Pirates Set Record for Sports Futility

The Pittsburgh Pirates are assured of a record-breaking 17th consecutive losing season with their 10th loss in 11 games in a 4-2 final against the Chicago Cubs on Monday.

Report: Alex Rodriguez Used Steroids In 2003

According to a report on SI.Com, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids back in 2003.

2003 was Alex Rodriguez's last season with the Texas Rangers, a year before he was traded to the New York Yankees.

So, A-Rod, the supposed "Savior of Baseball", the guy who was supposed to be the guy to pass Barry Bonds and become the all time homerun King, and now it is revealed that he also used steroids.

A-Rod's legacy, just like Bonds and Clemens, is now forever tarnished.


SI Reporter Roberts Recaps A-Rod Timeline


Scott Boras and Michael Young talk about the positive test.


Fernando Montes, former Director of Conditioning for the Texas Rangers, comments on Alex Rodriguez.


ESPN's Buster Olney talks about A-Rod's Positive Steroid Test.


T.J Quinn Reports that A-Rod Was Aware Of the Positive Test.

The Showdown Between Marc Ecko and the Hall Of Fame Is Over

Marc Ecko has donated Barry Bonds record breaking homerun ball, number 756, to the Hall Of Fame, with the asterisk.

Bonds donated the batting helmets he wore when he hit his 755th and 756th home runs.

Bonds finished the season with 762 home runs. The San Francisco Giants did not offer him a contract for this year, and he hasn't gotten an offer to play for another team.

Now fans will get to see number 756 in Cooperstown and get to make up their minds on Barry Bonds. Barry's most famous homerun ball will make it to Cooperstown, even if Barry himself won't.

New indictment against Home Run King Barry Bonds unsealed

SAN FRANCISCO(AP)—Federal prosecutors have filed a new indictment against Barry Bonds, charging the home run king with 14 counts of lying to a grand jury and one count of obstruction when he denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs.

Bonds originally was charged with four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice last Nov. 15, but U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ordered prosecutors on Feb. 29 to rework the indictment so that each charge alleged only one lie rather than lumping several alleged falsehoods into single counts.

The new indictment doesn’t add any new alleged falsehoods.

The case against Bonds is still built on whether he lied when he told the grand jury that his personal trainer Greg Anderson never supplied him with steroids and human growth hormone.

Prosecution: Barry Bonds Tested Positive In 2000

Home run champ Barry Bonds tested positive for steroids in November 2000, according to a court document filed Thurday by federal prosecutors in the perjury case against Bonds.

The legal filing says Bonds was asked about a document showing "Barry B" tested positive for anabolic steroids that November. Bonds denied that he was taking steroids at the time.

Federal prosecutors accuse Bonds of lying when he denied this and other that charges he used performance enhancers.

Bonds holds the single-season record for home runs, 73, set in 2001. He set the career mark last year with his 762th home run last year.

Barry Bonds Indicted on Perjury, Obstruction Charges

The Major League Home Run King Was Charged with lying to a federal grand jury.
Barry Bonds was indicted Thursday for perjury and obstruction of justice, charged with lying when he told a federal grand jury that he did not knowingly use performance-enhancing drugs.

The indictment unsealed Thursday against baseball's home-run king culminated a four-year investigation into steroid use by elite athletes.

If convicted on all five counts, baseball's home run king could go to prison for up to 30 years.

In August, the 43-year-old Bonds passed Hank Aaron to become baseball's career home run leader. Late in the season, the San Francisco Giants told the seven-time National League MVP they didn't want him back next year.

Bonds finished the year with 762 homers, seven more than Aaron, and is currently a free agent. In 2001, he set the season record with 73 home runs.

Bonds became the highest-profile figure caught up in the government investigation launched in 2002 with the raid of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO), the Burlingame-based supplements lab at the center of a steroids distribution ring.

In Other Baseball News...
Congratulations to Jake Peavy for winning the National League Cy Young Award. Congratulations to C.C. Sabathia for winning the American League Cy Young Award.

Barry Bonds to Boycott Hall Of Fame If Ball Is Marked With Asterisk

The last homerun of Barry Bonds career in a Giants Uniform, Number 762.

