In a bizarre attempt to avoid a 50-game drug suspension, San Francisco Giants star Melky Cabrera created a fictitious website and a nonexistent product designed to prove he inadvertently took the banned substance that caused a positive test under Major League Baseball’s drug program.
But instead of exonerating Cabrera of steroid use, the Internet stunt trapped him in a web of lies. Amid the information-gathering phase of his doping case last month, his cover story unraveled quickly, and what might have been a simple suspension has attracted further attention from federal investigators and MLB, the Daily News has learned.
Famed steroid cop Jeff Novitzky, a criminal investigative agent for the Food & Drug Administration), and agents from MLB’s Department of Investigation have begun looking into Cabrera’s associates and his entourage, including trainers, handlers and agents, as they search for the source of the synthetic testosterone that appeared in a sample of the All-Star Game MVP’s urine.
...As the website alibi imploded, so did Cabrera’s hopes of getting off and leading the Giants to the World Series. Once a candidate for the National League’s MVP award, Cabrera is now serving the 50-game suspension and has exposed his associates to scrutiny from Novitzky, who uncovered the BALCO doping ring and Kirk Radomski’s steroid distribution network, and other investigators.
According to Seth Levinson, the agents hired the Spanish-speaking Nunez to help them obtain and deal with their Dominican clients, including Cabrera. On Saturday, Levinson distanced himself and his brother from Nunez.
“Juan Nunez is NOT a salaried employee of ACES and does NOT receive the benefits that all ACES employees receive,” Levinson said. “Most importantly, any and all calls, texts and emails that he sends come from his own PERSONAL devices (BlackBerry).”
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As in John Edwards "I have no relationship with Reilly Edwards; that is simply not true" (then photos of the 2 of them emerge).
"I will come clean; I had a relationship with her, but that child is not mine" (until the DNA tests prove otherwise).
"It is time for me to come clean with the american public." Yeah, right.
Just so I understand, because the attempted fraud was against MLB, MLB should just be able to handle it as they see fit, and they see fit with a suspension. Is that the analysis here?
Yes, sadly that's a perfect summary of the New Age in a nutshell. And then of course you get up onto a stage and declare "I made a mistake", a meaningless bunch of psychobabble pablum, after your defense lawyer and a couple of P.R. people have spent a few hours with you training you in the art of how to appear appropriately contrite for the cameras.
Yeah, right. "Mistake" my behind. I'll bet that the poor Melkman is truly, deeply sincere and sorry and contrite over what he did and the idea of going right back and breaking the rules all over again would never even cross his mind for a moment.
Hey, it worked for Andy Pettitte - twice - so don't knock it.
Well, I was one of those people. Yes, I was duped. I always try to see the good in people, even when they have done something wrong. Obviously my prior sentiment towards Melky is withdrawn as it relates to this matter.
History's greatest monster.
Or the even worse "mistakes were made".
"Is it a crime to bet on sporting events?!?!"
It is time to come clean with the BBTF public.
I am not a samurai.
Well the fact of the matter is, that was a lie
There were some other things that I'd rather not recall
Y'all can blame it all on the alcohol
I am, however, a four-hundred-eighty-two-year-old Flemish composer.
Great. Now I'm wondering about Gef's bona fides...
Billy Jean is not my lover
She's just a girl who
says that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
Weeeellllll ... my name may not actually be gef. That's as far as I'll go.
And my name isn't Howie.
I don't even own a vest.
But ... but I named my oldest cat after you! I'm crushed -- & so is he!
(Actually, I named him after Howard Phillips Lovecraft. But still.)
Yes, but are you also ... a cat?
I'm another who believes as you, but I'm not going to withdraw my sentiment entirely. He still came clean and admitted it, regardless of the pressure, that is better than other guys who have 90%+ of the evidence against them and still try to deny it. Considering that MLB doesn't release any more information on the suspension except type of drug, it would have been easy for him to pull a 1. it was a one time thing 2. inadvertent usage defense 3. the courier set me up defense that so many others have done. The fact that he tried to defend himself unethically/immorally doesn't take away that he is manning up now.
