MLB still probing A-Rod’s connection to Galea
ByAlex Rodriguez hanging out with his cousin is only news in the sense that he’s a famous person who did something. The story carries a little more interest, because of Yuri Sucart’s connection to steroids — after all, A-Rod was the one who outed him. But the meeting happened in a public space, and even MLB said there wasn’t any wrongdoing. Yet that has apparently led to an actual story, which Michael S. Schmidt and Serge F. Kovaleski reported in the Times yesterday. Apparently, MLB is still investigating Rodriguez’s connection to Dr. Anthony Galea, who is accused of supplying athletes with PEDs.
This is one of those things where you’re definitely better off reading the source article than our summary of it. Schmidt in particular has been following this story, and he lays it out in a reasonably easy to understand manner. But, for those who just want the facts, here’s what we know right now about the issue.
- A-Rod met with MLB before last season to discuss the former’s connection to Galea. He denied having received PEDs.
- Apparently A-Rod also testified before a federal grand jury for the case. I don’t think I’d heard that before. There is no word of what his testimony comprised, because of the rules of secrecy for grand jury proceedings. His lawyers wouldn’t even confirm that he did make the appearance.
- MLB specifically wants Galea’s medical records pertaining to Rodriguez, and he has acquiesced. “Alex fully cooperated with Major League Baseball and federal authorities in Buffalo regarding his treatment with Dr. Galea, including granting a release of his medical records,” his lawyers said in a statement.
- It is unclear why MLB has not yet received the medical records, which might be a bigger part of this story. If A-Rod did indeed give clearance, then why haven’t they seen them yet?
- Galea maintains that he didn’t give HGH to athletes, but rather to other patients. If you’re looking for a reason why MLB is continuing their investigation, there it is. That just sounds fishy. If he’s distributing HGH, is he really going to withhold it from athletes?
As was the case last time this story came to the fore, I expect it to again fade into the background until something moves in Galea’s case. For now there appears to be no connection between Rodriguez and Galea beyond the anti-inflammatories the latter gave the former. But with A-Rod’s hip doctor, Mark Philippon, sounding skeptical upon hearing about the connection, there are definitely loose ends in this case. Since MLB seems eager, maybe even overeager, to punish anyone remotely connected to anything that might be a performance enhancer, I don’t expect this to fully go away until Galea’s case is decided.
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The Tyler Austin Watch
I’m sure there is nothing shady going on. All of this seems on the up and up.
It’s good that the government can focus on sports since every other problem in the country is fixed.
So they should also stop giving out tickets for speeding? or arresting people for shoplifting?
I would hope that the government can handle more than one thing at a time.
What the hell is Obama doing filling out a Final Four bracket when he should be fixing the country’s problems?
Sincerely,
Idiots
You know, Palin was actually right about Paul Revere.
Sincerely,
Bigger Idiots Who Miss the Point Completely
/hope this doesn’t open a can of worms’d
I demand that you refudiate that comment right now.
No, Chris Wallace, even when you try to force me to admit I’m wrong, I’m just not gonna do it.
(resumes reading all of the newspapers)
I would rather have an inanimate object be president than Palin. I’m not heavy into any party or anything, she’s just the stupidest person I’ve ever heard speak in the political arena.
if she becomes president she should always be topless.
It seems dumb for the government to handle a baseball matter at all.
They’re not handling a baseball matter. They’re investigating a doctor potentially giving out drugs illegally. Just like how the Bonds case started (before he lied to a grand jury), and similar to the Ohio State problems.
The Feds are investigating (potential) illegal activities and they just happen to have athletes connected to the people of interest.
Wasn’t the Mitchell case centered around baseball? I might be mistaken in thinking this is linked to that case.
The Mitchell Report was MLB’s doing. I’m sure Mitchell’s status as a former senator helped to get the testimony from Radomski and McNamee, but it wasn’t a government investigation.
“Taxes takin’ my whole damn check,
Junkies makin’ me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin’ up,
An’ as if all that shit wuzn’t enough:
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(and Whitey on the moon er … And Government is investigating ARod)
– Gil Scott Heron
R.I.P.
