Sports Wagering In Delaware?

Well it is really no surprise since technically Delaware is one of the few states that actually legalizes sports wagering. Now Delaware wants to actually implement a sports wagering lottery type of contest that could help provide a small boost to the state's bottom line. Well in reality betting on sports like investing in the stock market is not a lost art to many people. And this does not simply apply to Americans either. For many, sports are a form of entertainment and so if you are not partaking as a fan, you find interest in a game by partaking as a wagerer. I do not see the really slippery slope problem with what Delaware wants to do because either way you look at it gambler are going to be gamblers. Whether it is legal or not does not mean it is not being done all over the place. Just look at the war on drugs all over the world which is tantamount to sports wagering. 

Nowadays, I think sports wagering is not as shady as it once was in due large part to the amount of money the key people are making in the current era. In addition, David Stern has taken a stance against gambling despite the fact his officials now are caught in a stereotype due to former referee Tim Donaghy's indictment for fixing games. Whether Donaghy was a rogue official or not, most sports bettors are gamblers and gamblers are people who bet on anything. Some can make a living off their luck and acument but most do not. There are way too many factors to take into account that every individual player, coach, official, team, or casino posting odds for games is on the up and up for every game played. But gambers do not care about that because they believe they have the ability to get a rush and win when they are laying down their money even when odds are stacked against them. And this is why Delaware would like to "legalize" a sports lottery in the state because gamblers are everywhere. And all it takes is a few wins or losses at the tables or on sports events for a recreational wagerer to become an addict. Either way, there are too many factors for modest gamblers to try and affect the outcome of a sporting event. It is no longer the 1900s and there is too much money involved for gamblers and their accumulated money to have any effect on the games. If anything, it is the large numbers of corporations and sponsors who do business with the owners and commissioner coupled with television that controls how these games are scheduled and run. Gambling is what it is and so why not legalize it instead of declaring it "illegal" when gambling is no longer synonymous with Las Vegas, Nevada.

World Baseball Tragic: What a BIG surprise, The WBC is about money

I have no problem with national gusto and pride. In actuality, it is a positive thing in such a cynical world to see people band together for a common cause or support something they find entertaining. This World Baseball Classic (second tournament 2006 and now 2009) displays the international flavor of baseball which is rich with talent outside of the United States. The United States is home to the most talented professional leagues in the team sports I appreciate(baseball, basketball, and football). Yet just because the leagues are in America does not abstain it from relying on foreign players to bolster their leagues, particularly in the MLB where talented South American players are sought after in their early teenage years by MLB scouts, agents, and personnel executives. Over the past few decades, while South America has remained the strongest venue for foreign talent, the far East has emerged as a rich talent pool particularly in the pitching department for MLB teams. The WBC illustrates the popularity of the sport in these nations, but it also shows the amount of pride these people have for their countries. They use baseball as a source of this pride when placed in the context of a 39 game 16 team tournament featuring the countries which best represent the sport of baseball. 

As a baseball enthusiast, the WBC is something I could not be less interested in. It is not about a lack of love or pride for America. I do not associate the sport of baseball with my love for the U.S.A., but I do acknowledge that I am lucky enough to have been born in this country where I had the opportunity to enchant myself with baseball, basketball, and football. I cannot say the same with absolute certainty if I were born outside of America. 

But I know why the WBC was created and national honor has nothing to do with it.  It also is no big secret either for any rational-minded human being. The notion of national pride was simply parlayed into a revenue opportunity for the MLB and Bud Selig. Now it will be played every four years after this 2009 tournament in a type of Olympic format. What other reason would instigate Selig to host a meaningless tournament during Spring Training, when MLB teams are getting ready for the regular season? And it is not just the United States, but basically every team has MLB talent on it, whether it be professionals at the major league level or in a franchise's minor league system. Spring Training has been extended to almost an extra two weeks this season because of the WBC, which I think all teams could care less about. Their priorities are to get ready for the regular season and I am sure they are crossing their fingers (as they do every day) that their respective players stay healthy and do not come up lame in any game much less some pointless international baseball tournament. Players are team investments and it makes no sense to put these guys earning millions of dollars for MLB teams in a pre-season tournament where injuries could threaten their opening day status. Team USA is already suffering losses including Dustin Pedroia, Chipper Jones, and Ryan Braun. Those are not run-of-the-mill names either but important pieces for each of the teams they are employed by. A general manger's worst nightmare is seeing a key piece of your team go down for an undetermined about of time. Maybe it would not be as bad if the injury occurred in an actual game that meant something in the season or the playoffs. But in the WBC in Spring Training?? Yes these guys could have gotten hurt playing in Spring Training games in the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues as well, but Spring Training games are not supposed purely about wins and losses. The WBC is about winning and the ballplayers are having to go out there and compete for a trophy that is an utter moot point in the baseball world. I really do not care if the U.S.A., Cuba, Japan, or Puerto Rico win the WBC. I hate to see ballplayers like Chipper Jones suffer injuries in games he should not be playing when the regular season has not even begun! 

