Skip to content
The Browns Board
  1. Home
  2. The Browns Board
  3. Do juiced-up Steelers teams deserve asterisks?

Do juiced-up Steelers teams deserve asterisks?

The Browns Board
231 30 12.0k
  • Riffer XR Riffer X wrote on
    #163

    No free pass: NFL caught in crosshairs of steroid expert's harsh, but compelling, new book

    by Bill Livingston/Plain Dealer Columnist

    Saturday February 28, 2009, 8:46 PM

    CLEVELAND -- More grotesque creatures prowl NFL playing fields than were in the space bar on Tatooine in "Star Wars," and sportswriters concentrate on baseball?

    The fact is that many of us didn't try, for a number of ostrich reasons, to winnow the rare, natural-wonder athlete from those created by Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) like steroids, human growth hormone (HGH), gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). The last pair are the hot new letters in the cheaters' alphabet.

    Author Matt Chaney, once a player at an NCAA Division II program, Southeast Missouri State, details this in "Spiral of Denial -- Muscle Doping in American Football." One must go to the Web site to get it, because major publishing houses consider such an unglamorous treatment of sports to be a market loser, unless it is a Jose Canseco tell-all.

    Chaney, whose work has been published in the New York Daily News and Kansas City Star, too often injects his own past as a steroid user in the book, but it is also part of its scope.

    What results is an exhaustively researched, impressive survey of the "personal and institutional irresponsibility" in the Baby Boomer generation -- with liposuction, face lifts, breast implants and baldness cures off the field, with almost everyone trying to be Benjamin Button on it -- while the would-be whistle-blowers in the media are discouraged in so many areas of team access and fan response that they become partners of the NCAA and NFL in a don't ask, don't tell conspiracy of sinews.

    Chaney dates the bigger-is-better approach to 1959 Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon at LSU. Cannon was a product of strength-training at Istrouma (La.) High School when that was thought to be harmful. His muscle guru, Alvin Roy, went on to have a long career as kind of the Johnny Appleseed of steroids in the NFL.

    The 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers, Chaney charges, were the first to master the intricacies of doping, although steroid use had proliferated on other teams as a way to catch up.

    He claims the drug underground was suspicious when NFL icon Walter Payton died at the age of 45 from a rare liver disease.

    He correlates the Carolina Panthers' quick rise to the Super Bowl in this decade to a pattern of systematic doping.

    The book's experts debunk the effectiveness of urinalysis in detecting PEDs use. In fact, they lay out the regimen of HGH and low-dose testosterone that fools testers.

    Chaney's remarks about the national media bite. He calls Sports Illustrated's Peter King and ESPN's Merrill Hoge apologists for the NFL. Bob Costas of NBC and HBO and Paul Zimmerman of SI fare better.

    Although Chaney advocates weight limits based on percentage of deviation from standard body mass indices, he sadly concludes that the genie can't be put back in the bottle. In a "gladiator" sport like college and pro football, fans want more power, speed and violence. With genetic manipulation, he worries that we will soon see athletic, 400-pound players whose body structure and organs cannot support such size.

    Frankenstein's new monsters will make Barry Bonds look like a pixie. Then again, the old ones already have.

    I can't recommend this book too highly.

    My work is done here for now.

    Is a pig's ass pork?
  • FurnierF Furnier wrote on
    #164

    Queue the Yinzers with their fingers in their ears going .."La la la la la la la la."

    The Taintsburgh Cheaters......35 years of duplicity. They must be so proud.

    DWJ

  • P Pumpkin Eater wrote on
    #165

    The Steelroids need to put asterisks on their helmet in place of their gay logo as a homage to their extreme cheating in past and present times.

    :neutral_face:
    BUNSofSTEEL08B FurnierF 2 Replies
  • P Pumpkin Eater

    The Steelroids need to put asterisks on their helmet in place of their gay logo as a homage to their extreme cheating in past and present times.

    BUNSofSTEEL08B BUNSofSTEEL08 wrote on
    #166

    @pumpkin-eater said:

    The Steelroids need to put asterisks on their helmet in place of their gay logo as a homage to their extreme cheating in past and present times.

    Your KILLIN me LOL !!! 😆

    Climbing the Stairway...To SEVEN !!
  • P Pumpkin Eater

    The Steelroids need to put asterisks on their helmet in place of their gay logo as a homage to their extreme cheating in past and present times.

    FurnierF Furnier wrote on
    #167

    @pumpkin-eater said:

    The Steelroids need to put asterisks on their helmet in place of their gay logo as a homage to their extreme cheating in past and present times.

    THAT is a GREAT idea! Someone with the requisite Photo Shop skills needs to get on that.