Howard just played that…amazing
That is where I got the comment idea from, ha.
FACT: Problems are problems.
Yes, how dare a doctor prescribe a not-at-all-illegal drug to patients who are not in a sports league which forbids it.
Seriously, Michael S. Schmidt needs to get off his high-horse and move on to stories that don’t involve massively-insinuating that any athlete that ever went to a doctor is using PEDs.
If he’s distributing HGH, is he really going to withhold it from athletes?
Well, if he’s an ethical doctor then he would. HGH isn’t illegal if you have a proper prescription. It is, however, against the rules of most professional sports. This would certainly be a reason to distribute it to other people, but not professional athletes.
Good point.
I was about to write the same thing until I saw your post. A doctor certainly can prescribe HGH. It is not an illegal drug. There just has to be a medical reason behind the treatment, and there are a number of known, and experimental uses for HGH allowing a doctor could prescribe the drug.
The ethical part relates to HGH and professional athlethes/MLB players. The doctor, Galea, would know it’s a banned substance, and therefore could withold it from athletes while still prescribing it for other people.
I am so over steroids. To be honest, I didn’t care that much to begin with. Can’t we just move on?
How convenient, considering you’re a Yankees fan.
Dear Baseball Fans:
Now that the roid era is over all teams are on the same level playing field as the Bosox b/c none of their players have ever used anything illegal. Luckily we have a model franchise to follow and one that fans can be proud to root for.
Sincerely,
Bud Selig
Senator Mitchell
Big Papi’s Cousin
I am proud to announce that I have joined my good friend David Ortiz as he continues his hunt for the real killers. With our prowess as investigative journalists finally combined, we will get to the bottom of these respective unresolved questions that have dogged our careers with all deliberate speed.
Sincerely,
Anthony Weiner (D-9.5″)
If my last name was spelled “Weiner” I’d either change it or get into the porn industry.
Or avoid tweeting photos of my weiner.
add to that…I never trust a man nameed “BJ” or “weiner”…
You were never fond of Dick Pole, were you?
Actually, Dick Pole is my hero! I carried his baseball card in my wallet for years and would use it as an ID in a pinch.
Now, if his name was Dick Weiner or BJ Weiner he would be a mortal enemy.
I carried his baseball card in my wallet for years and would use it as an ID in a pinch.
Who the hell would ever accept a baseball card as a photo ID?
What idiot local sheriff or Wal-Mart employee or member of the New York Mets Baseball Club did you ever pull that ridiculous stunt on?
It only worked when Mr. Met was bouncing b/c he couldn’t see through the small eye holes AND at strip joints b/c they thought I was a performer.
I actually worked with a “Richard Weiner” for many years. Still don’t trust him.
My brother-in-law’s name is Cock Penisman.
[Ed. Note: that may not be his actual name.]
alright…I can’t top that one…
and I never used the Dick Pole card for an ID. I added that in there for dramatic effect. it worked as it has added 10+ comments to this thread.
Great job by the Times to get Michael S. Schmidt to write the article. Who will write the follow-up: George S. Ruth or Louis S. Gehrig?
The “S” stands for “suck it”.
Is that Comanche Indian?
That’s redundant.
And offensive.
May the white guy who played Chief Scar in The Searchers haunt you.
What kind of name is “Poon” anyway?
I think it’s Dutch, like Todd Gak.
or Bob Cobb?
Louis was his middle name, unfortunately. Otherwise, great joke.
Even if ARod gave clearance for his medical records to be seen by MLB, I’m pretty sure he’s not the one who actually has them. That would be up to Galea to hand over, I would assume.
Wait, you mean to tell me I’m the only one who walks around with paper printouts of my complete medical records at all times?
http://www.politik-der-umverte.....olders.jpg
I’m guessing it’s Galea and his lawyers who have not turned over the records since the article indicated they were trying to work out a deal.
Thanks for clearing that up, Columbo.