Goodell said he has offered Walsh a deal whereby "he has to tell the truth and he has to return anything he took improperly" in return for indemnity. Specter said he, too, wanted to talk to Walsh and perhaps offer a different deal.

Goodell also said he reserves the right to reopen the investigation if more information is uncovered.

So what actually was accomplished here?? Nothing! I still can't tell if Goodell knew about the cheatings, but did nothing to stop it. I still don't know exactly how long the Patriots were cheating or in what specific games. I still don't know why Goodell's penalty on the New England Patriots was so light. Finally, I still don't know if the New England Patriots was a conspiracy team protected by the NFL and Goodell from losing in order to draw in ratings and viewers.

I do find it funny, however, that lately whenever there is a dispute in sports....right away somebody wants to take it to the Congress. Doesn't our government have enough already to take care of? As an aside, I noticed from the Clemens hearings that a lot of Congressmen are bitter, old men who almost all the time already have their minds made up before cases begin and when they question people, they are only looking for the answers they want to hear. If the Congressmen don't hear answers they want to hear, they either probe further or just randomly come out with their own point of view. Just because they have more power and a louder voice doesn't mean they are any more credible.

Roger Clemens Almost Struck Out Brian McNamee

Nannygate. Misremembered. Bloody pants. On Capitol Hill, today's "Roman circus" added to pop culture. But it also gave Roger Clemens and his legal team new headaches going forward.

By the end of the day, we still don't have any definitive answers. However, it is clear to me that Brian McNamee can't be trusted either. Both Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee aren't telling the truth.

The proceedings, which included newly disclosed evidence, raised further questions about the possibility of future criminal investigations and charges.

Problems For Clemens:

First, Clemens had no solid answer for the devastating testimony and written statement from Andy Pettitte. Not only did Pettitte corroborate McNamee's testimony about Pettitte's use of HGH, he also established a chronology on Clemens' statements about HGH that could lead to a perjury charge. Responding to Pettitte's assertion that Clemens told him he used HGH, Clemens insisted on several occasions during Wednesday's hearing that Pettitte had "misunderstood" him. He suggested that the subject of the Pettitte-Clemens conversation was the use of HGH by Clemens' wife. Clemens even tried to interrupt committee chairman Henry Waxman to repeat his claim at the end of the hearing, and Waxman gaveled him into angry silence. The problem for Clemens is that Debbie Clemens' alleged use of HGH came two years after Clemens' conversation with Pettitte. And, as Waxman explained, that means Clemens "made untrue statements in his deposition [sworn testimony to the committee last week]."

Now has anyone even for a second stopped to consider perhaps Andy Pettitte was wrong with the claims he made. I like how before they gave his testimonies, they built him up to sound like Mother Teresa. Even Mother Teresa lied. Pettitte is human like you and me and that makes him just as susceptible to lying. Pettitte has a weak character and when the Government came to him with questions he crawled into a hole like a defenseless, scared rabbit and told them everything that they wanted to hear. What kind of evidence is memory from 10 years ago?? Some people can't remember what they had for lunch. The courtroom made me sick in the way they praised Andy Pettitte. If he had walked in that day, the court would have bowed and worshiped him as he sat down and took off his halo. Do they not remember that he is an acknowledged cheater too?

Second, Clemens and his legal team blundered into the possibility of a charge of tampering with a witness. The potential charge could stem from their handling of a committee request for information about a woman who once served as a Clemens family nanny. (The committee staff requested the woman's contact information last week.) The committee wanted to ask her about a barbecue luncheon at Jose Canseco's house in Miami in June 1998, and whether Clemens attended the party. The protocol for producing a witness requires that a lawyer, or an investigator for the lawyer, contact a witness and send their information to the committee. Instead of following the protocol, Clemens called the former nanny personally and invited her to his home for a meeting on Sunday. We do not yet have the entire content of their conversation, but it is clear that he discussed the inquiry with her. Waxman was clearly angry that Clemens talked with the nanny before the committee's staff interviewed her and said, "At the very least, it has the appearance of impropriety."

McNamee was attacked viciously by a few Republican members of the committee and called a "liar" and "drug dealer," McNamee performed surprisingly well. He admitted that he had been less than truthful with federal agents and the Mitchell committee. He said he withheld some of his information -- and his box of syringes, vials and gauze pads -- in an effort to "downplay the use of these drugs" and protect players. But in the course of interviews with five groups of investigators, including Clemens' detectives, he gradually revealed the information he knew and the physical evidence that he had accumulated. McNamee's statements have been corroborated by Pettitte and Chuck Knoblauch. Mitchell and his staff have endorsed his veracity on numerous occasions. It is unlikely that the committee will recommend charges against McNamee and equally unlikely that the FBI or the IRS will investigate him.