If you are a hard core and consider roids to be something that the players should avoid, then the website is just another in a string of the original crime in my mind.
Edit: I am neither a card, or a fan....and if your definition of boy is includes an age based component, I more likely am not one of those either.
Yep that is the chilling part. I mean I know the govmint can do that, but it does seem to be crossing a line.
"Besides, it's a victimless crime. The only victim is Moe."
"The New Age"? What is this, 1980? I think it's more likely that people making these weasely public statements are doing it for legalistic reasons, not out of some sort of moral relativism.
There have always been people caught in compromising situations who think the rules don't apply to them. In the past they were encouraged to throw themselves on the mercy of others. Now they are encouraged to never admit complicity or responsibility for anything in public, no matter what they think privately. These are different legal strategies. I agree that the modern one is more destructive.
I don't think it was a witch hunt so much as he got tunnel vision on trying to nail Bonds for something there just wasn't enough evidence to prove in a court of law.
Kawaii!
I think so, but if the testosterone was illegally manufactured/acquired, Melky may have some other issues.
I didn't really see much substance to this allegation, it looks like a handler is taking the fall for it. But in the NFL it seems part of the reason for the draconian penalties against the Falcons was their stone-walling of the initial investigation, and if MLB feels Melky was doing that here they should definitely lengthen the suspension (if the CBA allows). You can't allow rules violators to attempt to thwart investigations without further risk, or you are giving them a free-roll, an incentive to attempt to risklessly thwart the original punishment.
It's actually really big in Canada. Though under Canadian rules snorkels are banned.
I am sorry, but it does. telling the truth after lying for a period, and then only 'fessing up when there is no other remotely credible course of action is not manning up.
I shall now console myself with some Mountain Dew and a cheesecake.
(Note: These “reports” come and go, often to be exposed as spectacularly inaccurate. The Daily News’ investigative team is perhaps the most reliable in the newspaper business.)
That Clinches it: No More Melky
If Melky had gotten the site up before he talked to Andrew Baggarly, would he have received a front-page apology?
BTW, the site actually is up now.
Since 1912, when I invented the internet and married Morgan Fairchild. And then I kissed her.
Sometimes the truth is out there and just isn't very interesting.
But for all these years you've happily allowed people to think that you are a bird named Crosby. Liar!
But the arrogance is real!
Personally, the poster I immediately thought of was God...
As for myself, I feel the need to set the truth free! I am actually not currently wearing any pants. My handle however, is truly tremendous.
Thank you, that means a lot. *sniff*
Names merely ballplayer portmanteau
(nor do I get gift baskets)
Sorry, not buying it. Every line eventually intersects the head of Kevin Youkilis.
Is there nothing we can believe in anymore?
To what extent? Like, wear pajama pants to bed like pants, or wear jeans in the summer like pants? I'm just trying to determine the appropriate reaction: terror or pandemonium.
The investigator was initially suspicious when the company owner was Vandalay Industries.
PS I am not Swoboda, nor am I free.
OK, OK, I admit it: I'm clutching at straws here even as my world collapses around me ...
Oh, and don't you like pants?
So what is it, veggiewad?
I am not latin, and I do not speak Spanish.
I am not male.
I hate pants.
Everything is a lie!
Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.
Are you Jimmy?....or that filthy mutt?
I mean, this isn't a "did he or didn't he?" thing anymore. This is a straight-up clownshoes conspiratorial attempt at deception here. And I have no reason not to believe it's true.
And for the record, PASTE is really, truly unimpressed by Joey Votto.
a few of us can do both--I can do and I can teach (and I suppose I can teach you to doo-doo)
Didn't RTFA, but put a dollar down for me on "the fabrication story is a lie".
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