Barry Bonds would boycott Cooperstown if the Hall of Fame displays his record-breaking home run ball with an asterisk.

That includes skipping his potential induction ceremony.
"I won't go. I won't be part of it," Bonds said in an interview with MSNBC that aired Thursday night. "You can call me, but I won't be there."

The ball Bonds hit for home run No. 756 this season will be branded with an asterisk and sent to the Hall. Fashion designer Marc Ecko bought the ball in an online auction and set up a Web site for fans to vote on its fate. In late September, he announced fans voted to send the ball to Cooperstown with an asterisk.

Of course, the asterisk suggests Bonds' record is tainted by alleged steroid use. The slugger has denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs. Fans brought signs with asterisks to ballparks this season as he neared Hank Aaron's career home run mark.

Bonds has called Ecko "an idiot."

"I don't think you can put an asterisk in the game of baseball, and I don't think that the Hall of Fame can accept an asterisk," Bonds said. "You cannot give people the freedom, the right to alter history. You can't do it. There's no such thing as an asterisk in baseball."

The Greatest Slugger of the Steroids Era (who will not be in the Hall Of Fame anyway) is only trying to change the inevitable. Although I thought the ball should be without an asterisk, I think that the fans should get what they want.

Barry Bonds has decided to boycott the Hall Of Fame. The Hall Of Fame has decided to boycott Barry Bonds. Something's gotta give.

The Public Has Spoken on the Fate of Number 756

Fashion Designer Marc Ecko, with homerun ball #756.

The ball Barry Bonds hit for his record-breaking 756th home run will be branded with an asterisk and sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Fashion designer Marc Ecko, who bought the ball in an online auction, set up a Web site for fans to vote on the ball's fate, and Wednesday announced the decision to brand it won out over the other options — sending it to Cooperstown unblemished or launching it into space.
Ecko said he believed the vote to brand the ball showed people thought "this was shrouded in a chapter of baseball history that wasn't necessarily the clearest it could be."

Ecko, whom Bonds called "an idiot" last week, had the winning bid Sept. 15 in the online auction for the ball that Bonds hit Aug. 7 to break Hank Aaron's record of 755 home runs. The final selling price was $752,467, well above most predictions that assumed Bonds' status as a lightning rod for the steroids debate in baseball would depress the value.

Hall of Fame president Dale Petroskey said accepting the ball did not mean the Hall in Cooperstown, N.Y., endorses the viewpoint that Barry Bonds used drugs.

Hall of Fame officials and Ecko are discussing how to affix the asterisk on the ball. It's not yet known when the ball will go on display.

The Giants announced Friday they will part with Bonds after this season, the seven-time NL MVP's 15th in San Francisco and 22nd in the majors.

Although I thought the ball should have gone to the Hall Of Fame unblemished, I am glad that the majority got their way. The Hall of Fame gets what they wanted (the ball), and the fans get what they want (an asterisk on the ball.) It's a win-win situation for everyone except Barry Bonds, who will be looking for a new home this offseason.

Barry Bonds Will Not Come Back to San Francisco Next Season

The San Francisco Giants have gotten all they can out of Barry Bonds. After 15 seasons with the club, Barry Bonds has been told by the San Francisco Giants that he won't play for them in 2008.
The Giants held a news conference before Friday's game against the Cincinnati Reds to announce their decision. But Bonds had already issued his own statement earlier Friday on his personal Web site.

In his statement, Bonds said: "This journal will be one of my last entries as a San Francisco Giant. Yesterday, I was told by the Giants that they will not be bringing me back for the 2008 season."

Though Bonds will leave the city that he calls home, there remains a chance he will play elsewhere next season.

Barry Bonds has, in the words of the old Frank Sinatra tune, left his heart in San Francisco. I thought the only reason Barry was brought back to the Giants this season was because he was so close to breaking Hank Aaron's Home Run Record. Now he has done that, and the Giants feel they no longer have a reason to keep him. The only chance Barry has of playing again is if an American League Team like the Yankees or the Angels sign him as a Designated Hitter. Barry was already playing Designated Hitter for the Giants whenever they were in an American League Ballpark this season. Could Detroit and the Tigers be a possibility for Barry next season? Jim Leyland, Tigers Manager, was Barry's first manager in Pittsburgh. This is purely hypothetical, though.

