Mr. Burns, I think we can trust the President of BALCO.

Mr. Burns, I think we can trust the President of BALCO.

Hey, who knows more about cheating? I know if I want to know about dictatoring, Castro's on the top of my list to ask.

And, did anyone else think it said that Braun died, at the first glance of the headline? That would have been a story.

And, did anyone else think it said that Braun died, at the first glance of the headline?

This guy (points to self).

And, did anyone else think it said that Braun died, at the first glance of the headline?

yeah, the way it was stacked in hot topics gave me the initial impression that Ryan Braun was found dead by Victor Conte.

“No, I was not surprised. In fact, three weeks before that, I was in Vietnam and I was interviewed by somebody from the New York Daily News. It was when the growth hormone testing was being introduced. And I don’t think growth hormone is effective as a performance enhancer. At that time, I basically said that what they’re doing is using fast-acting testosterone — creams, gels, orals, patches — and they clear so quickly, sometimes in a matter of hours. … They could conceivably, after a game, use testosterone to help with tissue repair and healing and recovery and by the time they’d show up at the park the next day, their PE ratio would be normal. I always knew there was this giant loophole that you could drive a Mack truck through

Sooo......you were surprised then? Or...?

yeah, the way it was stacked in hot topics gave me the initial impression that Ryan Braun was found dead by Victor Conte.

Or, found dead in the water with Victor Conte.

"Balco Founder Victor Conte, Ryan Braun Found Dead in Water"

Now that's really a headline for a slow news day.

Ryan Braun Could Have Had It All
Chose Death Instead

I'm still holding out hope for the STD angle. I would just find it entertaining if the world has gotten to the point it's better to cop to a STD than to steroids.

I would just find it entertaining if the world has gotten to the point it's better to cop to a STD than to steroids.

I honestly think that would be a good thing. The stigmatization of STDs is a bad thing IMHO. Not least, because it prevents people who are afflicted from getting proper treatment and advice.

Conte seems to have this insatiable need to be in the public eye somehow, even if the reason is his pathological behavior.

"Balco Founder Victor Conte, Ryan Braun Found Dead in Water"

Nomar could have saved them

8. Walt Davis Posted: December 19, 2011 at 05:33 PM (#4019619)
I'm still holding out hope for the STD angle. I would just find it entertaining if the world has gotten to the point it's better to cop to a STD than to steroids.

TMZ is saying Braun is going to use Herpes as an excuse.

guy (points to self).

Me too.

And, did anyone else think it said that Braun died, at the first glance of the headline? That would have been a story.

Yup. Momentarily startled.

Conte seems to have this insatiable need to be in the public eye somehow, even if the reason is his pathological behavior.

PEDs are a story that won't die, and he's arguably the foremost authority on their use (at least among people who aren't currently distributing/developing them and therefore unlikely to talk), so the media goes after him for quotes every time a story like this breaks. Sure, he's unsavory, but you have to interview shady characters to learn about about shady business.

Me too. I know we don't do this routinely, but can we put Dead in the Water in quotes in the headline, please?

OK, just got back from a Christmas lunch with my staff which included samplings of German half-steins, so there's the qualifier, but this read really funny...

TMZ is saying Braun is going to use Herpes as an excuse.

guy (points to self).

Me too.

Sorry RR, the sequence is really funny if you're kind of drunk...

And, did anyone else think it said that Braun died, at the first glance of the headline? That would have been a story.

Herpes medication is a hell of a drug.

Yes, both the death and the STD confusions tripped me up at first too.

So Albert Belle has herpes? Huh. I thought he didn't like people.

TMZ is saying Braun is going to use Herpes as an excuse.

The second coming of Sandy Koufax he ain't...

PEDs are a story that won't die, and he's arguably the foremost authority on their use (at least among people who aren't currently distributing/developing them and therefore unlikely to talk), so the media goes after him for quotes every time a story like this breaks. Sure, he's unsavory, but you have to interview shady characters to learn about about shady business.

I'm skeptical about his "fast acting" testosterone assertions, I'd like to see some scientific evidence first. If it exists, it's hard to imagine it can leave your body that quickly, and still have any real benefit, and why would players risk taking it given the onerous punishments for failed tests unless they could be convinced it was extremely beneficial. Secondly, if it was that useful, you'd think that Braun would take it in a way to avoid testing. By simply taking it before he goes to bed he buys at least 8 hours and probably 12 before they can test him (he simply doesn't have to answer the door or phone and say he was asleep). Instead it sounds like he would have been tested very quickly after application, if it was the cause of his testosterone levels.

Braun's problem still sounds like a false positive. A whacky measurement triggered by something he should have cleared with the league before taking. He was making too much money, had little to gain by using.

Sooo......you were surprised then? Or...?

My thought as well.

He was making too much money, had little to gain by using.

Money isn't the only motivator; he could have just wanted to help his team win. You can't buy a ring.*



*Unless your last name is Steinbrenner.

Braun should take his medicine and come back in June.

Nomar could have saved them

This is what I thought of too. Man, what a great thread that was. Too bad that the car rescue the other day didn't
resonate the same way.

The thing is, "dead in the water" means "motionless", and I don't think that's what the buffoonish Conte was getting at.