Andy Pettitte is the most important witness. Although the committee members clearly disagreed on the relative veracity of McNamee and Clemens, they all agreed that Pettitte is a man of integrity who responded to the committee's questions with truths that were painful to him. His testimony about his friend Clemens was a most painful act of integrity, both sides agreed. Both the Democrats and Republicans thought so highly of Pettitte and his cooperation that they granted his request to be excused from testifying at Wednesday's hearing. Excusing Pettitte might have been a mistake. If he had been present to tell his story of HGH and his conversations with Clemens, it could have been the most illuminating testimony in the hearing. It is of considerable benefit to Clemens that Pettitte, with his material highly damaging to Clemens, was not present to add to his problems. Any decision on the prosecution of Clemens will turn not on McNamee's credibility but on that of Andy Pettitte.

Why would McNamee claim to have injected Pettitte and Knoblauch with steroids (both of which have been confirmed to be true), but for some reason make up a story about injecting Clemens? That makes no sense and McNamee has no reason to lie. That's enough evidence for me to believe Clemens is lying.

Then again....

I didn't know McNamee was a former police officer. Why would a police officer, who is supposed to uphold the legal law, give players illegal steroids? What irony. That's like a fire truck catching on fire and shows McNamee can't be trusted.

So what happens now? Nothing is certain, but there might be additional investigations of Clemens' testimony and of the nanny situation. It could come from the committee or, more likely, from the team of federal agents who have been working on the BALCO investigation.

The Congressional Hearings Of Roger Clemens Vs Brian McNamee Thus Far

9:55 A.M.

Well, right now we are just moments away from the big show. The ESPN guys are speculating and filling in time until the congressional hearing begins.

Something new and interesting was revealed though. Andy Pettitte, in his statement yesterday, said he took HGH in 2004....and his father provided Pettitte with those steroids. Imagine that.

I agree with the statement that this is reality television at its finest.

10:11 A.M.

Chairman Henry Waxman, among many claims, made the statement that the sole purpose of this congressional hearing is to confirm the accuracy of the Mitchell Report (not to make Clemens look bad, which will probably happen). Roger Clemens promptly denied steroid use, despite his name being listed 82 times in the Mitchell Report. Therefore, the committee wants to be certain whether they made any mistakes in the report or not. McNamee and Clemens claim to be telling the truth, yet their accounts are completely different. There is nothing in between. After this hearing, there will be no more hearings on steroids in baseball or the Mitchell report, or so Waxman claims.

10:20 A.M.

I agree with ESPN's Jayson Stark's point. This is clearly a lopsided hearing in McNamee's favor. Within the first two minutes of his opening remarks, Rep. Henry Waxman called the Mitchell report "impressive and credible." That tells you exactly what Rep. Waxman believes, and, more importantly, whom he believes.

It's as if the committee has already made up their mind before this hearing started and they are only entertaining Clemens to keep him temporarily at bay. After all, the members of the committee are the ones who assigned George Mitchell to create his report, or so I believe.

10:36 A.M

Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee just swore to tell the truth UNDER OATH. Why do I point this out? Because this is the reason why one of the two men is going to be charged for perjury.

Also, Clemens' lawyers helped talk Waxman out of not canceling this hearing, saying it would be "unfair" to cancel the hearing without giving Roger a chance to testify publicly.

Clemens, in his opening statement, firmly DENIED using steroids or HGH.
McNamee, in his opening statement, CONFIRMED injecting Clemens, Pettitte, and Chuck Knoblauch with steroids and HGH. He also made an apology statement.
Rep. Waxman made it obvious somebody is going to be charged with perjury once this hearing concludes -- because "it's impossible to believe this was a simple misunderstanding. Someone isn't telling the truth."

Now stop right here.....Why would McNamee claim to have injected Pettitte and Knoblauch with steroids (both of which have been confirmed to be true), but for some reason make up a story about injecting Clemens? That makes no sense and McNamee has no reason to lie. That's enough evidence for me to believe Clemens is lying, unless he can prove me wrong in his later testimony.

10:51 A.M.

