"Honestly, I don’t see what the HUGE fuss is to A-Roid. There was no rule against ‘Roids when he took them"
Wrong-o. Steroids have been on MLB's banned substance list since 1991. Just because they weren't tested for when Rodruguez took them doesn't mean there was no rule against them. And the fuss is that unlike most other accused roids users, who are almost all either old guys trying to squeeze out a few more great years (Clemens, Palmeiro, Bonds) or guys who were just never good enough to compete without them (just about everybody else) Rodriguez was supposedly the best player in the game, in his prime. He'd just signed the biggest contract in MLB history, and he went straight for the juice.
And don't get too cocky, AD, about no BoSox being on any steroid list. Plenty of ex-Sox (and some recent ones at that) were in the Mitchell Report, and plenty more have had legit rumors circling for some time. And at any rate, as soon as the next list comes out, it's all bound to change. So enjoy it while it lasts.
Russ
· 10 months ago
I am a Yankee hater, but I must point something out that you are obviously missing: Red Sox players have not been named because McNamee was very close to the Yankees. You're trying to tell me that people on the west coast didn't have dealers? How about the Florida teams, Texas, etc.. There is a reason "A-Roid" was not named in the Mitchell report, and it's because he played in Texas & was not around the McNamee culture.
Every team had players that juiced, and that much is for certain. Stop holding bullcrap over people's heads that is nowhere near the truth. It hasn't been proven, but several players have spoken out and said that the usage was rampant and very widespread. Don't be so oblivious to the fact that there's a chance one of your team's players, current or former, is one of the 103 "unnamed."
Evan
· 10 months ago
I have already written off the team this season, especially after last game. Doesn't matter if Stastny and Sakic come back--our defense and goalies will give up too many chances and goals. Still am a diehard Avs fan, but not of the GM, some players, style of play, and especially, Kroenke. And to top it off- I was given a call today about wether or not I wanted to buy tickets for a 4 game special and if I am going to anymore Avs games this season and I bet you can guess what I said-- "No, I am not going to anymore this season because I am not interested in this team--this season." I hope you read that FG, and Kroenke
Casimir Pulaski
· 10 months ago
A.D. - All of us knowledgeable fans of the burgundy and blue have written this season off already - funny how injuries are an excuse this year, but we lose Forsberg in the '01 playoffs and still win the cup - bottom line is injuries will always be present in the NHL, good teams use them for depth and toughness, soft teams (this year's version of the burgundy and blue) use them for excuses. As for 'roids, I'm not sure taking 'roids make baseball players more powerful as much as it helps their bodies recover - in the MLB, players are basically on every day - great to hear "Boods" is back in net - should be a stellar night for the Avs tomorrow (I'm guessing a 5-2 trouncing with a hat trick by Nash) - maybe next year, boys!
al
· 10 months ago
Wow, the freaking owner hasn't been to a game all year? Well I think we've identified the first problem with this sinking vessel.
Andy
· 10 months ago
Sorry AD, I don't believe the Avs will be sellers. Not in Sakic's last year and not when Sakic and Stastny are set to return no later then mid March. We are only 5 points out of a playoff spot with just under 30 games to go. The Avs have always been a second half team.
Adrian Dater
· 10 months ago
Jimbo - fine, I guess, but it's a chicken-and-egg, red-herring argument. If steroids were on a banned substance list, but there was no testing of them, what's the difference? If you have a law but there's no punishment if you break it, is there really a law?
ClaudeLemieux
· 10 months ago
If every single Pittsburgh Pirate took every illegal steroid known to man, they would still be in last place, so no, I don't care about A-Rod in the least.
Erin
· 10 months ago
Adrian,
If the NHL has a drug problem, it is not steroids, but speed/amphetamines.
Weighing in from Portland, Erin
Hammer
· 10 months ago
I think the reason Kroenke hasn't been to a game is because he prefers to watch the exceptional coverage on Altitude.
