Dean’s List Games of the Week

Lakewood (7-3, 5-1) vs. Esperanza (9-1, 4-1)

The Facts: -The Lancers have put up 40 or more points six times this season
-The Lancers are (3-2) on the road this season
- The Aztecs have held opponents under 15 points in seven games this season
- The Aztecs margin of victory is 19.7


The Intangibles: -Lancers running back Alex Fletcher has rushed for nearly 1200 yards this season and is difficult to bring down.

- Lancers defensive linemen Vincent Abbott has recorded a sack in seven of the ten games this season.

- Aztecs cornerback Nick Benvenuto is the team leader in interceptions and has a great nose for the football.


The Educated Guess: The Lancers have faced seven playoff teams this season and are battled tested, however only won four of those games. The Aztecs on the other hand went (6-1) against teams that qualified for the playoffs and only loss of the season was a two point game to Edison. Aztecs 28 Lancers 24 in a hard fought contest.

Millikan (7-3, 3-3) vs. Crespi (8-2, 3-0)

The Facts: - The Rams have scored at least 14 points in every game this season
- The Rams are (3-1) on the road this season
- Celts have defeated State powerhouses Birmingham, Notre
Dame (Sherman Oaks), and St. Bonaventure.
- Celts have kept opponents under ten points seven times this season

The Intangibles: - Rams have one of the most talented corner backs in the area in
Roderick Cohn. Cohn has seven interceptions this season.

- Celts All Purpose player Lonell Jones is a threat to return
Interceptions and kick off returns.

The Educated Guess: The Celts have been tested throughout this season with an arduous
Schedule without their starting quarterback Kevin Prince and still
Found a way to go 8-2. The Rams have been crushed in big
games this season. Celts 38 Rams 10

Wilson (Hacienda Heights) (5-5, 1-3) vs. Mayfair (7-3, 6-0)

The Facts: - The Wildcats had a (2-4) record in their last six games
- Opponents have scored 20 or more points against the Wildcats nine of ten
games this season.
- The Monsoons have won their last six games
- The Monsoons have held opponents to 14 points or under eight times
This season

The Intangibles: - Wildcats running back Tim Gilmore has rushed for over 1600 yards
This season
- Wildcats wide receiver Andrew Romero averages 15 yards per catch

The Educated Guess: The Monsoons have the experience and are no strangers to
Post season football. In the Mike Fitch era the Monsoons
have always maintained a strong defense and running game.
The Wildcats have shown that they can put points on the board,
however have shown that they have had a difficult time stopping
the opposition. Monsoons 28 Wildcats 17

Sportsology 10: West vs. North

Sportsology 101: Crespi vs. Canyon

Sportsology 101: Mayfair vs. Bellflower

Sportsology 101 Alhambra vs. Arroyal

Sportsology101: Western Christian vs. Bloomington Christian

Sportsology 101: Crespi vs. Centennial(Corona)

Sportsology101: Campbell Hall vs. Poly Pasadena

Sportsology 101: Notre Dame vs. Canyon

Sportsology 101: Oak Christian vs. Lompoc

Sportsology 101: Oak Christian Practice Edition

756 makes Bonds the King of Kings

The seven time Most valuable Player, Barry Lamar Bonds annihilated a curve ball to the right center field bleachers to become Major League Baseball’s King of Kings of homeruns by breaking Hank Aarons 33 year old record. Some people are under the impression that 756 deserve an asterisk, however I beg to differ. Bonds has never failed a drug test and if they had any ounce of sufficient evidence against Bonds Bud Selig and the hierarchy of baseball would have prevented 756. Bonds record breaking moment is special because he went 3 for 3 and was a triple shy of obtaining the cycle. 756 is just the tip of the Golden Gate Bridge because Bonds has two good years left in his 43 year old body and 800 homeruns could be reached as soon as next year. 3,000 hits isn’t too far behind as well. Until Bonds is found guilty, which I predict is unlikely at this point; we must celebrate one of the prized records in all of sports. Heck, you may even see me purchase a 756 new era hat. Congratulations to Barry Lamar Bonds and an even greater thanks to Aaron and Selig for their classiness even though there is no secret of their less than fond feelings for Bonds.