    Doug

  • FurnierF Furnier

    @pumpkin-eater said:

    The Steelroids need to put asterisks on their helmet in place of their gay logo as a homage to their extreme cheating in past and present times.

    THAT is a GREAT idea! Someone with the requisite Photo Shop skills needs to get on that.

    Doug

    Riffer XR Riffer X wrote on
    #168

    @furnier said:

    THAT is a GREAT idea! Someone with the requisite Photo Shop skills needs to get on that.

    Doug

    Sounds like a job for Mr. T to me.

    Is a pig's ass pork?
  • Riffer XR Riffer X

    @furnier said:

    THAT is a GREAT idea! Someone with the requisite Photo Shop skills needs to get on that.

    Doug

    Sounds like a job for Mr. T to me.

    FlugelF Flugel wrote on
    #169

    @riffer-x said:

    Sounds like a job for Mr. T to me.

    I think the asterisks are a GREAT idea for their throw back uniforms. On the new helmets we can paint these 3 letters with 3 different pretty colors:

    HGH

    - Tom F. (False Glory is a True Story)

    I welcome the only Defensive Coordinator to earn a Superbowl Ring in New Orleans while understanding Revenge of the Nerds is a sequel. "Come get some!"
  • BUNSofSTEEL08B BUNSofSTEEL08 wrote on
    #170

    JosephSixpack said:

    Considering we've now got confirmed 'roid use in the '50s, I'd keep those asterisks in my back pocket for now. You never know when you might need some to put on a Browns helmet.

    Newsflash !!!!! My Coaches always told me...it aint Cheatin If you dont get CAUGHT !! Not to say its right , but that's How we were raised up. I remember Football Coaches showing holding tactics to O-linemen... geezz...My Basketball Coaches were wizards when it came to ways to gain an "Advantage". I am Just saying it is NO Surprise that Guys used "Supplements" to gain an edge too !!! Even in the 50`s...

    Climbing the Stairway...To SEVEN !!
  • BUNSofSTEEL08B BUNSofSTEEL08

    JosephSixpack said:

    Considering we've now got confirmed 'roid use in the '50s, I'd keep those asterisks in my back pocket for now. You never know when you might need some to put on a Browns helmet.

    Newsflash !!!!! My Coaches always told me...it aint Cheatin If you dont get CAUGHT !! Not to say its right , but that's How we were raised up. I remember Football Coaches showing holding tactics to O-linemen... geezz...My Basketball Coaches were wizards when it came to ways to gain an "Advantage". I am Just saying it is NO Surprise that Guys used "Supplements" to gain an edge too !!! Even in the 50`s...

    Riffer XR Riffer X wrote on
    #171

    FREAKofSTEEL08 said:

    Newsflash !!!!! My Coaches always told me...it aint Cheatin If you dont get CAUGHT !! Not to say its right , but that's How we were raised up. I remember Football Coaches showing holding tactics to O-linemen... geezz...My Basketball Coaches were wizards when it came to ways to gain an "Advantage". I am Just saying it is NO Surprise that Guys used "Supplements" to gain an edge too !!! Even in the 50`s...
    Is a pig's ass pork?
  • BUNSofSTEEL08B BUNSofSTEEL08 wrote on
    #172

    Zombo said:

    Now you've got your team motto to go along with your new logo, the asterisk.

    Zombo

    --Mrs. Freak has the same motto from what I hear...

    Way to take it from out of Context. And Did you Play sports ? Tell me your coaches didnt show you things to get around the Rules of the Game ! So..again with Huge $$$$ Riding on Performance , we are surprised ? Come on man...

    Climbing the Stairway...To SEVEN !!
  • P Pumpkin Eater wrote on
    #173
    *
    :neutral_face:
  • P Pumpkin Eater
    *
    S Spunkonmyback DPOY wrote on
    #174

    @pumpkin-eater said:

    *

    How can the league even attempt to dimish the Steelers success when we didn't do anything that they forbidden?

    "Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil" - Niccolo Machiavelli "Expectation is the root of all heartache." - William Shakespeare "In time we hate that which we often fear. " - William Shakespeare "I DO ROIDS ... and GIVE HEAD" - ATENEARS http://thebrownsboard.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=16312 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06166/698372-66.stm Friday said, "posters on Internet message boards hide behind their keyboards and write things they would never have the courage to say aloud in public. He said posters who write tasteless messages use football and the rivalries between teams as a way of getting out their aggression in a non-violent manner." Predicted 2010 Steelers record from this board: 7-9; 6-10; 8-8; 9-7; 10-6
  • S Snatch98 wrote on
    #175

    Why is this thread still alive? Is this the bitter bobby convention?