Drizzt
· 10 months ago
Kroenke's passion is Arsenal. A strong successful team steeped in history, dominance, passion and heart. All ideals none of which Colorado Avalanche presently employ. When your rolling in money, why would you attend a half energy, half effort sloppy outfit like we currently are.
Nick, Quebec
· 10 months ago
I'd like to get a first round draft pick , we lost one last year for Foote !
believe it or not there is a rumour Buffalo might be interested in Tyler Arnason ???
jimbo
· 10 months ago
Dater wrote:
"If steroids were on a banned substance list, but there was no testing of them, what’s the difference? If you have a law but there’s no punishment if you break it, is there really a law?"
Of course there is. The fact that you don't get caught -- or even the fact that they might not even be trying hard to catch you -- does not give you the right to do something that's wrong. Rodruiguez (I refuse to use his registered trademark nickname) took steroids when they were clearly against the rules, and did so because he knew he couldn't get caught or punished. And the point is moot, because he HAS been caught. Baseball won't punish him, but the fans have every right to.
As far as the Avs are concerned, Kroneke's never been much of a hockey fan, has he? Has he watched a lot of games in previous years? I guess I'm just not surprised to hear he hasn't been at the games, I seem to recall that he's a basketball fan, and the Avs were more of just an investment for him.
NYAvsfan
· 10 months ago
I think Kroenke prefers to sit in his house listening to Avs game on our fine new radio coverage station. Maybe that's why he doesn't come? The signal is so garbled he can never tell when the next game is.
Gurn Blanston
· 10 months ago
Proof that Kroenke doesn't give two youknowwhats about hockey, just profit.
Sean
· 10 months ago
Well obviously it's just too long a commute from his loft to the pepsi center for old stan...oh, wait his loft is in the pepsi center. I don't think too many players are on the type of steroids that get you bulked up, it just doesn't help, but the kind that make you recover faster? Hmm, on average the players play 3 or 4 games a week, that would be an awful good way to keep yourself healthy. How about popping 10 sudafed's to get yourself amped up for game #46? that might help too, the nhl shouldn't be calling it self the cleanest unless they've looked into all of those things too.
Perry S
· 10 months ago
"Kroenke’s passion is Arsenal. A strong successful team steeped in history, dominance, passion and heart. All ideals none of which Colorado Avalanche presently employ. When your rolling in money, why would you attend a half energy, half effort sloppy outfit like we currently are."
Um Drizzt, he does own both teams, so why would he want one to fail and not care about the team's performance? His profit margin is getting killed due to lack of ticket sales...trust me, he cares, he just realized his management staff & coach have destroyed his empire. Post season things will change, you have to believe it...
Lorne
· 10 months ago
Hey Dater! What do you think of bringing in Ray Emery? I think he has cleaned up his act. And now has left Russia. I think he would be an improvement on our current goaltending situation. Lets here it people.
Ryan S
· 10 months ago
AD - There are "laws" and there are "rules". There was no "rule" in MLB saying steroids weren't permitted. There was however, a "law" in the United States that steroids cannot be taken without a prescription. SO HE DID BREAK THE LAW!!! Big difference between rules and laws - I would have thought you'd be more astute than that.
Another Avs question for you though - I was at Family Sports on Saturday and Foote and Stastny were practicing. They were doing a skate drill, going around the center circle hard for 30 seconds at a time, but Stastny was going at about 70% of what Foote was doing. Is Stastny close to coming back? He sure didn't look it.
Adrian Dater
· 10 months ago
Ryan - Um, I assume he got a prescription from someone to get the roids. But even if he didn't - if there's no punishment and/or test for them - as there weren't when he took them - then how can you say there was a "rule" against them. Again, it's a straw man argument. But carry on...