Game 5 of the 1977 ALCS: Why Did The Royals Blow It Again?!?

The Kansas City Royals were not always the seasonal cellar dweller they have come to be recognized for most of the 1990s and 2000s within MLB circles. This was a franchise inaugurated in 1969 after the old Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland by Missouri pharmaceutical magnate Ewing Kauffman due to the demand for a new team in one the league's smallest sports markets. Despite all that, the Royals hit the ground running in terms of being competitive within their American League West division. But why does it seem like teams considered a mere afterthought due to their incapability to be consistently good struggle even when they have a few extended years of success. In the case of the Royals, their beginnings were not completely disastrous nor did they experience full fledged success in the early stages as well. What it is more likened to is a foreshadowed precipitous drop due to bad luck, bad decisions, and bad play on the diamond.

I think looking at the Royals in the 1970s, particularly under the guidance of longtime manager of Whitey Herzog, indicates how some franchises shoot themselves in the foot. The Royals are not a very old MLB franchise, but they seem to be a case of letting opportunities at success slip away more times than others. The Royals have sat on the cusp of greatness numerous times throughout their existence. They have one World Series (ironically in 1985 over the St. Louis Cardinals led by Whitey Herzog), but that is their high point despite the fact they had many chances to be more than a one-time-champion. Whitey Herzog was a manger known for relying on pitching, team speed, and defense to win ball games. This type of baseball did not rely on home runs to win a majority of ball games and played to the strengths of park with deep fences and artificial turf like Kauffman stadium. His managerial style and philosophy was dubbed "Whitey ball"and he succeeded with players such as Hal McRae, Amos Otis, Darrell Porter, Freddy Patek, and George Brett in the lineup. In addition, Herzog's philosophy was financially friendly to a small market team such as the Royals, who did not have a boat load of spending money for superstar type personnel on a consistent basis.

So that brings us to the 1977 ALCS in which the Royals were a game away from the World Series in the fifth and final game. Playing at Kauffman stadium and having one of their top lefties Paul Splittorff going against the great Ron Guidry. Guidry was starting on just two days rest and before a raucous crowd of 41,133 in Kansas City, the Royals seemed to have an edge on paper. In addition, the controversial 1977 Yankees had their manager Billy Martin not start Reggie Jackson in this pivotal game due to his struggles against Splittorff. Instead he went with the veteran outfielder Paul Blair in right field, who was a two time All Star and multiple Gold Glove winner, but he was not comparable to Reggie Jackson. So things seemed to line up well for the Royals and it did in the early innings. Guidry, who pitched a masterful complete game in Game 2 got knocked around early and lasted only 2 1/3 innings before being relieved by Mike Torrez. The Royals got to Guidry on 6 hits and 3 runs to jump out to a 3-1 lead. However, they would be shut down the rest of the way by Torrez who worked 5 1/3 innings and scattered 3 hits while striking out 4 batters. However, despite giving up 1 run in the top of the 3rd, Splittorff was dealing. He had pitched 8 innings in Game 1 to help Kansas City win 7-2 and looked just as strong in Game 5. 

