Last Call

Got R0id s ?

j

is March.
Major League
Baseball
teams are in
spring training
and, though the
weather sucks
locally, baseball
fans have one
thing on their
HARRY
KIRS BAUM minds: steroids.
Last year at this
Columnist
time, Pete Rose was
trying to pay some bills by pushing
his new biography that admitted he
bet on baseball.
At the same time, an investigation
prompted by MLB started into
steroid use among some of the most
common names in baseball.
The rumor mill had been running
for years. Why the sudden explosion
of bats and all the broken home run
records? The first thought was the
ball was "juiced." If only it were
true.
When rumors became backed u _ p
by statistics, a federal grand jury was
formed and the "invited" speakers
included Barry Bonds, Gary
Sheffield and Jason Giambi.
During a press conference early

last month, All-Star first
baseman Giambi "apolo-
gized" for abusing
steroids.
"I feel I let down the fans. I feel I
let down the media. I feel I let down
the Yankees," he said. "I accept full
responsibility for that."
He just didn't say exactly why he
was apologizing because Giambi
never used the s-word.
"I know the fans might want
more, but at this present time,
because of all the legal matters, I
can't get into specifics," he said.
So why have a press conference at
all?
Last October, Sheffield, Giambi's
teammate, admitted he "unwittingly
took substances that contained
steroids," according to an MSNBC
report.
On Feb. 22, Bonds, the San
Francisco Giant slugger, took his
turn to reply, in a way.
Although he couldn't directly
comment on it (see above), Bonds
did have some choice words for the
press.
"You guys are like re-running sto-
ries," Bonds said. "This is. old stuff.
It's like watching Sanford and Son. -
It's almost comical, basically ... Are
you guys jealous, upset, disappoint-
ed, what?"
Bonds, who at 703, is closing in

on Babe Ruth's 714 home runs,
explained the increased scrutiny on
race.
"Because Babe Ruth is one of the
greatest baseball players ever, and
Babe Ruth ain't black, either," he
said. "I'm black. Blacks, we go
through a little more."
Once again, why have a press con-
ference if you won't say anything?
The only ball player to actually
say something is a guy who hasn't
been in the majors in five years, but
he's pushing a book. What a coinci-
dence.
Currently No. 59 on the
Amazon.com bestseller's list and
dropping quite nicely, Juiced: Wild

Times, Rampant 'roids, Smash Hits,
and How Baseball Got Big by Jose
Canseco, hit the shelves on
Valentine's Day, to coincide with his
love of baseball.
The "godfather of steroids in base-
ball" provided quite the laundry list
of famous ball players who injected
steroids with his help in the locker
room stalls.
He came out with the book, in
part, because of financial difficulties.
Here's a guy who made a 12-year
career salary of $43.28 million (not
including the 50 bucks he charged
for every autograph), who's been out
of baseball for only five years, and
now he has trouble paying back

taxes.
According to a Chicago Tribune
story, Canseco has halted a book-
signing tour because of an
e-mailed death threat.
Robert Saunooke, Canseco's attor-
ney, said the FBI has identified the
sender but is still investigating.
"We are not taking the threat
lightly," Saunooke said. "It's not
that I believe Jose is in immediate
danger. He's a black belt in three
different kinds of karate, so he can
take care of himself. We are more
concerned about the people who
come to the book signing."
All the Hai Karate in the world
won't help Canseco, unless he turns
into Neo from the Matrix movies.
No one can dodge a .50 caliber
bullet shot from a high-powered
sniper's rifle at 1,000 feet ... the
weapon of choice among assassins in
a 'roid rage.
Ball players might hate him for
what he wrote, but fans hate
Canseco for what he is: a self-pro-
moting, big mouth whose love of
himself is more noticeable than his
ove Of the game. And these days,
that d6cription can be made on so
many other sports stars. El

Harry Kirsbaum's e-mail address is
hkirsbaum@thejewishnews.com

SPITE from Care

The Dorothy & Peter D. BROWN MEIVIOR
CARE PAVILION provides a secure residentia
care program for individuals with memor
impairments. Older adults stay, as our gues
for as few as 3 days and up to 1 month.This
the ideal solution for caregiver's respite car
and vacations, or for trying us for prospecti
residency.

Services Include:

For RESPITE, phone
roghovnick, MSW, CSW, Director of Admissions

(248) 661-2999

a service of
Jewish Home & Aging Services

6710.West Maple Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48322

WE'RE 441RT Of THE TEAM

3/3

2005

78

Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus

wwwjhas.org

• Full Kosher Meal Service
• Activities specifically designed to maxi
each Resident's potential
• Medication Administration
• Private Spa Bathing

Nurturing Environment

• Private Bedroom and Bathroom
• Full-service Dining Room
• Religious, Cultural and Educationa Progra
• Laundry / Housekeeping
• Beauty and Barber Shop
• Gift Shop and Nosh Nook

Fees available upon re