Why Reggie Bush and USC will not be penalized

He stands 6 feet 200 pounds, smile as bright as the sun, and holder of over seven national advertising campaigns. He is Reginald Alfred Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner and star of the New Orleans Saints. The preponderance of talk dealing with Bush is about his football skills and ad campaigns, however occasionally discussions surface about a pending NCAA Investigation on Bush and his alma mater of USC. Yahoo Sports reported that Bush allegedly received over $100,000 in benefits from marketing agents while Bush played at USC and reported suspicions involved a home valued at $757,000 located in Spring Valley, California which Reggie Bush's mother, stepfather lived in during the 2005 season. The home was owned by a man with ties to a recently started sports marketing company. So will anything happen to Bush accolades and to those USC Championships? Absolutely not! Why else have we not heard additional information on the matter since April? The case in the late 1990’s involving Jevon Kearse and Johnny Rutledge is akin to Bush’s situation. Kearse and Rutledge received payments from agents William "Tank" Black and Alfred "Tweet" Twitty while the two players were still playing for the University of Florida. Similar to Florida, USC had no knowledge of the situation and just as Florida was cleared of wrong doings USC will as well because the evidence in the Bush case is much softer than in the Kearse and Rutledge case. The most pertinent dynamic going for the Trojans is the fact that unlike the Florida investigation, the supposed agent had no clients and license. The connotation of this is that performing as an agent without a license is a criminal offense, and this is the reason the man posing as an agent went to yahoo rather than the police or the courts. Had he went to the proper authorities an extortion charge could have been potentially charged. In all essence the alleged agent will not cooperate with the investigation and Bush does not have to cooperate with the investigation now that he is property of the National football League and not the NCAA. In other words all the panicky feelings that Trojans are experiencing can be at an alleviate state now since the NCAA has only hearsay evidence.

Garnett joins Paul Pierce & Ray Allen in Boston

Last season the Boston Celtics franchise may have thought they were back in the 1700’s in the American Revolutionary War as their season seemed to cause as much frustration as the Boston Massacre. It seemed as though a sequel would take place as the 2007-2008 season approached when the misfortunes hit the men in green in the form of the NBA Lottery. The Celtics were projected to obtain one of the top two picks and draft either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. Fate would present the Celtics with the No.5 pick and the possible departure of All Star Paul Pierce who demanded the Celtics trade the No.5 pick for a veteran or trade him. General Manager and former Celtic Danny Ainge who was under an enormous amount of scrutiny then got a light bulb in his head and traded the pick for All Star Guard Jesus Shuttlesworth better known as Ray Allen. With Allen it appeared that the Celtics were back in the playoff picture in the deplorable Eastern Conference. Ainge was not done and perhaps secretly ran into an old Leprechaun from the Larry Bird era and was led to a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow because he pulled off the biggest trade in sports this season by acquiring future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett for two potential stars, three mediocre players, and two draft picks. The move now has the Celtics one of the favorites in the East and gives them three men who average 20 plus points, are unselfish, and are very familiar with the N.B.A. All Star game. The Heat, Bulls, Pistons, and Cavs now have trouble! With Garnett, seven-time All-Star Allen and five-time All-Star Pierce, the Celtics upgraded their profile in a sports market dominated by the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox. The question now is can this incredible production of talent translate to a Larry O Brien Trophy in June or did that leprechaun screw over the Celtics franchise and lead Danny Ainge to fools gold? Let the excitement or continued torments begin!

Special Tribute to Bill Walsh

I have put these two videos up as a tribute to Bill Walsh after he died at 75 today. Hope you guys enjoy these videos. One is of the Coors Light Commercial he did this year and the other is of an interview he did a few years ago enjoy. R.I.P. Bill Walsh.