But as the game went into the later innings, Herzog's decision was questionable at best. Remember, back in 1977 there were no days off in between games. The 1977 ALCS went from October 5 to October 9 without a day off. So while Herzog's bullpen was doing a decent job with the likes of Steve Mingori, Doug Bird, Mark Littell, and Marty Pattin, he may have gone to the well one too many times. Splittorff had not pitched since Game 1 (October 5) and his bullpen was used in Games 2 and 4. Back to back days for bullpen guys are tough because unlike starters they are not pacing themselves. Every pitch they throw is with maximum effort and velocity, thus it is sometimes hazardous to throw multiple relief arms in back to back days. However, Herzog was in the ALCS and being a game away from the World Series, the argument could be made desperate times call for desperate measures. Bird, Mingori, Littell, and Larry Gura probably told Herzog they were fine and wanted to be out there. But did Herzog really need to pull Splittorff after he gave up an 8th inning single to Willie Randolph. The answer: no. Splittorff was doing fine and had not been in a major jam all night. His pitch count was 102 (which was no huge matter back then and plus it was the playoffs!) and his confidence on the mound remained despite the lead off single. 

Instead, Herzog's decision begins the sealing of Kansas City's fate. He puts Doug Bird for Splittorff. Bird gives up a single to Lou Piniella and then Reggie Jackson pinch hits after Splittorff departs. Would Martin still have pinch hit Jackson if Splittorff was still throwing? Perhaps, but I am sure Herzog would not have minded the matchup since it was well known Jackson struggled against him. Facing Bird, Mr. October dumps a bloop single to score Randolph. Steve Mingori relieves Bird and gets out of the inning with the Royals clinging to a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the ninth, despite Mingori's success last inning, Herzog goes with Dennis Leonard. Now the 26 year old Leonard had just thrown a complete game gem two nights ago in Game 3 and had nothing left much like Guidry. Again, Herzog's choice backfires as Leonard puts the Royals in a jam with two runners on and does not record an out. Now Herzog  goes to the bullpen for Larry Gura who promptly gives up a single to Mickey Rivers which scores Paul Blair. Now things are falling apart and Mark Littell comes in to relieve Gura. Littell retires Randolph on a sac fly to score pinch hitter Roy White, who had walked against Leonard. The Yankees obtain the lead and a George Brett error on Lou Piniella's grounder scores Mickey Rivers to make it 5-3 New York. Sparky Lyle finishes off a dejected Royals team in the bottom half of the inning to send New York back to the World Series. It would be the second time in a row the Yankees defeated the Royals in the ALCS and the next year would make it three years in a row. 

So let's recap: 5 pitching changes in 2 innings, 4 runs in 2 innings, 1 error, 1 walk, and 4 hits. Seems to me Splittorff's line of 7 innings, 6 hits, 2 earned runs (even though the 1 run in the 8th was not really his and they should change that rule of inherited runners by the way), and 2 strikeouts was not looking so bad. There are countless what ifs in baseball history and this is just one of them. But this one sticks out to me because a small market team had a chance to beat the New York Yankees three consecutive years in the ALCS and could not get it done. Teams like the Royals do not know how many opportunities they are going to get to be in a position to win a World Series simply because of their financial challenge to compete with richer clubs. But in 1977 if Whitey Herzog stayed in the dugout in the 8th inning and let Paul Splittorff continue to pitch, maybe there would have been a different ending for one seasons at least!

NBA All Star Scene: Officially "Played" Out

The 58th annual NBA All Star Game was played last weekend, but in my opinion the game and entire weekend itself is played out. First off, this game was particularly one of the more mundane exhibitions played in the last decade with selfishness and volume shooting from guards taking center stage. The entire weekend supposedly brought $35 million into the local Phoenix economy, and while the media continues to remind viewers of the "financial crisis" we currently live in, I am reminded commissioner Stern uses All Star Weekend as a revenue generator not only for the host city but for the NBA too. I guess hosting All Star Weekend as the mid point celebration of the season is no longer important because it is now held in the second week of February. Essentially, that is over the 50 games played mark for NBA teams, well over the 41 of a 82 game regular season. 

These annual repetitive competitions, where corporate tickets go for thousands and thousands of dollars a seat will never disappear even though they really are of no use to viewers any longer. The NBA just keeps trying to re-invent the All Star break, hence the reason for incorporating a HORSE game between Kevin Durant, Joe Johnson, and O.J. Mayo. In an even more comical display, the game of HORSE was not even played  because the company sponsor GEICO was replaced instead. Then there is the Rookie-Sophomore competition that is always a track meet that no one really pines to see. If you happened to catch the great All Star Saturday night, I don't think any of the point guards involved (Derrick Rose, Tony Parker, Devin Harris, and Maurice Williams) were completely engaged (to put it lightly) while going through obstacle courses and making passes through circular hoops in a race against time. In other words, none of these guys wanted to be there and I don't blame them. Intelligently, each carefully coasted through the thing instead of going all out and sustaining a freak injury in a meaningless event. Then the 3 point and Slam Dunk competitions are what they are every year. There will be flares for the dramatic at times, particularly in the Dunk Contest, but how many different dunks can there possibly be considering all the creativity that has been on display since 2000? Nate Robinson has been in 3 Dunk Contests in the past 4 seasons! Talk about same old story! 