That was laughable. Clemens agreed Pettitte is a very reliable man based on numerous sources, but then Clemens said Pettitte was wrong about their conversation involving steroids. Clemens said Pettitte "misremembers" the conversation. Can you say "contradiction" on Clemens' part?
Don't you think that's odd? I mean, how can you forget a conversation like that. Well, one thing is sure....Pettitte's testimony really did come in handy and it's making Clemens look stupid. Even Pettitte's wife's testimonies are damaging Clemens' credibility.

11:11 A.M.

I don't understand the whole Clemens bleeding through the pants angle and buying bandages. Is that supposed to be a joke back in 2001 or some kind of evidence?
Rep. Davis reported that McNamee had testified that Mike Stanton once noticed that Clemens was bleeding through his dress pants -- which caused him to start carrying band aids around, presumably for his bleeding butt.
Prompting the following exchange: Rep. Davis: "Mr. Clemens, do you recall bleeding through your pants in 2001?" Clemens: "I do not." Yet, you can't just imagine this stuff.

Also, Jose Canseco claims in his statements that Clemens never went to his barbecue in 1998 and Clemens proved he was playing golf that day. However, I do not believe this is critical evidence in Clemens' steroid use.

11:20 A.M.

Very interesting how Clemens admits to taking B-12 and says McNamee injected him with B-12. McNamee, however, denied injecting Clemens with B-12.
Also, Clemens denied talking to McNamee about HGH 3 times in the early part of his deposition, but in his later deposition he talked to McNamee twice about HGH in regards to his wife getting the injections from McNamee. We have some credibility issues on Clemens' part here.
Make this clear...if you're going to lie, make sure you remember what you said.
Give Clemens some credit though....he's keeping his cool under the hot lights.

11:32 A.M.

Brian McNamee kept the needles he used to inject Clemens because he claimed to be Clemens' friend, but yet had deep mistrust for him. He also kept Chuck Knoblauch's needles too. He felt horrible about being in the position he was in and didn't give the needles to Mitchell immediately when he was making his report. Basically, McNamee admitted to lying on numerous occasions and the congressman actually stated he doesn't believe McNamee at all. This is actually a strong testimony to help Clemens.
Rep. Dan Burton was all over McNamee, wondering about a question many of us have asked: Why would he ever have held onto vials and syringes for five years that could implicate a friend? "He was my employer," McNamee answered.
Burton: "You do this to all your employers?"
McNamee stammered an answer about how he'd "done things before for other people and gotten hurt by it, so I might as well hold onto it."
Burton asked why he didn't give this evidence to the Mitchell investigators immediately. "Because I felt horrible being in the position I was in," McNamee said.
Burton: "You kept needles for five years ... and kept working for him ... and now you say you felt bad?"
McNamee: "No, sir."
Burton: "My goodness."
However, that congressman really annoyed me with his rant about how the law works and how McNamee is trying to breakdown Clemens' career. That wasn't the purpose of this current case and its looks like he just wanted to get that off his chest.

11:48 A.M.

Clemens' side effects from recovering from an injury, based on MRI results from a very reputable doctor and McNamee, was more likely caused by steroids, rather than B-12 shots. Clemens denied that these side effects were from steroid shots. However, no one can seem to remember Clemens' side effects, except McNamee. The congressman is firm in saying that Clemens had to have received a B-12 shot. Score one for Clemens?

Interesting, I didn't know McNamee was a former police officer. Why would a police officer, who is supposed to uphold the legal law, give players illegal steroids? What irony. That's like a fire truck catching on fire.

12:10 P.M.

A very good point was made. Nowhere in the Mitchell report does it say, regardless if Clemens' showed up at Canseco's house in 1998 or not, that they discussed or shared steroids. So, throw that whole Canseco argument out the window.

12:20 P.M.

Clemens claimed 6 times he had no idea Senator Mitchell wanted to talk to him when his report was released, but on 60 Minutes Clemens told Mike Wallace that he knew Mitchell wanted to talk, but his council advised him not to. I don't know how this helps, but I thought I'd mention it. I guess, if anything, this is an attempt to damage Clemens' credibility

12:45 P.M.

The most pointless 5 minutes belongs to Rep. John Mica. He spent his entire line of questioning trying to determine the color of the various injections these two guys claim were given.
For anyone interested, Winstrol is a "powdery white," while testosterone was "oily" and "honey-colored" and HGH, when added to water, was "clear." And Clemens testified that B-12 was "red or pink."

Whew, a 15 minute break. Well, if Clemens does go to jail, at least he'll go to heaven, according to a congress woman. So far, Clemens appears to be squirming more in his seat than McNamee.