R.I.P. Bill Walsh (1931-2007)

One of the greatest sports masterminds has passed away today at the age of 75 after a sturdy fight with the tedious disease leukemia. The man I speak of is Hall of Fame Coach Bill Walsh. Known for his acumen for x’s and o’s and drafting some of footballs best of all time, Walsh will be missed greatly. Walsh’s legacy consists of a gargantuan amount of success such as architecting the dynamic scheme that is the west coast offense and winning three super bowls as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. In fact, one can argue that the 4oers prestige would not be at the echelon that it is if it was not for Walsh’s contributions. Walsh was a man that knew how to discover and coach talent such as Joe Montana,Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Ronnie Lott, Merton Hanks, John Taylor, and a whole slue of others. For his career Walsh compiled a 102-63-1 record and helped evolve quite possibly the greatest coaching tree in football with minds such as Mike Holmgren, Dennis Green, Ray Rhodes, Tony Dungy, and George Seifert. Although Walsh has not coached in a few decades and died today, his presence in football certainty has not and will not as several of today’s coaches such as Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, Brian Billick, Andy Reid, and Pete Carroll, employ the west coast offense he created in their schemes.

Put Bonds in Cooperstown

At 42 years old, Barry Lamar Bonds is considered an antique in the realm of sports. Even though Bonds has alienated several of my fellow sports companions, they and I should appreciate what he provided the game of baseball with for two decades, whether he used the juice or not.
For starters, before reports came out linking him to steroids, he was already a Hall of Fame-caliber player. During his time with the Pittsburg Pirates and his early years with the Giants, he had already won three MVP awards, which was tied for the most all-time. And if we look at the duration of his career he has won seven most valuable player awards. Yes count them. Seven of them. That's more than Michael Jordan, who many consider sports' ultimate athlete. And if anti- Bonds supporters still want to entice Bonds with the steroid cheater slogan, remember he was named Player of the Decade for the '90s by The Sporting News.

In addition, he is one of eight players, including his late father Bobby Bonds, to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases, displaying his meliorate game. Besides this, he has dominated defensively something he has not received much credit for by winning eight Golden Glove awards.

With all of these novel statistics, he should be a first ballot for Cooperstown, yet some voters on the Hall of Fame committee say that they will not franchise him in because of the steroid allegations. Hell, steroids do not give a person supernatural hand-eye coordination and ultimately do not make you Superman.

Voters, listen to me, the Hall has never been a museum for saints. It has racists, philanderers, players who used cork bats, spitters, and anything that they could get their hands on to have a significant advantage. So I say vote for Bonds. And while I might be a little off topic, get Pete Rose in too. I do not advocate steroids in anyway, shape or form, and do not want today's youth to feel the need to do so, but not putting Barry Lamar Bonds in Cooperstown and not giving him the credit he deserves is a slap in the face to the man, the game, and all of sports.

At the end of the day, the facts do not lie and that fact is that Bonds never tested positive for steroids. At 42 he could possibly hit 40 homeruns this season. Lets look pass the lackluster attitude and all the steroid rumors that have no evidence to support it and put the soon to be all time home run king in thr hall.

Analysis of the 2007 MLB All Star selections

Two Snubs that should be in Frisco Next Week

All Star games are about entertainment and allow fans to vote on the players who can best bestow them with this satisfaction. Sometimes these selections come at a price to pay, resulting in deserving players being left out of a reward.
With Americas favorite past time’s version of its stars amongst stars event next week at AT&T Park, a few rebuttals must be presented.
For starters, how can an American League All Star Team be assembled with Tigers’ slugger Gary Sheffield absent from the roster? Looking in this bird’s eye point of view, I’M 110% certain that no General Manage or Owner would say that Grady Sizemore, Alex Rios, or Carl Crawford is a more superior player than Sheffield. And if you tend to in the minority of fans who do not comprehend this, I must inform you quickly that facts don’t adorn results. For example, Sheff’s batting average of .290 ranks higher than any of the above mentioned players and if that’s not enough for you than ask yourself if any of those names have more homers than the 18 Sheff has blasted this season.
The other snub that discomposes me gratefully comes from the National League. How can a pitcher who has not given up a homerun in his last 69 2/3 innings of work be defrauded of A TRIP TO San Francisco? The fella I speak of is the Padres strong arm, Chris Young. Young has an ERA of 2.14 to go along with a solid 8-3 record that could easily be at least 11-0 if the Padres’ deplorable team batting average of .222 improved. Somehow the National League felt better equipped to have six closers for a game they have not won since Ozzie Smith was still playing.
At the end of the day the fans and Major League Baseball selected the appropriate representatives for the most part, however the snubbing of Sheffield and Young leaves me with a malodorous taste in my mouth.

