Apparently, the issue of steroids and human growth hormones in the game of baseball is not over. In a recent court hearing Roger Clemens, aka “The rocket”, a former Major League Baseball player, could potentially drag more baseball stars into the courtroom. The legal battle between Brian McNamee and Roger Clemens rages on after Clemens took the stand, denying the use of human growth hormones or HGH. Clemens denied conversations he had with Andy Pettitte regarding his supposed use of the hormone.

Three of the most loved Yankees of the past two decades, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte, are now potential witnesses to this on-going investigation. This all started because of a defamation suit filed by The Rocket against which the attorneys of McNamee responded. In that 60-page brief, the testimony of Clemens stood out, causing the case to turn to other directions.

Reports indicate that the trio can be called to the stand to testify regarding the reported use of HGH by Clemens. In his court hearing Clemens strongly denies having used the hormone and the supposed multiple conversations he had a couple of years back with Pettitte. He claims that the testimonies that his friend Andy gave were inaccurate saying that Andy must have just misheard what he was saying about HGH. Because of this, other names in the industry that may have been privy to the supposed conversations have come out.

The court brief now indicates that McNamee’s lawyers can call these other witnesses to the stand, including one of Clemens’ rumored mistresses, and Sen. George Mitchell.

This case had once been dismissed by a lower court. However, due to some unexpected statements made by Clemens, it may take a turn for the worse. Under oath, Clemens calls Andy a very dear friend, but if that were true he should just end this lawsuit. As a friend he owes the trio, who has helped him achieve what most baseball players want –a World Series ring (he now has two), for which he can show gratitude by simply not letting this go any further.

Yes it is a fact that Pettitte cheated as well. But that is long over and he did admit to it. He is still not done paying the debt he owes his fans and his reputation is now ruined. Besides, Andy is no hall-of-famer.

Clemens should just drop this lawsuit and let everyone move on with their lives. It’s not like it’s going to change anything with what he has or hasn’t done. The world of Major League Baseball has moved on without him and so have the Yankees. There is no need to drag the sport back into a steroid scandal along with other players and teams who are now minding their own business. It’s all up to Clemens now whether or not to pursue his lawsuit and save his friend the time and effort in court. It’s the last inning; the bases are loaded and the ball is once again in his hands. It’s up to him to let the ball hit or go for a walk.

After nearly a decade of being out of the game and admitting to steroid use and facing so many obstacles, slugger Mark McGwire did not expect a welcome like this in the field. There were numerous fans who lined the stands; fans who wore red clothes, carried posters and balls to commemorate the “Big Mac’s” 70-homer season. There were a lot of “thank you’s” heard after McGwire signed for his admirers for several minutes.

McGwire rejoins the Cardinals not as a player but as the new batting coach. Although McGwire had many questions to answer like the accusations of his younger brother Jay McGwire, this great athlete seems to be at peace, appearing to have moved on and ready to face what’s ahead.

McGwire, back in the uniform after the long pause in his career, is now at it teaching the young players in batting cages. A lot would describe his presence in the team as more of a welcome event rather than another nuisance. There is a lot he can offer and teach, especially with his long experience in the game.

“Big Mac” says that this country is the best in giving people second chances. He continues, saying that he has to live with the fact of what he did. He is sorry for it but now he’s ready to move on. He just wishes that everyone else is too. Many Cardinal players are impressed with McGwire’s work ethic. Second baseman Skip Schumaker says that there are times that McGwire beats them to the field, and with his hands-on coaching, leaves them with his mark. He goes on to say that he (McGwire) does not just help the veterans with their work but also helps guys with the 85 on their backs.

McGwire admits that he has always dreamt of teaching but was happy and at ease spending much of his time with his family after retiring last 2001. His return to baseball, now as a batting coach, all started with a text message. Manager Tony La Russa one Sunday night just sent him a message, asking if he would consider being a hitting coach. Now he is back and enjoying working with the young players. He understands that hitting is a process and cannot simply be achieved overnight. He has had his share of ups and downs, albeit more of the downs, when it comes to baseball. He will be able to impart a lot of his experiences especially as a home run record breaker to the young athletes and help them get through the tough times in their own careers.

Although McGwire was very apologetic and emotional when he confessed to using steroid on and off for almost a decade to help him with his injuries, he did not admit that the drugs gave him the edge to hit more homers. On former players who were not as forgiving as others, all he could say was that he can’t control how other people think.

McGwire’s support now continues to grow especially within the Cardinals’ clubhouse. Schumaker says that from a player’s point of view, McGwire did what needed to be done, answering every question and moving on. For him, McGwire was the best hitting coach he’s ever had and it seems many would agree by the end of the year.

When people talk about baseball what usually comes to mind is the hard hitting home runs. Many would like to see the ball get hit and fly out the field. This is why a lot of teams want to get hard hitters; and players go through great lengths just to be able to match the celebrated hard hitters of the game. This is one of the reasons why many players have been tempted to resort to illegal means to make their games better, like using steroids and human growth hormones.