To top things off, the All Star Game was dominated by guards, particularly Kobe Bryant who seemed to want to prove to everybody how supposedly competitive he is by jacking up 23 shots and scoring 27 points to win co-MVPs with Shaquille O'Neal. I was hoping the East would win simply because they only had two front court guys in Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard so it was hardly a conventional lineup against the West. If these games are going to be played, I want the track meet that is the Rookie-Sophomore game. I want these top players to score points in bunches and I want lax defense. It doesn't excite me in an All Star game to watch Kobe Bryant try to deny Dwyane Wade the ball on the perimeter with his over-rated defensive play. I feel for guys like Tim Duncan who probably have not got to shoot the ball more than 10 times in his last 4 All Star appearances. This is an All Star game and not a ball-hogging contest. Why do the starters not move the ball around and get everybody an equal amount of shots for the most part? Therefore the hot hand on the winning team can be the alleged "MVP" of an exhibition game. On the other hand, I like the guys making their first appearance such as Danny Granger and Brandon Roy because it is an honor, but I am sure late in the season they would not mind just being named to an All Star roster without having to actually play the game. Allen Iverson has the perfect approach for the last few years. Iverson likes taking limited shots and minutes before sitting on the bench to not injure his 33 year old frame. He won an All Star MVP award and he seems to understand the joke the game has become. Paul Pierce, again voted as a reserve which is wrong in my opinion, had the right idea being aggressive because there is little sharing going on out on the court. He fired up 14 points in the first half for a trailing East squad but did not receive the same opportunities in the second half for whatever reason. The game was boring, not just because it was a blowout but primarily because the pace was slow, not every player on the court got chances to show his stuff (uh Chauncey Billups), and there was a serious lack of show time involved with few alley-oops and fast break slams. 

You can talk about pageantry, history, and tradition, but the fact of the matter remains all the All Star Weekend really is about is money and fan popularity. How disastrous would it be for one of these All Stars on a play-off bound team to get injured and put the rest of their season in question? All it would take is one major injury before people would start calling the game's necessity into question. How is Deron Williams, the Jazz point guard who has led the Jazz without Carlos Boozer and utility man Andrei Kirileinko not an All Star? Ok the fans would not vote him as a starter and Chris Paul is an understandable reason why. Yet coaches could not vote him in as a reserve? I mean the entire game is mostly guard oriented with little post play and emphasis on getting forwards and centers involved. Don't believe it is a popularity contest? Tracy McGrady, who has been injured most of the season with a bad knee amongst other things, would have been starting had he not been injured because of fan votes. This fan vote aspect is a pitiful ordeal, but I have come to realize it will never end. I would have no problem having a weekend in a host city where the All Stars hang out and interact with fans, friends, and family without having to participate in on the court activities that they really do not want to be involved in. I guess all I can do is choose not to watch but that probably will not happen since I respect these professionals' individual skills. 

Brett Favre: The NFL's Most Popular and Well-Liked Player Does The Right Thing

Brett Lorenzo Favre, now at 39 years of age, has finally decided to retire once more, but this time for good he insists.  There was no need for Favre to prove anything in the 2008 season for the New York Jets, but as is the case with many great players, they discover letting go of their true passion in life is impossible to let go abruptly. In his final season, Favre displayed all the things that had made him so great over the years. He threw 22 touchdowns, completed over 65% of his passes, and threw for over 3,400 yards. His play early in the season silenced any critics voicing their displeasure with his return to football. Through the first 7 weeks of the season, Favre and the Jets hovered around .500 with a 3-3 record. Favre gave the Jets a hint of his on the field magic in a couple games including an opening season win at Miami and a 6 touchdown performance against the Arizona Cardinals in week 4. 

