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Tainted Canadian Doctor linked to more star athletes

The more I read about Dr. Anthony Galea and his ties to professional athletes the less I believe that this story will end well for all those even tangentially related to this physician.  After his arrest on Oct. 15th, Dr. Galea has been under intense scrutiny by law enforcement for his involvement with performance enhancing drugs (PED).

Dr. Galea is a Canadian family-practice trained physician that has re-branded himself as a sports medicine guru.  Dr. Galea openly discusses his personal use of human growth hormone and has been a physician for who’s who list of professional and Olympic athletes that have gone on to fail performance enhancing drug tests.  He has also admitted to traveling to the United States to perform medical procedures, which is illegal for a gentleman that is not licensed to practice medicine in the US.

Galea said the story of his case is being hyped up because some in the U.S. are resentful that a Canadian doctor is treating such high-profile athletes in Canada.

"There's reasons people put legs on it. Obama's trying to bring in a health care system like ours and the private sector is trying to say it's a lousy system. It doesn't look good if the icons of sports are coming up to a Canadian health care system," Galea said.
"They want a story and they got it," he said. "They already destroyed and embarrassed my children, embarrassed me." –Associated Press

None of his reasoning makes any sense.  Why would superstar athletes go to Canada to have legitimate medical procedures or drugs administered?  What legal drug or procedure do they have in Canada that cannot be found in virtually every major US city?  They have a legal drug, therapy or procedure in Canada that doesn’t exist in NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, LA, Houston or with Dr. Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama? Really?

Did the good doctor supply or administer PED’s to any individuals on the ever growing list of his professional or Olympic athlete patients?  I have no idea and fortunately in America you are supposed to be assumed innocent until proven guilty. 
But a word to the wise.

If you are a professional athlete and have had relationship with Dr. Galea and he goes down for this, you should be very, very afraid.  Physicians historically don’t man up and handle the weight.  They don’t do time well and quickly broker a deal to lessen their punishment.  Unfortunately, that deal invariably requires them to tell on you.  They may have been lousy and unethical doctors but they make great witnesses for the prosecution.

You’ve been warned. Again

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Everything is wide open after WEC 47

Who saw this coming? Seriously.

Neither of the marquee fights was particularly competitive.  Miguel Torres on the losing end of a lopsided affair?  Two stoppages in a row...with Torres being the fighter getting stopped both times?  I know Joe Benavidez is a tough and talented kid and Urijah Faber is his head cheerleader but...Damn! 

Brian Bowles shocks the world dethroning the unbeatable Miguel Torres then promptly gets his butt kicked by Dom Cruz...Whoa!!

Looks like 'Sac' town is on the come up.  Urijah Faber and Joe Benavidez both look like potential title holders...but if you're smart, don't listen to me! 

Poor Jens Pulver.  1-7 in his last 8 fights! He's not so 'evil' anymore. 

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March Madness is coming...can you feel it?

I know that many will consider it heresy but I believe that the NCAA basketball tourney is the best annual sporting event in the world for the fan. I must admit that I have very little exposure to what most of the world calls football (soccer) and the World Cup is not an annual event so I'll stand by March Madness.

65 teams get a trip to the big dance.  It doesn't matter the size of the school, where it's located, what they did last year, who their father is and how much he earns, who they know, the color of the jersey or the color of anything else for that matter.  If you're good enough you're in and have an equal opportunity for glory. 

Office pools (there still legal...right?), upsets, bracketology, Cinderellas, buzzer beaters, mascots that you've never heard of, water cooler experts, picking teams by the color of their jerseys, future NBA superstars and future church league phenoms...I love it all.

The only thing that truly matters is the content/quality of your team...And a little luck never hurts. 

Now that's my dream of a 'more perfect union'.

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James Toney gets a UFC contract...???



                              

The UFC (Dana White) talked about Kimbo Slice and his promoter like a dog then they signed him. The Iceman is on the web with a naked workout video.  And now James Toney, without a single professional MMA contest under his belt, has signed a UFC contract.
But the UFC is "not turning into a freak show"...Right.

Toney was a champion boxer known for his slick style, equally slick mouth and poor work habit.  Toney made a habit of showing up for weigh-ins looking like he trained at Tastee Kreme dough nuts. He began his pro boxing career as a 160 lb. middleweight and ate his way to a 5' 10" 237 lb. heavyweight.

Weight gain was not James Toney's only issue during his championship pro boxing career.  He also had more than one suspension for anabolic steroid (PED) use. 

Now at 41 years young apparently it is time to give MMA a try and in the UFC no less.

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Why would anyone try to resurrect Pro Elite XC?

I continue to read articles about the rebirth of ProElite XC as an MMA promotional company.  All that I can say is Why?

It's not like the world needs another MMA promoter; believe me there are plenty...remember Affliction?

Strikeforce purchased away virtually all of ProElite's fighter contracts and their video library.  What's left? The name?  How valuable can that be going forward?