Ryan S
· 10 months ago
AD, Are you saying that Clemens, Bonds, et al, got prescriptions for all those years they were taking steroids? That is not what happened. They were all fraudulently obtaining the drugs - that is why all these trainers (Brian McNamee, and Bonds guy, Greg Whatever) are going down. Because they partnered with some crafty doctor who wrote the prescriptions to them, and then they distributed the drugs. There was no MLB rule saying steroids were not permitted - so there should be no punishment from MLB. However, you said there was "no crime committed" - and there was. A-Rod was illegally taking steroids without a prescription. Because MLB had no rule against it, doesn't mean that the laws of the United States don't apply.
Anyway, I'm only correcting you on this because it's one of my pet peeves that numerous callers on talk radio don't get. Love the blog, keep up the good work! And really enjoyed the Salei story as well. Let me know if you have any insight on my previous Stastny question.
jimbo
· 10 months ago
AD, I think you're confusing a 'straw man argument' with something else. But nevertheless, there WAS a rule against steroids in baseball. The way you can say there's a rule against them is to look in the MLB drug policy under "banned substances" and see steroids listed, as they have been since the early 90s. It wasn't widely publicized, and it certainly wasn't enforced, but it was also most certainly against the rules.
It's kindergarten logic to state that it's only against the rules if you get caught... although kindergarten behavior seems to be right up Rodriguez' alley. I'm thinking of him slapping at Arroyo's glove a couple years ago, or him screaming as he ran behind the shortstop as he was trying to make a catch. The guy plays like a child, and he deserves every ounce of crap he gets.
Anyway, it's a logical fallacy to say that a rule cannot exist without a correlating punishment... the ten commandments don't say "Thou shalt not kill, but if thou dost kill, thou shalt spend 20 years to life in a state facility."
Adrian Dater
· 10 months ago
Ryan - Stastny is going to be back within 7-10 days. That's still 7-10 days too long for a team in desperate straits like the Avs right now. But to quote that ancient hockey philosopher supreme, Todd Bertuzzi: It is what it is.
ty970
· 10 months ago
hmmm.. does kroenke not attend games because the team isnt performing to his standards, so he doesnt want to watch?
or has he simply lost interest in his team...
either way, i wish he cared about the avs like he does the nugs, hes always of to the side of the nugget bench at home games :/
I remember hearing a hockey player being interviewed after the Sean Hill incident. He was laughing when asked if the NHL has a steroid problem and simply said, "Take a look at us with our shirts off and you'll have your answer."
Tom
· 10 months ago
"Basically, I said on film his 2002 trade to Calgary is the worst trade in Avalanche history."
Never have truer words been spoken. Bravo, AD.
jeff
· 10 months ago
Ok AD, If you are right about losing Salie, Leopold and Clark, do the Avs get picks in the first two rounds of this years draft? Also, who in the system could make an immediate impact on the blue line? What are the odds that the Avs getting out from under Tuckers contract?
All Comments
"Honestly, I don’t see what the HUGE fuss is to A-Roid. There was no rule against ‘Roids when he took them"
Wrong-o. Steroids have been on MLB's banned substance list since 1991. Just because they weren't tested for when Rodruguez took them doesn't mean there was no rule against them. And the fuss is that unlike most other accused roids users, who are almost all either old guys trying to squeeze out a few more great years (Clemens, Palmeiro, Bonds) or guys who were just never good enough to compete without them (just about everybody else) Rodriguez was supposedly the best player in the game, in his prime. He'd just signed the biggest contract in MLB history, and he went straight for the juice.
And don't get too cocky, AD, about no BoSox being on any steroid list. Plenty of ex-Sox (and some recent ones at that) were in the Mitchell Report, and plenty more have had legit rumors circling for some time. And at any rate, as soon as the next list comes out, it's all bound to change. So enjoy it while it lasts.
Every team had players that juiced, and that much is for certain. Stop holding bullcrap over people's heads that is nowhere near the truth. It hasn't been proven, but several players have spoken out and said that the usage was rampant and very widespread. Don't be so oblivious to the fact that there's a chance one of your team's players, current or former, is one of the 103 "unnamed."