Does Anyone Notice Roger Goodell Is To Meet With Specter Wednesday To Discuss Spygate?

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Sen. Arlen Specter are to meet Wednesday to discuss the Spygate case involving the New England Patriots.

The meeting will take place at 3 p.m. ET in Specter's office in Washington, according to ESPN.com's Mike Fish. The Pennsylvania Republican has asked Goodell to explain his decision to destroy the tapes and notes from the case, which go back to 2002.

What genius by Roger Goodell as yet another way to hide the New England Patriots Spygate Conspiracy Theory. No seriously, that's brilliant. Have the hearing on the afternoon where one of the biggest Congressional hearings in sports history (Roger Clemens Vs. Brian McNamee) is taking place. That's great.

First, who knows how long the Clemens hearing will drag on for. This hearing has been hyped up for so long and is so draining all day who is going to want to watch ANOTHER hearing? Because all the attention today will be on Clemens and McNamee, I don't think they will have enough cameras, cameramen, and reporters to cover the Spygate story (that's a bad joke on my part, I admit). But still, what a way for Goodell to shift the people's attention away from the Spygate scandal, at least for today.

The Congressional Showdown Between Roger Clemens And Brian McNamee Is Almost Upon Us

Whatever the result of this hearing between Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee turns out to be, I dare you to argue this does not make for great television. The people in the Writer's strike should take a note from this compelling story. This story may be better than an actual MLB game (between the Devil Rays and Royals of course) and has everything a great television show needs, including a twisty, unclear story involving backstabbing, betrayal, distrust, truth, drama, and an unpredictable conclusion. Nothing will draw me away from the television while the Congressional hearing is on.

All the major players have opted out of participating except for Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee. Its a showdown between two opposing stories. Who's lying? Who's telling the truth? Who do you believe? What the Mitchell report revealed, Roger Clemens denied. So as he and Brian McNamee sit together before Congress, let the day of reckoning begin. Time will tell which one prevails...

Literally, time will tell. Obviously, no one will be sentenced to prison today. What will end up happening is both stories will contradict each other after Clemens and McNamee speak their parts. There will be no middle-ground where the stories overlap. Therefore, one of the two stories will be considered to be a lie under oath. As a result, Congress will ask to investigate which story they believe is perjury and this will be another issue that will drag on for months to come.

That's my take on it anyway.

Even NASCAR Is Issuing Discipline Now

NASCAR placed drivers Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart on probation for six races Tuesday, beginning with the Daytona 500.

Stewart

Kurt Busch

The punishment stems from a confrontation between the two former series champions, who wrecked in practice last week and then carried it into the NASCAR officials' trailer.

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said the drivers were disciplined solely for the on-track portion of their clash, when the drivers deliberately used their cars as battering rams.

"We will continue to keep a check on this sport and won't let it get out of hand," Poston said. "If there is a repeat between these two, then we will take it much more seriously."

Although Busch and Stewart confronted each other during a closed-door meeting with NASCAR officials after the incident -- and ESPN.com's David Newton reported that Stewart punched Busch, according to sources close to the situation -- Poston stressed that nothing that happened off the track factored into their discipline.

And while it was Busch who slammed his car into Stewart's as they exited the track, Poston said both drivers were punished because they were involved.

I personally like it. This is what NASCAR needs....more edgier drivers to make the action more exciting than simply driving around the same pattern 400 times.

The Top 20 Best Selling NFL Jerseys As Of Today

Just a few hours ago the list of best selling jerseys were released:

1. Tony Romo Cowboys
2.Tom Brady Patriots
3.Brett Favre Packers
4.Peyton Manning Colts
5. Ladainian Tomlinson Chargers
6.Adrian Peterson Vikings
7.Eli Manning Giants
8.Randy Moss Patriots
9.Brian Urlacher Bears
10.Troy Polamalu Steelers
11.Devin Hester Bears
12.Marion Barber Cowboys
13.Reggie Bush Saints
14.Ben Roethlisberger Steelers
15.Terrell Owens Cowboys
16.Jason Witten Cowboys
17.Brady Quinn Browns
18.Sean Taylor Redskins
19.Brian Westbrook Eagles
20.Bob Sanders Colts

See what happens when you win the Super Bowl? Your Jersey jumps to the #7 spot.
Brady Quinn? He hasn't taken a snap in the league yet.

Washington Redskins Interested In Chad Johnson?