Fortunately, in America a person is free to lose as much money as their bank account and ability to get credit will allow.

Thank goodness for that! 

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I thought the Olympics were supposed to be about the joy of competition?

I'm not a huge fan of the Winter Olympics.  Maybe growing up in Houston had something to do with my lack of appreciation of the intricacies and nuances of curling.  But I did learn to ski when I was 30 yo and truly love it.

My brother organized ski trips every year for a group of guys and we had so much fun.  We all looked forward to those yearly trips with great anticipation.  I don't get to ski as much as I would like anymore and my brother now has a wife and 2 small children; so the yearly boy's ski trips are a thing of the past.

In a way, I think that is what the Winter Olympics is missing...love of the game.  The only thing that seems to matter is the medal count. My country beat your country.  The Russians were denied!  The Canadians got beat on their own ice!  The Koreans fell and 'We' took their medals!  

Unfortunately, it really isn't about the thrill of the games or the passion of doing one's best for the world to see.  It isn't even about the best of amateur athletics, camaraderie or sportsmanship.

I loved those ski trips with my little brother; it wasn't the location, quality of the powder or who got down the fastest.  It was 2 brothers from Houston enjoying life, together.

Maybe that's what the winter games are missing.



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Frank Mir should be punished for his comments

Frank Mir is definitely a talented fighter and not a bad TV commentator but that doesn't give him a pass when it comes to his choice of words.

Frank stated (WXDX-FM radio interview) that he hopes current UFC HW-champ Brock Lesnar will be "the first person that dies due to octagon-related injuries."

All hell broke loose. Then, he apologized. Dana White made excuses for him...and that's that.

Poor response.

As a TV commentator, Frank should loose his gig permanently as a WEC co-host.

As a fighter, well I think Brock Lesnar should be given a chance to address that in the octagon.

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Tony Kornheiser's remarks lacked civility.


                              

Tony Kornheiser has always struck me as that nerdy kid that by dumb luck, one time in his life made a funny comment that made everyone laugh and now he can't stop trying to regain that fleeting glory.  He tries to be cool, funny, hip or something and he's not...never was...never will be.

So here's his latest attempt:

"Hannah Storm in a horrifying, horrifying outfit today," Kornheiser said. "She’s got on red go-go boots and a catholic school plaid skirt … way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now.

"She’s got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body … I know she’s very good, and I’m not supposed to be critical of ESPN people, so I won’t … but Hannah Storm … come on now! Stop! What are you doing?"

Stop Tony!!  What are you doing?!? Wrecking your career is the answer.

ESPN promptly suspended the PTI co-host 2 weeks for his foolish comments.

Does Hannah Storm wear provocative clothing? Yup. 

Is Kornheiser within his constitutional rights by offering his opinion? Yup.

Was it inappropriate? Yup.

Was it worth it?  You'd have to ask Mr. Funny Guy that one.

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UFC 110: Cain Velasqeuz is the real deal and the Axe Murderer isn't finished yet

UFC 110 may not have had any championship fights or current superstars but it was very well received in Sydney, Australia and it had interesting match-ups.  All in all, I got my money's worth.

What did I learn?

At 185 lbs. Wandy Silva is still relevant. 

Michael Bisping is talented but...
 
The Aussie George Sotiropoulos is a beast on the ground.  His BJJ is nice.

Ryan Bader is one tough individual but I hope that his BJJ is as good as his striking and his wrestling because he's moving into the 205 lb. deep water now.

Cain Velásquez is something serious...just ask Big Nog.  Before last night, I thought Cain was a bit over- hyped but I stand corrected.  He made a legend look old and slow...point blank...period.

The Australians are respectful and knowledgeable fight fans.  Much respect!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!!!  

 

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Danica Patrick is a P-I-M-P


                                     

I'm not much of a racing fan, though I do think Formula-1 is cool.  It is as amazing and sexy as it comes but NASCAR not so much.                         

I'm not a NASCAR fan but I certainly respect their business.

Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart are NASCAR royalty...even I know that.  But currently the biggest thing in racing is a driver with NO real stock car experience and only 1 win (yup you read it right) in their 5-year professional experience.  The only victory came in Indy car in 2008.

Danica Patrick has left open wheel racing for the potential pay day of the good ol' boy circuit and all left hand turns.  She has chosen to capitalize on her racing ability, the marketing potential of sexuality and gender. 

She hasn't won a thing on a NASCAR track or anywhere else for the most part but she is getting paid like the big boys.  In the streets, it's known as 'pimping the game' and I'm not mad at her; no more so than I'm upset with Kimbo Slice.

The business of sports monetizes the athletes (talent) and if the talent is smart they will figure out how to return the favor.

Some people will read this article and conclude that I am being misogynistic and/or critical of Danica but quite to the contrary.  If NASCAR nation is gullible enough to fill the coffers of an unproven driver just because of sexuality and gender...shame on them and good for her. 

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