And to top it off- I was given a call today about wether or not I wanted to buy tickets for a 4 game special and if I am going to anymore Avs games this season and I bet you can guess what I said-- "No, I am not going to anymore this season because I am not interested in this team--this season." I hope you read that FG, and Kroenke
If you have a law but there's no punishment if you break it, is there really a law?
If the NHL has a drug problem, it is not steroids, but speed/amphetamines.
Weighing in from Portland,
Erin
When your rolling in money, why would you attend a half energy, half effort sloppy outfit like we currently are.
believe it or not there is a rumour Buffalo might be interested in Tyler Arnason ???
"If steroids were on a banned substance list, but there was no testing of them, what’s the difference?
If you have a law but there’s no punishment if you break it, is there really a law?"
Of course there is. The fact that you don't get caught -- or even the fact that they might not even be trying hard to catch you -- does not give you the right to do something that's wrong. Rodruiguez (I refuse to use his registered trademark nickname) took steroids when they were clearly against the rules, and did so because he knew he couldn't get caught or punished. And the point is moot, because he HAS been caught. Baseball won't punish him, but the fans have every right to.
As far as the Avs are concerned, Kroneke's never been much of a hockey fan, has he? Has he watched a lot of games in previous years? I guess I'm just not surprised to hear he hasn't been at the games, I seem to recall that he's a basketball fan, and the Avs were more of just an investment for him.
When your rolling in money, why would you attend a half energy, half effort sloppy outfit like we currently are."
Um Drizzt, he does own both teams, so why would he want one to fail and not care about the team's performance? His profit margin is getting killed due to lack of ticket sales...trust me, he cares, he just realized his management staff & coach have destroyed his empire. Post season things will change, you have to believe it...
There are "laws" and there are "rules". There was no "rule" in MLB saying steroids weren't permitted. There was however, a "law" in the United States that steroids cannot be taken without a prescription. SO HE DID BREAK THE LAW!!! Big difference between rules and laws - I would have thought you'd be more astute than that.
Another Avs question for you though - I was at Family Sports on Saturday and Foote and Stastny were practicing. They were doing a skate drill, going around the center circle hard for 30 seconds at a time, but Stastny was going at about 70% of what Foote was doing. Is Stastny close to coming back? He sure didn't look it.
But even if he didn't - if there's no punishment and/or test for them - as there weren't when he took them - then how can you say there was a "rule" against them.
Again, it's a straw man argument.
But carry on...
Are you saying that Clemens, Bonds, et al, got prescriptions for all those years they were taking steroids? That is not what happened. They were all fraudulently obtaining the drugs - that is why all these trainers (Brian McNamee, and Bonds guy, Greg Whatever) are going down. Because they partnered with some crafty doctor who wrote the prescriptions to them, and then they distributed the drugs. There was no MLB rule saying steroids were not permitted - so there should be no punishment from MLB. However, you said there was "no crime committed" - and there was. A-Rod was illegally taking steroids without a prescription. Because MLB had no rule against it, doesn't mean that the laws of the United States don't apply.
Anyway, I'm only correcting you on this because it's one of my pet peeves that numerous callers on talk radio don't get. Love the blog, keep up the good work! And really enjoyed the Salei story as well. Let me know if you have any insight on my previous Stastny question.
It's kindergarten logic to state that it's only against the rules if you get caught... although kindergarten behavior seems to be right up Rodriguez' alley. I'm thinking of him slapping at Arroyo's glove a couple years ago, or him screaming as he ran behind the shortstop as he was trying to make a catch. The guy plays like a child, and he deserves every ounce of crap he gets.
Anyway, it's a logical fallacy to say that a rule cannot exist without a correlating punishment... the ten commandments don't say "Thou shalt not kill, but if thou dost kill, thou shalt spend 20 years to life in a state facility."
or has he simply lost interest in his team...
either way, i wish he cared about the avs like he does the nugs, hes always of to the side of the nugget bench at home games :/
Never have truer words been spoken. Bravo, AD.