With a new coach on the Washington Redskins (Jim Zorn), the Redskins are interested in acquiring Chad Johnson from the Cincinnati Bengals, who wants to be traded despite the Bengals' refusal to trade him. One advantage that the Redskins have is Daniel Snyder would be more than willing to dish out the money to pay for a player like Chad Johnson, who is still an excellent receiver and can add height to that already great receiving core consisting of Santana Moss and Antwan Randle El.

Even still, it is going to take a lot of work before the Redskins can overtake both the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants in hopes of making a playoff spot.

John Rocker Just Helped Confirm My Conspiracy In Baseball Theory

At least I know I'm not alone when I come up with these radical ideas and theories about random topics and stories. For those who haven't read the article I wrote about steroids as a conspiracy in baseball, basically to sum it up I said the MLB knew about players using steroids in the 90s and on, but let it slide because players smashing home runs and pitchers throwing heat were great for baseball ratings and sales. Do you really think it was a coincidence that after the baseball strike in the mid 90s halted baseball, the great home run chase of 1998 happened naturally? Do you really think that it was a coincidence that in the 80s players looked like stick figures and now they are big and built? I don't. There had to be something more (steroids) and baseball knew about it, but didn't do anything to stop it. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT GOT INVOLVED IS BASEBALL TRYING TO STAMP OUT STEROIDS BECAUSE NOW IT HAS BECOME A LEGAL ISSUE. BASEBALL CAN NO LONGER CONTAIN WHAT THEY WERE HIDING.

Why do I mention this yet again? Because an actual MLB player himself actually came on the radio and said exactly what I've been saying. Granted, John Rocker may not be the most reliable source because he is known to go running off at the mouth at times. However, according to ESPN, John Rocker said Monday that baseball commissioner Bud Selig knew he failed a drug test in 2000 and that doctors for the "league" and the "players association" advised him and several Texas Rangers teammates on how to effectively use steroids. Rocker, no stranger to controversy, made those comments on Atlanta radio station Rock 100.5. Later Monday, he told Atlanta sports talk radio station 680 The Fan that "between 40 to 50 percent of baseball players are on steroids" and "in 2000 Bud Selig knew John Rocker was taking the juice. Bud Selig knew this was going on," he said. "I failed the test, yet nobody heard about it."

Why Can't Roger Clemens Just Come Clean?

Well, we are just one day away from one of the biggest showdowns in sports history. This showdown won't take place on a field or court, but rather, in a courtroom between Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee. When all is said and done, though the end of this case most likely will not be on Wednesday, one man will look like a hero while the other will face jailtime and be remembered as a disgrace.

Andy Pettitte, who was originally supposed to show up to testify against Clemens, opted out of showing up. If this isn't further proof that Roger Clemens is guilty, I don't know what is. Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens are, or were, really good buddies. Clemens was Pettitte's hero growing up. My guess is Andy Pettitte knows Roger Clemens took some type of steroids (provided by the same provider, Brian McNamee) and can't face the guilt of ratting out one of his best friends and long time heroes

There is simply too much evidence against Roger Clemens coming from every source, person, and direction possible. Roger Clemens' good word alone may not be enough to convince anyone. How can a man of his age still be throwing as fast and powerful as he is? No pitcher of his age has ever done that. Who does he think he is, Jesus Christ?

I just wonder why Roger Clemens couldn't come clean from the start. Its not like he would have gotten in trouble. He retired - he can't be suspended or fined. It would have been one of those scenarios where people would have been like "Oh, he took steroids. Wow. Oh well" and carry on with the rest of their day. However, now, because he didn't come clean from the start, he looks ten times worse. Meanwhile, Brian McNamee has nothing to lose by lying. In fact, he is being glorified for admitting to what he has done.

One Of The Worst Hockey Injuries Ever

On a serious note, Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik required lifesaving surgery after severing his carotid artery. Can you imagine that? Richard almost had his throat slit by a metal blade.

Zednik is recovering at a Buffalo hospital. Zednick lost a drastic amount of blood Sunday during the game against the Sabres. He accidentally was sliced across the right side of the throat by teammate Olli Jokinen's skate.

"The surgery was successful and he's resting comfortably in the hospital," Panthers spokesman Brian Goldman said.

Canada's Sportsnet cable-TV network reported on its Web site that the skate blade just missed cutting the jugular vein.

Blood gushed from Zednik's neck after he was hurt midway through the third period of Buffalo's 5-3 victory, creating a frightening moment that delayed the game for about 15 minutes. There was also a brief discussion about postponing the game altogether.

You can't blame the brutality hockey for this type of injury. It was a freak and unfortunate accident.