2007 NBA DRAFT AWARDS (two minute drill version)

2007 NBA DRAFT AWARDS & ANALYSIS

Yesterday night saw many NBA franchises take part in basketball's version of the super lotto. Some of the deplorable teams in the NBA possibly could have taken that first step to returning back to a competent franchise and some of the more established teams could have possibly found themselves becoming richer with steals and so called diamonds in the rough. Nevertheless, the verdict is now in for the awards selection of the NBA Draft.

Highest Honors:

Portland Trailblazers

- Some time ago Portland had an opportunity to take their franchise to unprecedented heights, however elected to select Sam Bowie over some guy named Jordan. Ten scoring titles and six championships later the Blazers were under the pressure again on who they would select as the new-fangled foundation of their franchise. The decision they made appeared to be the accurate choice by selecting Greg Oden over Kevin Durant. As you heard countless amounts of time, you can’t teach height and you certainly can’t pass on a man who has been compared to Patrick Ewing and some guy out of LSU that goes by the Big Aristotle. The truth is Oden probably won’t be as good as Ewing or Shaq but in order to win an NBA Championship unless you’re Michael Jordan you have to have a solid big man. Oden’s young and I’ve only observed him play for half a college basketball season so I’m not going to bash nor put the anointing oil on him, but I will say his game has a chance to be as offensively polished as David Robinson and has a chance to be a defensive player such as Emeka Okafur. Portland not only earned Highest Honor achievements because of this no brainier selection, but because they shifted off problem child Zach Randolph and drafted well in the second round by getting Josh McRoberts out of Duke who is a solid all around player. Imagine Luke Walton’s skills but a better shooter. And they also selected the fourth Gator taken in the draft
Taureen Green, a point guard who can contribute but won’t be a star.

High Honors:

Boston Celtics

- Perhaps the curse is over and the Leprechaun has returned to bring this historical franchise some luck. Or perhaps a certain Jesus can help him. Acquiring Jesus Shuttlesworth aka Ray Allen was a solid move by Danny Ainge who demonstrated that he is committed to winning now. Allen with Paul Pierce to go along with their youth movement of monster such as Al Jefferson and Gerald Green combined with second round draft picks Gabe Pruitt and Big Baby Glen Davis will prove dividends for the men in green in the JV Eastern Conference.

Honors:

Seattle Supersonics

- I can talk about Kevin Durant’s potential and ability all day. If you have not seen this offensive freak of nature play I suggest you catch the nearest plane to the University Of Texas Library and rent some of their DVDs or if you’re not that enthusiastic about it, type in you tube on your URL. That plus eliminating disgruntled veteran Ray Allen and acquiring the rights to Georgetown star Jeff Green makes a lot of since.


Academic Probation:

The Charlotte Bobcats

- What in the bobcat was Michael Jeffery Jordan thinking by trading the rights to Brandan Wright to Golden State for Jason Richardson and giving him a max deal contract? In a summer that has a full service of quality players why would you give someone like J- Rich the max deal when you have players such as Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, and Chauncey Billups out there or at least try to get someone and save the money for next year. Max dollars for a man that has the same number of all star appearances as I. This has to be the worst draft day move since taking Kwame Brown number one. Wait a second; didn’t Michael Double J make that decision as well? Is it me or Bill Gates should come in to fix the mess that the Charlotte Bobcats are about to get into.

