After Bonds, will baseball ever be the same?

JUST WHEN I thought it was about time to haul out the old snowboard or lace up the size 12 skates, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston decided to hit a double into deep centre field.
While the entire world has been focused on the TV screen in the past few days as to the horror in Mumbei (formerly Bombay) and also the collapse of the almighty dollar and sense, Judge Illston gave some relief by ordering the release of grand jury testimony concerning steroids in the grand ol’ game – baseball.
What she did was give every baseball fanatic a chance to argue concerning Barry (I want to make that ‘clear’) Bonds and all the others in other sports such as football and track and field and their involvement with the latest so-called “junk.”
Of course, the lifting of the restrictions on the BALCO testimony should mean Bonds will testify freely in March 2009 when he goes to trial.
Pro sports has taken an awful licking ever since 2003 when it was revealed that baseball (and football among others) was knee deep in the mire of performance-enhancing drugs.
During the past three years, ‘roids has been a frequent topic and for this scribbler it’s one I have frequently called the “the pig sty of life.”
***
It's a sordid underbelly that sometimes deals with shady lawyers and sports agents as well as not-so-gullible athletes, who often break down the legal boundaries while clinging to "I know nothing" defence.In recent times, two seasoned NFL writers -- Jason Cole and Charles Robinson -- delved into the possibility of New Orleans Saints' running back Reggie Bush taking cash and gifts while he was playing at USC. Definitely a no-no, if true.
However, while a U.S. federal investigation has not revealed all the facts and figures to the general public to date, it's a serious charge put forward by the Yahoo! Sports investigative team.But it's not surprising to learn about illegal activities in sports.
Take for instance, the high-profile BALCO case, which has wrapped its deplorable arms around the likes of baseball superstar Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees star Jason Giambi, sprinter Tim Montgomery and others. While Bonds is still being investigated concerning taking steroids, five defendants, including BALCO founder Victor Conte, have pleaded guilty to illegal drug distribution, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Not only has The Chronicle reported on it, but two of their reporters, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, were ruled in September, 2006 to be in contempt of court for "refusing to testify to a grand jury investigating leaked transcripts in the (steroid distribution) case," involving BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative).U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White sentenced the reporters to 18 months behind bars and docked their newspaper $1,000-a-day.
The pair, meanwhile, are free with the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Frisco hearing the case in March (2007).
While this reporter has detailed the "top cheaters" as well as the "dirtiest players" in a July, 2006 column, it's time to put forward an annual list of sports scandals from a wide range of sources.Remember, this is my list, but you might have a different order:
* 1. The BALCO scandal. That case is on-going, but its repercussions will, undoubtedly, change the face of baseball and other sports, for it involves stars, such as Bonds.
* 2. Canada's Ben Johnson. It was a crushing blow to the sprinter and the entire nation when he was found to have used a banned substance during the 100 metres at the 1988 Seoul, South Korea Olympics. It left Johnson's life in disarray.
* 3. Tonya Harding. It was a whack attack heard around the world when figure skater Harding "hired" some goons to attack fellow competitor Nancy Kerrigan's knees in 1994. Since then Harding has been lost in an avalanche of bad publicity.
* 4. Pete Rose. An on-going drama, which still haunts baseball. The one-time superstar with the Cincinnati Reds was certain to gain Hall of Fame status, but he was banned from the game by former Major League Commissioner A. Bart Giamatti for his betting misdeeds. Rose is still denied access to Cooperstown, but, supposedly, thrives on appearances at baseball-card shows.
* 5. Mike Danton. A one-time player with the NHL's St. Louis Blues remains behind bars for his involvement in a murder-for-hire plot.
* 6. Mike Tyson. A walking-talking disaster appears ready to fall -- once again. The former, bruising heavyweight champion of the world is now cavorting with the unsavoury characters from the Las Vegas Strip.
* 7. O.J. Simpson. The former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL superstar with the Buffalo Bills, who was cleared of a double murder, has stooped to a new low with his latest book project. Oh, what a tangled web, O.J.
Of course, there are dozens of other scandals and the list could include the Kobe Bryant sex assault case; the Sammy Sosa cork bat case along with a bevy of college basketball points-shaving incidents.
One which we haven't mention is the gambling case, involving former Philadelphia Flyers' standout-turned-Phoenix Coyotes' assistant, Rick Tocchet. It probably deserves an entire page in the future.
P.S. Tocchet did “serve” his penance and is now the new interim coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, replacing Barry Melrose, who was fired Nov. 14.
At the very outset of this column, I mentioned Judge Illston, who hit a “double” in unsealing the grand jury testimony and all those so-called “hot” documents.
However, she could have hit one out of the park by allowing reporters access as well.
While all the legal types will get a chance to peer into the “secrets” chambers, the Ol’ Columnist will just have to wait until March when Bonds is expected to answer “the charges of making false statements and obstruction of justice, etc., etc.”