Because of the rampant use of steroids and human growth hormones (HGH), the league have implemented steroid testing for the baseball players. This testing is now reshaping baseball back to what it used to be and not just about the ability to slug the ball out the field. With steroid testing being implemented, not only does the user get punished, it has also allowed the other members to become more of team players. Small ball is in the comeback; and for the Detroit Tigers, it’s none too soon.

Manager Jim Leyland recalls how he used to be criticized for bunting at the start of the first inning. He mentions that he always had a great enjoyment for it and they used to make it work for awhile. Now it’s all about that three-runner-homer. If Manager Leyland was a bit uncomfortable mentioning why they actually did the bunting, catcher Gerald Laird hits a homerun with his explanation.

Laird, the Major League Baseball catcher for the Detroit Tigers, says that there is a lot more movement in terms of running in the games today. He further mentions that he thinks it has always been part of the game – a part that was lost when people started using steroids and HGH.

Laird goes on to say that with testing in place, the speed part of the whole game is sure to make a comeback, not just the hitting of home runs. No one denies the lure of home runs but these days, many teams are building their roster with speed in mind. Examples of such effort can be clearly seen through the teams of Tampa, the Angels with (Chone) Figgins and Ichiro (Suzuki) over in Seattle, the White Sox and the Twins. There is a definite comeback for the smaller part of the baseball game.

You can say that the speed part of the game never really disappeared. It just so happened that there was not much spotlight put on it. In the past, small ball does come up in training sessions. Still, once the season starts, all that would be forgotten. It seems that today, that has changed.

Laird continues, saying that managers now want more action and movement in the game. You see a lot of running in situations, more action from players especially when faced with a hardcore pitcher, and trying to get players to lose their position to get an opening in order to have things moving. There is much more team work and reliance on your team mates now than in the last decade.

With the whole steroid testing in place, more changes will surely surface in this generation of ball players. You will not just get fun and excitement from home runner hits but also from small ball where defense plays a huge part.

The New Jersey senate has unanimously approved the steroid bill sponsored by Senator Richard Codey. Voting 38-0, the bill is now headed to the assembly and hopefully signed into law by Governor Christie. New Jersey is one of the few states that continuously implement an anti-steroid program. Illinois is also determined to prevent athletes in taking any performance enhancer. However, the recent development in Texas may put the steroid program in peril due to lack of funds. There is a proposal to reduce or totally remove the budget allocated for steroid testing and shift it to other steroid prevention activities.

In an interview, Senator Codey said that it is unfortunate that some of the kids look for shortcuts in their training and follow the bad examples set by a few professional athletes by turning to steroids to enhance their game. “We need to give our student-athletes the resources and support they need to just say no to steroids and performance-enhancing supplements which could lead to serious medical complications later in life,” said Codey.

The bill does not only cover for steroid testing but at the same time steroid education and other programs that will involve coaches. The focus is on educating the athletes on steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. The program will also tackle health nutrition and proper exercise for athletes to be more fit in the natural way.

Under the bill, the state Department of Education and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association will be required to randomly test athletes taking part in championship tournaments. School officials have different opinions on the steroid program. Some are worried that it may incite fear on the athletes and the concern about their privacy but many are still supporting the program. Last season, the NJSIAA conducted 500 tests on athletes but have not found any student athlete positive for steroids. Although the test is a little bit expensive, they still believe that it is an effective deterrent for student athletes to take steroids.

The comprehensive steroid program will also give additional responsibilities to the State education officials. They will be required to include information about student steroid abuse on its Web site and include steroid awareness in academic standards. On the other hand, the NJSIAA will be given the task of conducting annual workshops for high school coaches for them to be well informed on the latest trend and information on steroids and other performance enhancing substances.

The bill recognizes the important role of coaches by helping the athlete avoid drugs. This can be done by developing and implementing plans that will educate student athletes about the dangers of using steroids. They will help students to promote positive body image and healthy eating. “Coaches can and should play an important part in teaching their athletes how to compete in their sport in a healthy and safe way. That means we have more than just an obligation to teach our kids the fundamentals of the game,” said the Senator.

In addition to NJSIAA’s task, they have to intensify public information dissemination which may include advertisements discouraging steroid and supplement use in any printed material distributed at school sports competitions. The 3rd week of September will be designated as “Steroid Awareness Week” and the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse would have to produce an anti-steroid poster which will be distributed in all schools.

Australian sporting authorities are also coping up with the advanced use of performance enhancing drugs in sports. Testing for anabolic steroids has been in place for many years now but it was only last week where the AFL implemented the testing for human growth hormone or HGh. They also include blood testing for third generation red blood cell-producing EPO. This effort was applauded by the Australian Anti-Doping Agency. The agency is in charged of testing athletes during competitions and anytime of the year and conducts urine and blood testing of athletes. The chief executive of ASADA Richard Ings is also optimistic that the league will be able to fund the blood testing for HGH.