What's the next step for Barry Bonds? His quest for the elusive World Series Pennant will continue with another team in 2008.

Fate of Barry Bonds' Number 756 to be decided Democratically

Barry Bonds broke the Major League's all time Home Run King on August 7, 2007. He broke the record against Mike Bacsik of the Washington Nationals.

Here's the FSN Bay Area Call with Duaine Kuiper and Mike Krukow.


Here's the ESPN Call with Dave O'Brien and Rick Sutcliffe.


The fate of Barry Bonds' record-breaking home run ball is now in the public's hands after its buyer announced Monday he was taking votes on whether to give the ball to the Hall of Fame, brand it with an asterisk or blast it into space.

Fashion designer Marc Ecko revealed himself as Saturday's winning bidder in the online auction for the ball that Bonds hit last month to break Hank Aaron's record of 755 home runs. The final selling price for No. 756 was $752,467, well above most predictions.

Ecko had not even taken possession of the ball before setting up a Web site that lets visitors vote on which of the three outcomes they think the ball most deserves. He plans to announce the final tally after voting ends Sept. 25.

I like this idea. I think it is genius. This lets all of the Barry Bonds fans and the anti-Bonds fans to have a say in how the ball should be treated. I personally think the ball should be in the Baseball Hall Of Fame without an asterisk branded on it, but that's just my opinion.

For those of you who have not voted yet, here's the web site:
http://www.vote756.com

So do your part. Get on the web site and Vote on the fate of Number 756!

Barry Bonds: The All Time Major League King Of Swing

Barry Bonds became the new All Time major League King of Swing on Tuesday Night, breaking Hank Aaron's record of 755 hommeruns. Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s storied record in the fifth inning, connecting on a 3-2 pitch from Washington’s Mike Bacsik. Three days earlier, Bonds tied the Hammer with a shot to left-center in San Diego.

Barry thanked everyone after he broke his record. The fans, his family, the Nationals, and his late Father Bobby. After that, a video message from Hank Aaron congratulating Barry played on the AT&T Park Videoboard congratulating Barry Bonds for breaking the record.

Barry has since added to that total, hitting homerun number 757 Wendesday and sending the ball into McCovey Cove in deep right field.

Barry has broken the record. There are still many questions surrounding the record and the man who broke the record. Barry is celebrated in San Francisco but hardly anywhere else.

Fans of Barry are glad he broke the record. People who don't think Barry did it the right way are sitting and wailting for someone (possibly Alex Rodriguez) to come along and Break Barry's Record.

Reguardless of your feelings about Barry and how he did it, he made people tune in to watch him break the record and he is causing people to come to wherever he goes in droves, so that they can say that they saw Barry Bonds, the man who broke the All Time Major League Home Run Record.

The Greatest Weekend In The History Of Baseball!

This past weekend was the greatest weekend in Baseball History. On Saturday, Alex Rodriguez finally hit his five hundreth homerun, becoming the youngest man ever to hit five hundred homeruns. Alex Rodriguez became the first man since the great Mickey Mantle hit his five hundreth homerun at Yankee Stadium.

Saturday Night, Barry Bonds hit his reord tying 755th homerun (above), tying him with Hank Aaron. I watched it on ESPN and the reaction by the fans to Barry tying the record in San Diego was just what I had expected it to be, with a mix of cheers and boos, but with more cheers than boos. Reguardless of your feelings about Barry and how he did it, he is making people tune in to watch him break the record and he is causing people to come to wherever he goes in droves, so that they can say that they saw Barry Bonds tie (and soon break) the All Time Home Run Record.

The Final Milestone of the week I also saw on ESPN. Tom Glavine, the longtime Pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets, got his three hundreth victory at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. Many people are saying that Glavine will be the last 300 Game winner, as "The Big Unit" Randy Johnson is currently stuck at 284 victories and may be stuck there, depending on how his back feels and if it can handle the load of pitching 16 more victories.