Here's the video and post-game interviews for anyone who isn't squeamish:

The NFC Defeats The AFC In The 2008 Pro Bowl

All I heard all week is how ESPN (of all companies) was downgrading this game and making jokes that hinted at how boring this game could be. Well, for what it was worth, it was an offensive showdown that wasn't as boring as ESPN made it seem. Granted, I understand that in an All-Star game, one generally wants to see a high-scoring offensive show, but the defenses also stepped up as well.

Making up for early sloppiness, Terrell Owens caught two touchdowns passes, including a 6-yarder from Tampa Bay's Jeff Garcia for the winning points in the NFC's comeback 42-30 victory over the AFC on Sunday.

Adrian Peterson made this Pro Bowl look easy. He ran for 2 touchdowns and 129 yards (second most in Pro Bowl history) to take home the MVP award. When he is at his best, the numbers he puts up are ridiculous. The New England Patriots better not get a hold of him.

Neither side held back the tricks, to the delight of the sellout crowd of 50,044 at Aloha Stadium. There was a fake punt, a throwback kickoff return and a handful of fourth-down gambles.

One of those was a 34-yard pass to Owens from fellow Cowboy Tony Romo that sparked the comeback. Before that huge play, Owens had a pair of ugly drops that drew boos.

He quickly turned them into cheers. Who could stay mad at Tony Romo and Terrell Owens?

What a way to cap off an incredible 2008 season of twists, surprises, victories, and defeats.

Kevin Garnett May Miss The 2008 All Star Game And Counting

Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett missed his seventh consecutive game Sunday, and coach Doc Rivers said he might miss the next two games and, "I don't see him playing in the All-Star Game, either."

Garnett

"We don't know that yet," Rivers said, adding that he hadn't talked about it with Garnett but would try to discuss it Sunday night or Monday. "I just don't see that happening."

Garnett has been out for two weeks since straining a stomach muscle against the Timberwolves in Boston. The Celtics went 4-2 in their first six games without him, and they still have the best record in the NBA. However, that's only because their first 30 games were golden.

Garnett was the leading vote-getter for the Feb. 17 All-Star Game in New Orleans. But Rivers said before Garnett did not dress for Sunday's game against the San Antonio Spurs that he would probably not play Tuesday or Wednesday, in Boston's last two games before the break.

I don't mean to be critical of the Celtics, but ever since the Celtics played Charlotte on Jan 9th, they've gone for a record of 10-6. While that's still good, its no where close to the progress they were making at the beginning of the season during their first 30 games. One can notice an obvious difference in the Celtics with Garnett's absence. That is, they aren't as good and quite beatable.

Jimmie Johnson Will Have A Front Row Seat In The 2008 Daytona 500

NASCAR is back. Ignoring Tony Stewart already, reigning NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson won his second Daytona 500 pole less than 24 hours after new Hendrick teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the checkered flag in the non-points Budweiser Shootout.

Pole Position

Jimmie Johnson may have won the pole for next Sunday's Daytona 500, but that doesn't exactly mean the defending Cup champ is on easy street. The last polesitter to win the Great American Race was Dale Jarrett in 2000.

Won Daytona 500 From Pole

Year	Driver
2000	Dale Jarrett
1999	Jeff Gordon
1987	Bill Elliott
1985	Bill Elliott
1984	Cale Yarborough
1980	Buddy Baker
1968	Cale Yarborough
1966	Richard Petty
1962	Fireball Roberts

Michael Waltrip, caught using what is basically steroids for cars last year, also had a great run Sunday, taking the outside pole.

Only the top two qualifiers locked in starting positions for next week's 50th running of the Daytona 500.

Asked if this makes him the favorite to win the 500, Johnson said, "We have to wait until we get out in the draft and see how these cars work. That's really a true test of these cars. We know we have the fastest single car."

Stephon Marbury Is Out For The Season...Not That Anyone Will Notice

Stephon Marbury is out for the season because of a knee injury that was more severe than doctors originally had thought.

Honestly now, how often has the overpaid Stephon Marbury been on the court to begin with? Has anyone actually noticed a difference between when he did and did not play?

If anything, this should be a blessing for the New York Knicks. Now, Isiah Thomas has one less player and problem to worry about.

What happened to Stephon Marbury? I remember a time when he used to be a great player. I might as well asked what happened to the New York Knicks? Why did they spiral so badly? They achieved a record for having the worst record through 50 games in franchise history....and that's one record they shouldn't be proud of.