Pat dean interview w/ Sterling Byrd

Pat Dean Campus Connection

This was an interview I did with Wayne Miller & Ernest Holley

Long Beach State finds their man in Dan Monson

The suspense has come to a finish, the hundreds of hours of searching has come to a halt, and the smoke has finally cleared the Walter Pyramid because LBSU athletics have found its new men’s basketball head coach. Nope, it’s not the flamboyant Jack Haley, nor is it the former Pac 10 standout Cameron Dollar, nor is it Jim Harrick. The man transitioning the program to feasible new heights and pacing the black and gold colored sidelines to the sound of the Beach band will be Dan Monson.
Monson, best known for getting the mid major juggernaut known as Gonzaga off and running was hired in less than 48 hours after interviewing for the job. Perhaps he carpe diemed once the favorite for the job Kerry Keating took himself out the running by accepting the Santa Clara coaching position. Nevertheless Monson expressed excitement about his new position and made it clear what he intends to transport to LBSU.
“”Our goal is to build a program here, not a team, not a season because there is great tradition here,” said Monson.
Monson replaces Larry Reynolds, whose contract was not renewed despite a 24-8 record, a Big West Conference championship and a spot in the NCAA tournament. In addition, he will have to face the arduous task of late season recruiting for a rebuilding team that will have lost their seven best players to graduation.
Monson was 118-106 overall and 44-68 in the Big Ten in seven seasons at Minnesota. He joined the Gophers after leading Gonzaga to the Elite Eight. At Gonzaga, he was 52-17 in two seasons. Despite not doing as well as he liked at Minnesota, Monson believes that it will help him during his tenure with LBSU.
“I went through some difficult things at Minnesota, but I feel that I’m a better coach for it and that I’m better prepared for this opportunity because a lot of things this program needs I faced,” explained.
If the Monson era gets off to a rapid start and the 49ers capture a second Big West Championship in a row it would mark the first time in 32 years that the Beach has accomplished the triumph. Until then the Monson era will begin to start scheming for the early preseason Big West favorites such as Cal Poly and Santa Barbara. Let the Monson era begin!

Pat Dean One on One w/ NCAA Champion Candace Parker

I got a chance to do a Question and Answer interview with Women's basketball sensation, Candace Parker. Fresh off a NCAA Championship and becoming the youngest female to ever win the John Wooden award, Candace Parker could be the hottest female athlete in the universe.

Pat Dean: How was the Team U.S.A. experience and how did it benefit you during this season; which players aided you the most?

CP3: Playing for the usa team gave me a whole new experience to me and helped alot with my game. i felt as if i matured throught the process of the game . i would say Tamika catchings and tina helped me alot. they picked on me a couple times but they always had my back.

Pat Dean: Do you carry around any good luck charms before a big game?

CP3: nah

Pat Dean: What role did Chamique Holdsclaw play in your role coming to Tennessee?

CP3: It was a huge role for me because i was coming into this program with promise of a championship and it helped me motivate myself every practice that there's something for me to prove for this team.

Pat Dean: What was your biggest obstacle for you this season?

CP3: Myself. Being able to control my emotions and to handle pressure.

Pat Dean: What impact has your brother Anthony had on your game?

CP3: A lot! he always challenged me with everything he can possibly think of. That's why i am who i am today.

Pat Dean: What made you decide to comeback to school and not declare for the W.N.B.A.
Draft?

CP3: My team and my fans. there just great im really motivated to get the repeat.

Pat Dean: How long have you been dunking for and how did it feel to become the first female basketball player to dunk in a NCAA tournament game?

CP3: Since high school. i would mess up a couple times but that didnt stop me. lol

Pat Dean: What players did you study growing up?

CP3: Tamika Catchings , Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan.

Pat Dean: Who do you think is the best W.N.B.A. player and why?

CP3: I dont know if i can answer this question , but i believe that many of those athletes playing in the WNBA are the best players in their own way. each individual has their own talent and mind and that's what makes them standout from the others who couldnt make it big in the WNBA.

Pat Dean: What will you do this off-season to get ready for next season?

CP3: I will work on my game and work on every aspect of it. try to better myself so i can be reliable for my team .

Pat Dean: Describe what was going through your mind after you guys captured the NCAA Championship?

CP3: "wow! i finally did it" lol.i just wanted to enjoy the moment because not too many people get the chance to be in the position we are at right now.

R.I.P. Eddie Robinson

Former Grambling Coach Eddie Robinson died at the age of 88 this morning. Robinson is one of the most important figures in Sports history because in a time when african americans were snubbed from playing sports he gave them an outlet to attend the small black college that is Grambling. The soft spoken legend spent over half a century at the universuty and turned it into a predominat football program. He won 408 games during his career and had over 200 of his players drafted in the N.F.L. Whats even more impressive was that 80 percent of his players graduated college.Robinson's pro stars included Willie Davis, James Harris, Ernie Ladd, Buck Buchanan, Sammy White, Cliff McNeil, Willie Brown, Roosevelt Taylor, Charlie Joiner and Willie Williams. His most famous pro was Doug Williams, who is the only black quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Robinson will be missed but never forgotten and may his prescence inspire some young man to strive for excellence.