At the same time, he made plenty of plays indicative of the flaws and risk-taking involved with his decision-making as a quarterback for 18 seasons in the NFL. He couldn't beat division rival New England at the Meadowlands in week 2 and the Jets lost to the lowly Raiders at Oakland in week 7. In those two games, the Jets offense was only able to muster a combined total of 23 points. Then in weeks 8-12, the Jets and Favre went on a 5 game winning streak, which included two big road wins at New England and Tennessee and back to back 34 point scoring games. Favre now had the Jets thinking playoffs at 8-3, but unfortunately week 12 would be the pinnacle of the season. In the final 5 weeks, the Jets would fall apart on the field and as a team. Their leader went on to throw 9 interceptions in the final 5 weeks and only 2 touchdowns. The Jets would drop 4 of their final 5 games and would fall short of making the playoffs.

Nevertheless, Favre provided the Jets with a season as up and down as his exciting and charismatic career had always been. He started as a seventh string quarterback at Southern Mississippi, which coincidentally was the only division 1 school to offer Favre a full scholarship. But his strong right arm was quickly discovered in the third game of the season against Tulane. Never lacking a flair for the dramatic even as a youngster, Favre took over the helm at halftime despite suffering from a hangover from the night before. He led the Golden Eagles to a comeback victory with 2 touchdown passes and it paved the way for the legend to grow. The great ex-Oakland Raider punter Ray Guy has to be kicking himself (literally!) over the fact he could have been the most popular Southern Miss player if it were not for that Favre fellow. He was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Falcons in 1991, much to coach Jerry Glanville's discontent. Favre threw 4 career passes for the Falcons including an interception return for a touchdown.

 

In the following off-season, Favre was dealt, for a fellow Southern Miss player in running back  Tony Smith, to the Green Bay Packers. It was there he cemented his legacy for 16 seasons leading the Packers under center without missing a game. That's a lot of hits and injuries to play with, but better yet what is more impressive is the list of backups who held clipboards for so long waiting for Favre to get hurt (Doug Pedersen, Ty Detmer, Jim McMahon, Mark Brunnel, Aaron Brooks, and Matt Hassellbeck come to my mind). He is the only NFL player to win 3 consecutive MVP awards (1995-1997) and won Super Bowl 31 against the New England Patriots. Favre was also the quarterback who lost Super Bowl 32 to the Denver Broncos and threw a costly INT in the 2008 playoffs that probably cost him a trip back. Through all the ups and downs, he remained the ultimate gamer. The ultimate competitor. The football world had seen him fumble in his early years with addictions to drinking and painkillers. They watched as he withstood the death of his father Irvin's car accident in 2003, but still put on a show on Monday Night Football with a heavy heart in a rout of the Oakland Raiders. Fans watched as he still suited up every Sunday in 2004 despite his wife Deanna's bout with breast cancer and his brother-in-laws' all terrain vehicle crash. He truly was a man who enjoyed the game and played purely for the love of what he was doing on the field. Favre played the game with an abundance of youthful enthusiasm not seen in the modern athlete. He soaked in every play and every touchdown pass as if it was his first time doing it and celebrated like a giddy kid on Christmas morning.

Favre ends his career in a similar roller coaster ride stats wise. The most career touchdowns (464), and the most career interceptions (310). The most career passing yards (65,127), but also the most attempts (9,280) to go with it. Known for his never-over-til-its over attitude, Favre leaves the NFL with over 35 come-from-behind victories under his belt. He played until the final second ticked and wouldn't let go until his shoulder and arm told him his gun slinging days were done. It took him awhile, perhaps he dragged it out more than his critics would have liked, but Brett Favre never cared what his critics said. If he did care, then he wouldn't have been Brett Favre, a man who will go down in NFL history as one of the greatest to ever play the quarterback position. 