Then all those bright hopes turned grey

Tragedy knows no boundaries.
Bill Stevenson, David Boone, York Hentschel and Dan Kepley were four “stars” from the Edmonton Eskimos’ dynasty of the late 1970s and early ‘80s.
Three of them – happy-go-lucky Stevenson, pleasant and mannerly Boone and non-talkative and introspective Hentschel – died tragic deaths while extremely aggressive Kepley barely survived alcohol and pain killers and jailed twice for impaired driving.
Following Grey Cup Sunday featuring the Calgary Stampeders and the Montreal Alouettes will be the fifth estate’s Head Games on CBC with host Bob McKeown. It was first seen on Wednesday night.
Broadcaster McKeown has a unique perspective on the subject, for he was an all-star centre with the Ottawa Rough Riders, which won the Grey Cup in 1973.
During the period (1978-1986) I lived in Edmonton, I took part in its “wide-open” atmosphere, but didn’t realize the dramatic downturn it would have on these four “stars.”

***
Bill Stevenson was the strongest man I have ever met. And it's fortunate for the world that accompanying that brute strength was a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon.

He was one of those characters from the "unforgettable" category that so seldom crosses one's path.

Every once in a while over the past 25 years or so, I have looked at a photograph of Stevenson as he manhandled heavy iron in his "newly-opened" Edmonton fitness centre.

And at that time he was also giving sage advice to another "incredible bulk," who was planning to work out before re-entering the carnival wrestling ring as a villain (The Viking) in a flick called "Running Brave."

But besides Stevenson's photo there was also a column, which I wrote for the Edmonton Sun in 1981, and it started this way:

"The Marquis de Sade would feel right at home. Long John Silver would look longingly at the racks. Captain Bluebeard would admire the bars, for there are more in this place than on New Orleans' Bourbon Street or Sing Sing.

No, we're not talking about the latest in torture rooms, but Little Bill Stevenson's house of repute, also known as the Edmonton fitness centre.

You know Stevenson? He's the guy with the time zones. The one who's laughter has been known to shatter champagne glasses ala Ella Fitzgerald. He's also been known to shatter a few beer glasses as well.Bill Stevenson is a free spirit. He's one who knows how to work hard. This Eskimo -- football variety -- also is one who doesn't take himself too seriously. In his company, the Mona Lisa might crack a smile (to use a line from the super writer Jim Murray).

Stevenson and his friends have their grand opening today and if you notice him huffing and puffing it's because he's still moving in the furniture and machines into the centre, which undoubtedly will be in a class by itself.

This is the elite of sweat centres, one which comes equipped with hydragym cylinders, Nautilus equipment, a racquetball court, swimming pool, whirlpools and saunas and the major selling feature is that it is “co-educational."

After a stellar career at Drake University, Stevenson was drafted by the NFL Miami Dolphins, but chose to join the Memphis Southmen of the World Football League for the 1974 and 1975 seasons. Then he came home -- to Edmonton -- and became a mainstay with the Eskimos for 14 seasons from 1975 to 1988.

He first proved to be a tower of strength on the vaunted Alberta Crude defensive line with Dave Fennell, Ron Estay and the late David Boone, and then he shifted to protecting his old quarterback Tom Wilkinson on the offensive line.

During his tenure in the CFL, he and the Eskimos claimed seven Grey Cups.

He, seemingly, would be around forever with his love for life and his smile as wide as the Grand Canyon.

However, earlier this week (March, 2007), Bill Stevenson, after apparently going outside for a smoke, fell down some stairs at his mother's home and was taken to Edmonton's Misericordia Hospital where he died at the young age of 55.

However, the fifth estate pointed out that Stevenson, after his playing career was over, fell on hard times, (bankruptcy and divorce) and years of alcohol abuse and destitution. He also suffered from years of “unreported head injuries.”

***

David Boone was an All-Star CFL defensive end with Edmonton, who had played with the Minnesota Vikings, B.C. Lions, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts. He had suffered years of depression from “unreported head injuries.” The TV program suggested Boone had committed suicide in March, 2005.

***

York Hentschel, from Bentley, Alberta and Drake U., was a defensive end with Edmonton’s “Alberta Crude. “ He would finish up his pro career in 1981 with Hamilton and Winnipeg.
He died in March 2006 of organ failure after suffering years of alcoholism, drug abuse and depression and “unreported head injuries.” He was only 52.

***

Dan Kepley, Edmonton’s ferocious middle linebacker, retired in 1984 and tried to ease the emotional and physical pain with alcohol. After being jailed for impaired driving, Kepley has certainly changed and has been living a booze-free life. He’s now an assistant coach with the Eskimos.