On the other hand, NRL is not yet on the same track with AFL. They are still deliberating on the issue because of several factors to be considered in implementing such tests. The league’s NRL spokesman John Brady said that there are plenty of people who say that HGH is not a threat for the rugby league. “Some of our advice is that, by nature of what it does, HGH is going to suit an athlete in AFL more than league because it’s more aerobic. There are others who say it can’t be taken without steroids and if you take it with steroids you’ll test positive anyway,” said Brady.

What may cause NRL to be hesitant in adopting a similar program with AFL is the cost of HGH test. He said that a test for HGH will cost $600 each. Brady said that the league didn’t want to spend a lot on low-risk testing at the expense of higher-risk areas. The ASADA has the same comment. “When AFL says they’ve agreed to testing for these substances, it means that they’ve agreed to fund it. What kind of tests the rugby league chooses to fund or not is entirely up to them. It’s a difficult drug to test for,” said ASADA chief.

Another reason why testing for HGH may not give a reliable result is it occurs naturally in the body. Tony O’Sullivan, an endocrinologist, associate professor from the University of NSW’s St George Clinical School, said that it could be used as an alibi by athletes taking HGH supplements. “The other big problem is that growth hormone is released in a pulsatile way, meaning it bounces up and down in your system. Even if you find a higher level, you don’t know if the person’s just had a pulse of it released naturally by their system or whether they’ve had an injection of it. It’s a bit like EPO, which is also a natural hormone,” he said.

Experts also added that human growth hormone clears the body within a day or two so it would be very difficult for the anti-doping authorities to really catch the cheaters.

HGH is popular as an anti-ageing drug. It can only be purchased with a prescription just like anabolic steroids. However, HGH is widely available in black market. It is a drug which is common in gyms and even in pubs said Ryan Laos, a bodybuilder who adheres to natural bodybuilding. He criticized Australian sports leagues for not responding to the problem immediately. “It would be totally stupid to think that there aren’t people in elite sports who have been using hGH for many years to gain an advantage,” he said.

Laos also said that even if HGH costs higher than anabolic steroids, there are still many athletes using it. He said he knew some people using HGH that spent about 10 times as much as they would on anabolic steroids. “In other sports there might be people earning a lot of money and they can afford it and they can get away with it,” Laos said.

There are many benefits associated with the use of HGH. Some of which are improved brain function, strengthened tissue, skin rejuvenation, increased energy, brightened mood, muscle growth, improved libido, improved lung function, immune system support and improved production of individual muscle cells. Some athletes use HGH with anabolic steroids to achieve maximum benefits. However, there were also reports of side effects for taking too much HGH. An increase risk in getting heart problems, diabetes, acromegaly and many others are possible complications for taking HGH.

What’s in a name? Having the same last name in the world of sports and entertainment can be disastrous as this mix-up proves. Searching through Google for the name “LeBron James” is sure to bring overwhelming hits on the internet. Ironically, the search results are pointing to anything other than how he plays on the basketball court.

Le Bron James is an NBA star who has been idolized by millions. He currently also has a number of endorsement. James however, is currently on the sidelines due to an injury which has made him miss the last two games for Cleveland. Unbeknownst to him, despite his being off court, gossip and scandal are still running after him due to an alleged confession that he had or was using steroids while playing for Cleveland.

To set the record straight for all the fans out there who may be disappointed by the so-called confession of this great athlete, Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers did not or have never used steroids, PEDS or other pharmaceutical enhancers to get to where he is today.

So how did all this fiasco ever start and how did James Lebron get caught in the middle of it? The person who actually confessed to taking PEDS just so happened to have the same name as “LeBron” and is also an athlete playing for Cleveland - not basketball however, but baseball. The real person behind the story is actually Steve LeBron of the Cleveland Indians minor league baseball. This catcher has admitted to using the illegal substance and for some strange reason, people just took the words “Lebron”, “Cleveland” and “Steroids”. And you know how it is today with technology and the internet; nothing spreads anything faster than gossip and allegations through the World Wide Web.

This may be funny to some people, but this mix-up can be really damaging especially for an innocent athlete who is currently on the bench. And even if the name “LeBron” is quite popular in Cleveland, it is amazing how people can just make the assumption when one LeBron is a minor league baseball player while the other is a major league basketball star?

Lebron James has been on the basketball spotlight since he was in high school. He was hailed as “Mr. Basketball” three times which earned him the nickname “King James”. This sped up his career in the game being only 18 when he was drafted in the NBA as number one pick for the Cavaliers. From then on he has set many youngest player records in the Major League Basketball. On the other hand, Steve Lebron is a catcher for the Cleveland Indians who is still trying to make a name. Having just signed on last January, the catcher was subjected to a random drug test where he was positive for horse steroids. The player could be taking a common brand of anabolic steroids which is Winstrol. This will definitely be a big mark on his baseball career. After testing positive for the illegal use of steroids, he has been suspended for 50 ball games. Steve LeBron will most likely lose his contract especially with all the media and hype that this scandal has been getting.