Jordan Farmar Displays his Lion's Heart

Jordan Farmar may not win the 2007 NBA Rookie of The Year or land over ten minutes in a game, but that does not take away what his character demonstrated tonight. Farmar who came on strong for the Los Angeles Lakers in the beginning of the season hit the "Rookie Wall" and has struggled heavily as of late. Today he was demoted to the NBA's version of basketball's minor league, the NBDL. Despite throw a tantrum like many professional athletes in this new 21st century Farmar embraced the challenge and played well scoring 18 points and dishing out nine assist. The reward was an opportunity to be recalled to the Lakers game against the Kings. Farmar came in and scored four points and dished at four assist in the time he received and all of us teammates led by Kobe Bryant gave him a standing ovation. It was a sign of how mature this young man is and how much his teammates and coaching staff respect his character. Farmar will now go down as the first and only man to play in a NBDL game and NBA game int he same day.

Michael Jordan to join the Lakers

Ladies and Gentlemen ESPN just announced that Michael Jordan will be coming out of retirement for an unprecedented third time. This time he will rejoin the newly elected Hall Of Fame coach Phil Jackson and the Los Angeles Lakers. Jordan will will start at the small forward position and Luke Walton will now come off the bench. This acquisition is expected to make the Lakers a title contender once again now that Jordan is back in the league. In a potential first round matchup can the San Antonio Spurs handle not only Kobe but now MJ? Let the anticipation begin because this will never happen unless you put this on your playstation 3 or x box 360. April Fools!!!

How About Steve Lavin?

The verdict by Athletic Director Vic Cegles to decline the restitution of Larry Reynolds' contract has caused a sundry reaction amongst students, fans and supporters of the LBSU basketball program.Some have expressed delight with the decision to go a new route, whereas others have displayed resentment and annoyance with the news that has received national attention by telecasts such as ESPN's SportsCenter and Fox Sports Net's Lexus Gauntlet. One thing that is paramount on both sides is that both parties yearn for an excellent teacher, motivator and architect of success not seen on campus since those Jerry Tarkanian teams of the 1970s to take over a team headed for rebuilding next season and turn it into a perennial NCAA Tournament team.Looking in this bird's-eye view, this description epitomizes none other than former UCLA men's basketball coach Steve Lavin. In seven seasons at UCLA, Lavin's teams won at least 20 games in six of those seasons and reached the Sweet 16 five times to go along with an elite eight appearance, ultimately displaying a substance for winning.The central ingredient in Lavin's pedigree is the same ingredient that Long Beach State basketball has minimized. That ingredient happens to be recruiting.Two times during his tenure with the Bruins, Lavin had the nation's top recruiting class, which included stars such as Jason Kapono and Baron Davis - both successful NBA players. With LBSU athletics centered around areas as rich in talent as Saudi Arabia is in oil, a 49er loyalist can only begin to imagine what kind of talent could be assembled by Lavin within three years of work. Lavin, who is currently serving as an ESPN college basketball analyst, affronted an offer made by North Carolina State to coach its basketball team this season. The thing that must be understood is that Long Beach State is a more attractive place for Lavin to pace the sidelines because of its location and marketability. Lavin is a San Francisco native and has said numerous times on ESPN College Game Night telecasts that when he coaches again, he would prefer it be in the west region, particularly California.Apparently, Cegles is not content with just getting into the NCAA Tournament, but wants to go deep in it. What better way to solve the equation than with a man who has never lost in the first two rounds of the tournament?

WWE Wrestlers involvement with steroids don't surprise me

WWE Wrestlers Edge, Rey Mysterio, and Randy Orton were all implicated in the nationwide steroid manhunt si.com reported in the beginning of the week. But should this really be flabbergasting at all? When you look at the history of sports entertainment style of wrestling, you see dramatic changes in athletes bodys and even more disturbingly early age deaths. Coincidence? I think not. Just look at the following reports conducted by medical examiners on some wrestlers who have died over the last ten years as a result of steroid abuse.