  • BUNSofSTEEL08B BUNSofSTEEL08 wrote on
    #176

    Zombo said:

    Yeah, I played football, basketball, baseball ... and remarkabley, not one coach asked if it was OK to take a syringe full of an illegal human growth hormone that would be detrimental to my long-term health and inject it in my ass so that I could be bigger and stronger than the other kids and inflict my will upon them.

    Nope. Can't say that happened.

    Zombo

    Dude I agree with THAT...But we were taught to stretch and even Break rules. So move up to the Pros and $$$$$$ is large...I am just saying NO SURPRISE.

    Climbing the Stairway...To SEVEN !!
  • BUNSofSTEEL08B BUNSofSTEEL08 wrote on
    #177

    @inspecta said:

    It's actually still alive due to your boys who feel the need to play white knight after every post. They don't even realize they are being strung along. Not the brightest bunch out there on the net I can tell you that

    Maybe we Like being strung along...what else we gonna do...Talk about the Pirates latest 5 yr. plan ??? I will watch baseball and roll my eyes into the back of my head. But I will watch.

    Climbing the Stairway...To SEVEN !!
  • DTBHD DTBH wrote on
    #178

    Obviously it was because they re-embarked in '05 and '08.

  • P Pumpkin Eater wrote on
    #179

    @inspecta said:

    It's actually still alive due to your boys who feel the need to play white knight after every post. They don't even realize they are being strung along. Not the brightest bunch out there on the net I can tell you that

    😒

    and the Steelroids will forever be remembered not for winning but for cheating.

    :neutral_face:
  • ClevelandFanForLifeC ClevelandFanForLife wrote on
    #180

    can we please stop talking about this. everyone is just repeating themselves. this has gone on long enough. it's put this thread to rest.

    once a fan, always a fan. married to a steeler fan. aaaaaaaaah! --andy
    Riffer XR 1 Reply
  • P Pumpkin Eater wrote on
    #181

    Steelroids Steelroids Steelroids Steelroids

    :neutral_face:
  • FlugelF Flugel

    JosephSixpack said:

    So by that measure, you should hate Jim Brown and totally reject anything the Browns achieved in the '50s right? I mean, Jimmy was getting hauled in for rage-fueled wifey abuse while Bradshaw was still up in his high chair eating his baby food.

    Just like Jim somehow managed to be 1) bigger than his guards that blocked for him, yet 2) faster than his wide receivers. Now how is that possible? Imagine if Frankenback had played for the Steelers, how you'd be all over him! You know, just like you completely glossed over the Van Pelt story, as if it never happened. Which proves again my point -- it's not about 'roids, it's about singling out the Steelers for some hypocritical bashing.

    Again, why would you rag on the Steelers, or any other team, instead of the guys who actually STARTED the whole 'roids thing in the first place? Shouldn't you be directing your criticism at them now? Hmmm.

    According to the Pittsburgh Steeler: "False Glory is a True story!" Hard to find better scoreboard than checkmate.

    My advice: finish that 6 pack, get some well needed sleep and buy some more beer tomorrow Joey! I know you're depressed but if you kill enough brain cells drinking - you'll remain too confused to feel the emotional pain. If someone tells you they think you have a drinking problem - you just ask them "does it look like I'm having any trouble drinking?"

    As you were...,

    - Tom F. (And about that college basketball team: "Beware the Ides of March!")

    FlugelF Flugel wrote on
    #182

    @flugel said:

    According to the Pittsburgh Steeler: "False Glory is a True story!" Hard to find better scoreboard than checkmate.

    My advice: finish that 6 pack, get some well needed sleep and buy some more beer tomorrow Joey! I know you're depressed but if you kill enough brain cells drinking - you'll remain too confused to feel the emotional pain. If someone tells you they think you have a drinking problem - you just ask them "does it look like I'm having any trouble drinking?"

    As you were...,

    - Tom F. (And about that college basketball team: "Beware the Ides of March!")

    Remember this warning I gave yinz about Mid March??? I know your town has liked the needle since Salk passed through there so I thought I'd needle yinz a little more. Just imagine if dirty needles made basketballs go through hoops better - there'd be more parades in Pittsburgh. Just be happy the kids will live longer. If you're gonna cheat at anything - cheat death! The soul ain't for sale kids!!!!

    - Tom F. (How about my HOT Syracuse Orangemen from Upstate, NY?)

    I welcome the only Defensive Coordinator to earn a Superbowl Ring in New Orleans while understanding Revenge of the Nerds is a sequel. "Come get some!"
Log in to reply