This was the Greatest Weekend in Baseball History and the Greatest Weekend in the History of Sports. Where else would you have seen three historic milestones in the same weekend?

Carlos Zambrano becomes the first NL Pitcher with 12 Wins

Carlos Zambrano can do no wrong for the Chicago Cubs lately.

Zambrano pitched five shutout innings to become the National League's first 12-game winner, Koyie Hill drove in a career-high five runs on a pair of doubles and the surging Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 12-1 on Wednesday.

Slugger Barry Bonds was held out of San Francisco's starting lineup for the third straight day to rest his sore legs, and it might not have mattered. Zambrano (12-7) allowed two hits and the Cubs gave him more than enough offense in their fifth win in six games since the All-Star break and 17th in 22 overall.

Matt Cain (3-11), the Giants' hard-luck right-hander, didn't allow a hit until Cliff Floyd's two-out single started Chicago's four-run fourth inning. Jacque Jones got Chicago on the board three batters later on a two-run single that glanced off first baseman Ryan Klesko's glove into shallow right field.

Hill followed Klesko with a two-run double and then doubled again in the fifth with a drive off the center-field wall to score three. Floyd also added an RBI double earlier in the five-run inning.

Zambrano improved to 7-2 in his nine starts since fighting with then-Cubs catcher Michael Barrett on June 1. He went only five innings, likely a precaution with such a big lead after he took a ball off his hand on Dave Roberts' leadoff groundout in the first.

Sean Gallagher pitched four innings of relief, allowing the Giants' only run in the ninth and picking up his first career save.

MLB All Star Game is Tonight!

Click on the video to see a promo for the MLB All Star Game.


The Major League Baseball All Star Game is Tonight. Here are the Starting Lineups for the teams tonight.

AMERICAN LEAGUE (Managed by Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland)
Order Team Pos. Player
1.Mariners CF Ichiro Suzuki
2.Yankees SS Derek Jeter
3. Red Sox 1B David Ortiz
4.Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez
5.Angels RF Vladimir Guerrerro
6.Tigers LF Magglio Ordonez
7.Tigers C Ivan Rodriguez
8.Tigers 2B Placido Polanco
9.Athletics P Dan Haren

AMERICAN LEAGUE RESERVES
Pos. Name Team
C Víctor Martínez Indians
C Jorge Posada Yankees
1B Justin Morneau Twins
2B Brian Roberts Orioles
3B Mike Lowell Red Sox
SS Carlos Guillén Tigers
SS Michael Young Rangers
OF Carl Crawford Devil Rays
OF Torii Hunter Twins
OF Manny Ramírez Red Sox
OF Alex Ríos Blue Jays
OF Grady Sizemore Indians


NATIONAL LEAGUE (Managed by St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony LaRussa)
Order Team Pos. Player
1. Mets SS Jose Reyes
2. Giants LF Barry Bonds
3. Mets CF Carlos Beltran
4. Reds RF Ken Griffey Jr.
5. Mets 3B David Wright
6. Brewers 1B Prince Fielder
7. Dodgers C Russell Martin
8. Phillies 2B Chase Utley
9. Padres P Jake Peavy

NATIONAL LEAGUE RESERVES
Pos. Name Team
C Brian McCann Braves
1B Derrek Lee Cubs
1B Albert Pujols Cardinals
1B Dmitri Young Nationals
2B Orlando Hudson Diamondbacks
2B Freddy Sanchez Pirates
3B Miguel Cabrera Marlins
SS J.J. Hardy Brewers
OF Matt Holliday Rockies
OF Carlos Lee Astros
OF Aaron Rowand Phillies
OF Alfonso Soriano Cubs

Oakland Athletics Ace Dan Haren has made Athletics fans forget all about Barry Zito, and he will be rewarded by becoming the Starting Pitcher for the American League.

San Diego Padres Ace Jake Peavy was bound to start an All Star Game. It was only a matter of time. Peavy is the ace of the veteran pitching staff in San Diego, and Peavy will be the Starting Pitcher for the National League.

The National League came close to beating the American League last year, only to watch Rangers SS Michael Young bring home the winning run for the American League. That's not going to happen this year. National League Wins.

The All Star Game is tonight on Fox.