• Curt Hennig, 44, died of acute cocaine intoxication in February 2003, medical records show. But his father said last year that a lethal combination of steroids and painkillers contributed to his death.
•"The British Bulldog," Davey Boy Smith, 39,died in 2002 in Canada of an enlarged heart with evidence of microscopic scar tissue, possibly from steroid abuse, a coroner said. "Davey paid the price with steroid cocktails and human-growth hormones," says Bruce Hart, a veteran trainer who worked with Smith and was his brother-in-law.
•Louie "Spicolli" Mucciolo, 27, died from coronary disease in his San Pedro, Calif., home in 1998, according to his autopsy. Investigators found an empty vial of the male hormone testosterone, pain pills and an anxiety-reducing drug. The Los Angeles County coroner's office determined the drugs might have contributed to his heart condition.
•Richard "Ravishing Rick Rude" Rood, 40, died from an overdose of "mixed medications" in Alpharetta, Ga., in 1999, his autopsy shows. In 1994 he testified that he had used anabolic steroids to build muscle mass and relieve joint pain.
•"Flyin' "Brian Pillman, 35, was taking painkillers and human-growth hormones when he died from heart disease in 1997, his widow said several years ago. Investigators found empty bottles of painkillers near his body in a Minnesota hotel room.

The thing is that steroids will never be stopped. Technology and science will always find away to beat testing, which leads to testing improving and catching users. Its a forever going cycle.

Long Beach State Football Coming Back?

Amid much prattle the campus of Long Beach State will not have a football team returning in a prompt manner and ultimately will not be ending a 15 year absence from college football. In the late 80's Long Beach State was facing the juncture of having to relinquish their football program because the wins were not piling up, which meant that the money made was less than adequate, once again proving the old cliché right that if it don't make dollars it don't make sense. The University was desperate for help and attempted to find a remedy to save its struggling program, in former Washington Redskins Coach George Allen. Allen was a proven winner and had the credentials to back it up. In fact, Allen had coached the Redskins to a Super Bowl. However, Allen could not duplicate his preceding success and the program suffered more than a dilapidated house with an average record of 3-9 the last four seasons of the university's program. With it came an end to the Cold War and a plethora of lucrative defense contracts that followed. Many of those contracts were in California, and contributed to a state tax base of $4 billion that gurgled down to the Cal State University system and, ultimately, to its athletic departments. According to former Senior Account Executive Casey Boggs, Long Beach State's athletic director at the time Dave O'Brien was told to disencumber nearly a million dollars from the budget in 1992. The options were to make cuts from every sport which would include salaries, equipment, recruiting, and operations. The other alternative was to cut one sport and leave the rest of the department alone. The football budget was at $1.3 million and Long Beach at the time was competing for the Southern California sports dollar against two major colleges, two NFL teams, two NBA teams, two pro baseball teams and an NHL team. The football team's attendance was around 4,000. "I do not realistically believe that football will ever come back at Long Beach State," said Long Beach State Media Relations Administrator Steve Janisch. "It would be a waste to try and come back at Division I-AA (smaller scholarship limits) because there is no money in that division and very little national publicity or interest and it needs to be done the right way or not at all." Many advocates of a resurrection of football at Long Beach State feel that it could potentially cause a great boon to the school. For example, bringing in large donors financially, especially if the team won and was selected in a bowl game. Benefits could include enormous publicity and get the school's name out in the national media eye. Schools associated with the Bowl Championship Series annually can conjure up revenues from network television contracts. According to the NCAA website the Pac 10 Conference schools made average $6 million each. A berth in the Rose Bowl is worth $13million distribution to the team's conference. "I'm not buying into all that it would cost this it would cost that crap", said alumnus Marc Yoshihara. "Long Beach is a gold mine for athletic talent especially with perennial powerhouse Poly High five minutes away." Opposers of a collegiate football return have documented that the school does not have a 25,000-plus seat stadium to play in (the minimum required by D1 standards). There would be a need for huge amounts of money over a long period of time to get the process of a stadium going. In addition, equipment and an entire football coaching staff would have to be brought in which means more money. Even if this was executed more trainers, academic support, compliance personnel, marketing personnel, and more sports information personnel would be needed. "Yes, there would be interest in the community, but would there be enough to fill a 25,000 seat stadium on a Saturday if a USC or UCLA were playing at home as well," said Janisch. "We would have to move to another conference since the Big West doesn't sponsor football and surviving as an independent is next to impossible unless you're Notre Dame." The hugest obstacle in the path of a return to collegiate football for Long beach is the Title IX gender equity regulations. The regulations stipulate that there must be a balance between your overall student population (55% women at CSULB) in regards to your athletic aid and participation. Many financial analyst and local sports writers believe that this is the reason why Long Beach State 49er football and other campuses through out California such as California State University, Fullerton (1992) Santa Clara University (1992), California State University, Hayward (1994), San Francisco State University (1995), University of the Pacific (1995), and ST. Mary's (2004) jettisoned their football programs and why they will remain extinct. For example, If Long Beach State adds 95 more males to athletics for football, then the university must either add money and scholarships and bodies to the women's side, or cut some men's sports to try and balance. Despite this blow to die hard football fans in the city of Long Beach and high school students who would yearn to play football at home if a football team was implemented, there remains optimism because some universities have been successful in putting a pulse back in football at their university such as Lincoln University of Missouri, who reinstated their football team in 1999 after a 20 year hiatus. "The reason it worked for us and continues to be successful now is because the students were very active in bringing it back," said 8 time NFL Pro Bowler and current defensive coordinator Lemar Parrish. Other universities that have followed suite include Edward Waters College (Florida) which watched its program dissipate in 1967 and reincarnated in 2001. After an immense gap of time of being supersede, the football programs at St. Augustine's (North Carolina), St. Paul's College (Virginia), Shaw University (North Carolina), Stillman College (Alabama) and Paul Quinn College (Texas) are once again in play. And the Central State University (Ohio) program, which was disbanded in 1996, joins the ranks of those to be reinstated later this year. Even though a football team is not on the priority list at Long Beach State, some in the sports department hierarchy could be swayed to reconsider their position on the matter since Onye Ibekwe, who played two seasons for the Long Beach State Men's Basketball team was given a two year contract a day after the NFL Draft in April by the San Francisco 49ers despite never playing a down of football in college.

