Free Republic

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—A federal judge on Thursday barred the jury at Barry Bonds’ perjury trial from hearing angry voicemails the home run king left with his mistress during a stormy nine-year relationship. Prosecutors wanted to introduce the voicemails to show that Bonds was experiencing so-called “roid rage” when he left the messages demanding to know the whereabouts of Kimberly Bell. But U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston said Thursday that the voicemails had little relevance to proving Bonds lied when he denied knowingly taking steroids. Illston said she believed prosecutors were trying to get the voicemails into the trial for...

Taking steroids or weight loss pills can help people look buff. However, working out and eating less are better ways to get sustainable results. The problem is that this takes time and dedication, which many people seem to be lacking. The reason we bring this up is that this same "results now ... give me drugs" attitude is affecting our economic policy these days. Elections force politicians to have a short-term focus. They want faster growth no matter how they get it. Our opinion: Things are better than they seem, drugs aren't needed and a more healthy and durable approach...

Brent Musburger, the play-by-play man for some of college football's biggest games, told a group of college journalism students that professional athletes under a doctor's supervision could potentially use steroids to improve performance. Musburger, on the lead announcing team for ABC and ESPN, told students at the University of Montana that steroids have no place in high school athletics, but they could be used in the pros under the proper care and doctor's advice. "Here's the truth about steroids: They work," he said in a story reported by The Missoulian. "I've had somebody say that, you know, steroids should be...

Tiger Woods's feudal right to rule the roost can no longer be sustained when he gets duffed up quite as badly as this. The sight of Tiger giving of his best and finding it consistently and dazzlingly bettered by a man who, if he can forgive the imagery, really now ought to be dubbed 'Son of Monty' almost beggared belief as well as triggering the explosion of joy which ignited this great European comeback.

A spokesman for three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador says the cyclist tested positive for a banned steroid during this year's race. Contador's publicist released a statement Wednesday saying the substance, identified as clenbuterol, was found in a test taken on July 21. Contador has blamed food contamination as the only possible explanation for the positive test.

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley filed charges against eight current and former Bell officials Tuesday, alleging that they misappropriated $5.5 million in public funds. Robert Rizzo, Bell's former city manager, .. charged with 53 counts of misappropriation of public funds and conflict of interest. The charges come after a dramatic morning in which authorities swept through Bell and other cities, arresting former and current Bell officials. Among those arrested were Rizzo; Angela Spaccia, former assistant city manager; Mayor Oscar Hernandez; councilmembers George Mirabal, Teresa Jacobo and Luis Artiga; and former councilmembers George Cole and Victor Bello. "This is...

While recently assuring that election night is going to be rosier for Democrats than most people think Biden had this to say about the alternative to Democrats growth of government and previously unachieved trillion dollar deficits "They are going to look at what the Republican Party is really offering -- more of the past, but on steroids..." ....Ummmm....In the past we spent less money, had less debt, and more jobs...even if we put all three of these on steriods the GOP's batting average would be .333 points better than how the Dems are currently doing. I know this is...

So Roger Clemens now finds himself facing significant jail time for lying to Congress about steroid use. Fine. If he did it -- lying and juicing up -- he needs to pay the appropriate penalty. But for Congress to be getting huffy about lies, of all things, is a bit rich. What happens when Congress -- institutionally and member by member -- lies to the people? It happens, of course, every day. Yes, steroid use is wrong -- it's a form of cheating, simple as that. And yes, perjury is beyond the pale. But The Rocket fizzled a long time...

Major league pitcher Roger Clemens was indicted for obstruction of Congress and other charges Thursday related to statements he made to a congressional committee in 2008. The charges stem from a 2008 appearance by Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. In their sworn testimony, the two contradicted each other, with Clemens denying that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

AKRON, Ohio -- Talk about your symbolism. Struggling yet again, Tiger Woods blew his drive on his final hole of the day deep into the gallery and the trees, punched out short of the green and found that his ball had come to rest near a large metal sewer grate.