Alex Rodriguez: A-Roid and A-Fraud

Ok so as a baseball fan why am I not surprised that an entire leak with regards to a 2003 MLB drug test has Alex Rodriguez's name in it? I find it really amazing how this sports news all comes together sometimes almost simultaneously. First, Joe Torre's new book about his time with the Yankees and managing Alex Rodriguez. Now a new report by SI unearths a 2003 survey test in which 104 MLB players failed the drug test including Alex Rodriguez. Wasn't it only a matter of time before another big star in the game confessed to being a part of the rampant performance enhancing drug (PED) culture. Actually, it was funny to see the staged interview between longtime baseball writer Peter Gammons of ESPN and Rodriguez on television today. Rodriguez, dressed as a young looking schoolboy with his starched collar and blue sweater never  actually uttered the words he took "steroids," "anabolic," or "HGH." Instead he substituted them for "substances," "experimenting," and "young, stupid, and naive" to gain the sympathy of viewers. Sure he apologized briefly, but it was so emotionally absent and phony that only a real sucker would fall for what he was trying to sell. Instead, he relied heavily on not being educated enough on the substances he was taking and did not know the stuff he was taking would result in failing a league wide drug test. So why in the world would a world- class athlete, playing one of the most difficult sports known to mankind, not know what he is putting in his body? Rodriguez, like many great players, is obsessive about his work outs on the field and in the weight room. Also these players do enjoy the game along with the fame and fortune so playing every day is a mindset many have. In this case, many players do look for something that can lessen the aches and pains of a 162 game regular season schedule. Why would he not be asking his nutritionist or the team doctor as to exactly what was going inside him? So when I am pretty sure the man is lying about not knowing the substances he was using, why should I believe he only took steroids in his 3 seasons with the Texas Rangers? I do not. 

Now he has some people believing he only took PEDs for 3 seasons due to the pressure of performing everyday. He adds to the excruciating Texas summer heat, which took a toll on him to go out everyday and play for a club that never made the playoffs in the 3 seasons he was with the team. By the way, the drugs Rodriguez was taking were lean muscle builders and recovery enhancers and they certainly seemed to help him play in all but one regular season game for the club in 3 seasons. He also hit 52, 57, and 47 home runs which were some of his highest career so far. And if he thought going to play in Texas was full of pressure, then what drugs did he start taking in 2004 to alleviate the pressure of a more populous and more media intensified city of New York? Rodriguez uses the excuse that he was around the culture at the time with many grey areas in terms of what was legal or illegal. Well, here is a real mind-bending thought. If you didn't feel it was illegal, why were all these players not injecting or swallowing pills in the middle of the clubhouse for their peers and the media to see? However, at the same time, it was dumb enough for the MLB to not even have a drug policy with regards to illegal drugs within the country.

What I think really happened with this "exclusive interview" was that his agent, the much maligned Scott Boras, is that he set up the interview and told Gammons exactly what he would be and would not be permitted to ask the ballplayer. All in all, Rodriguez's statements were kind of a combination of Jason Giambi and Andy Pettite's confessions coupled with Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens' constant denials of PED use in front of the media and federal courts. It is interesting to note this leak comes right before the start of spring training, much less 6 years after the fact. From the outside looking in, spectators will never know the real truth behind what the owners, players, trainers, and MLB officials have done and will continue to do to produce the most amount of revenue for everyone involved (see: Commissioner Selig 17.5 million salary). Look, in some cases I think PEDs did little for some players, provided a significant boost for others, and only inflated the numbers of already established MLB stars. I think it is also wrong to not realize the temptation out there for players to be able to extend their career or even improve their statistics so much so that it could be the difference between a $5 million contract and a $25 million contract based on performance.  

A great example of a player having a great season in a contract year is Gary Matthews Jr., a longtime journeyman outfielder who turned a PED 2006 season with the Texas Rangers intoa 5 year, $50 million with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim the following offseason. Prior to that Matthews had been with 7 different teams since breaking into the major leagues in 1999. In the 2007 and 2008 seasons, his batting average has slumped down to his more common averages of .250 and .242, which was way down from his career high .316 with the Rangers in 2006. He also hit a career high 19 HRs and 79 RBIs in 2006 as well. At around the same time when the Angels acquired him for the 2007 season, Matthews Jr. was reported as being connected to a steroid and HGH ring that included bodybuilders, college athletes, NFL and MLB players. Matthews Jr. denied his involvement but his name was found on the infamous Mitchell report. These numbers in his last two seasons are more indicative of the kind of player Gary Matthews Jr. is since his career batting average is a middle-of the-road .259. His 2006 season was much of an aberration to put it lightly due to heavy drug use. Seems to me Rangers owner Tom Hicks would have no problem assembling an entire 40 man roster full of steroid studded pitchers and batters. And his first choice I am sure would be Alex Rodriguez, the 250 million dollar man he signed back in 2001.