Long Beach State's Sterling Byrd gets snubbed (March 6, 2007)

A crime was committed by the voters of the Big West Men’s basketball All Conference Team. Sure I commend them on naming Aaron Nixon the Big West player of the year and naming the LBSU starting backcourt of Kevin Houston and Kejuan Johnson to the All Conference teams; however one name was astray from that list. The name of Sterling Byrd. Byrd led the Big West Champions in scoring eight times this year, second only to Nixon on the team and made clutch plays throughout the season. Whether it was sinking the dagger against the rival Pacific Tigers on ESPN or scorching 26 against a resilient Pepperdine team, Byrd soared high. Byrd averaged 14 points and six rebounds and was in the top 10 in the conference in steals. Despite having the numbers and being on the conferences most paramount team, voters still affronted him and elected to select Anthony Brown of Pacific and Chris Devine of Santa Barbara over Byrd. Brown averaged 14 points and seven rebounds and Devine averaged 14 points and six rebounds. Yes it is a fact that all three players virtually had the same numbers, however it is fiction that they are better than Byrd. In two head to head meeting against Brown, Byrd was the more palpable player. In the first meeting Byrd scored 22 points six rebounds, while Brown scored 18 points and six rebounds and the victory in a 92-64 route telecasted by Fox Sports. In the second meeting Byrd registered a double double with 16 points and 10 rebounds on ESPN while Brown failed to reach double digits in scoring and once again Byrd’s team recorded a victory. In fact, last time I checked it was Brown who tried to guard Byrd during the dagger ending three in that game. In comparison to Devine the story was the equivalent. Byrd’s team won both matchups including a 101-65 route and Devine was outscored, out rebounded, and outplayed by No. 15 of the Beach. Despite the travesty by the Big West voters one thing is for certain is that Byrd won’t lay his head low and the success of the team for him outweighs the individual accolades. This is why this Byrd will continue to fly high.