Defending champion Tiger Woods, right, continued to struggle on the golf course during the opening round of the Bridgestone Invitational on Thursday in Akron, Ohio. Woods, ranked No. 1 in the world and seven-time winner of the event, missed nine of 14 fairways and needed 32 putts at Firestone Country Club as he posted a four-over-par 74, 10 shots off the pace of first-round leader Bubba Watson. Phil Mickelson is in a four-way tie for second, two shots behind Watson at four-under 66. Also tied for second are Kenny Perry, Adam Scott and Graeme McDowell.

What an interesting world we live in! Tiger Woods' neighbor will tell all he knows about Tiger Woods' personal life and about the events surround Woods' Thanksgiving car accident for a mere $3.99. Jerome "Jay" Adams, Jr. has made a pay-to-view video which allows you to hear his first hand account of how Woods treated those around him, including his wife, Elin.

Dumped by his coach, accused of lying about his neck injury and with his golf game deteriorating badly, Tiger Woods might have thought he could not suffer any more since the extraordinary night that blew his life apart last November. It is not certain if the physical and mental turmoil currently afflicting the world's top golfer will allow him to play at next month's US Open at Pebble Beach or at The Open at St Andrews in July.

According to a Sports Illustrated poll, almost a quarter of top PGA Tour golfers think that Woods has taken drugs. Twelve months ago he was both feared and revered. Now he is viewed by many of his peers as a cheat on and off the course.

Retired teacher Maureen Decker emerged yesterday from Woods' sordid past to say that a story he's told about being brutalized by racist kids on his first day of kindergarten was pure bunk. "I am asking Tiger for a private and public apology to put my mind at ease and set the record straight," said Decker, a smiling 69-year-old. Decker ripped a recollection from Woods that appeared in a book written by his buddy, former NBA star Charles Barkley, and which he repeated in an interview with Barbara Walters. "A group of sixth graders tied me to a tree, spray-painted the...

The dietary-supplement industry is fighting a bid by U.S. Sen. John McCain to force it to disclose ingredients and register with the Food and Drug Administration. The Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010 would also strengthen recall authority of any dietary supplement the FDA finds to be hazardous. Opponents say subjecting manufacturers to increased reporting requirements could drive up prices and restrict the availability of vitamins and supplements. They contend the FDA is hostile to supplements because they don't go through the drug approval process - but that's an expensive process for natural substances that can't be patented. Tucson's Food...

A Montbello mother says her 9-year-old son's death from severe asthma could have been prevented had Denver Human Services resolved problems with his Medicaid pharmacy benefits. Zuton Lucero said she called Human Services every three days for months last year when she was suddenly unable to get prescription drugs for her son, Zumante. The boy's health deteriorated without the medication, his doctor said, and he died at Children's Hospital in July after losing consciousness at his house after an attack. "I don't want anyone else to be sitting where I'm sitting," Lucero said. Advocacy lawyers who met Wednesday with the...

Here is a video report on the news that Major League Baseball star Mark McGwire has now admitted that he used steroids for the second half of his baseball career. McGwire admitted to using Human Growth Hormone and other steroids, which nearly doubled his homerun output during the second half of his career. That included his record-breaking year when he hit 70 homeruns, shattering the record held at that time by Roger Maris with 62. Below is video of Mark McGwire's emotional admission of steroid use in an interview with Bob Costas . . . . . McGwire said he...

NEW YORK -- Mark McGwire finally came clean Monday, admitting he used steroids when he broke baseball's home run record in 1998. McGwire said in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Monday that he used steroids on and off for nearly a decade. "I wish I had never touched steroids," McGwire said in a statement. "It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era." McGwire also used human growth hormone, a person close to McGwire said, speaking on condition of anonymity because McGwire didn't...

Did his father's tangled sex life make Tiger Woods a love cheat? By Andrew Malone and David Gardner Relaxing with a glass of rum in one hand and a cigarette in the other, Earl Woods liked to tell how his son was named after a Vietnamese colonel called Tiger Phong. While on patrol in a paddy field, Woods and Phong were pinned down by enemy fire. Woods was convinced he was about to die. But Tiger remained calm and pulled the stricken American to safety - moments before sniper bullets raked the very spot where he had lain. Years later,...