Friday, February, 28, 2005
Canseco tattles on MLB in new boo
By Chris LaFuria
sports commentary
As a former A's slugger and owner of
462 career home runs, Jose Canseco
received much attention for being one of
the games most brute forces with raging
biceps and a massive swing. With one
flick of the wrists, Canseco could deliver a
shot that ascended beyond the sight of any
fan. With all of this shear power, Canseco
arrived under the scrutiny of many experts
of baseball and the human anatomy.
While numerous players spent early spring
training in the weight room, bulking up for
the upcoming campaign, Canseco mois
tened a needle that became more important
than any bench press.
Steroids, a subject that has recently pos
sessed much of the league's inquiry, was
the key factor in making Canseco the force
that he was. "I truly believe, because I've
experimented with [steroids] for so many
years, it can make an average athlete a
super athlete," said Canseco in an inter
view with Sports Illustrated.
Due to the discovery of his frequent use
of the illegal substance, Canseco came
clean about the amount of ballplayers that
currently use steroids, which, according to
Canseco, is about 80 percent. Professional
superstars such as Rafael Palmeiro, Ivan
Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez and Mark
McGwire all supposedly received the drug
directly from Canseco. In his new book,
"Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids,
Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big,"
Canseco spills the beans about steroids and
baseball.
While playing together in Oakland in the
late 80s, Canseco claims to have physically
injected the drug into butt of the skinny
McGwire. Canseco then claimed that
steroids are the factor that led to the power
of McGwire's swing and his and many
other players' colossal home run total.
A rebuttal from McGwire found that
there was no evidence of such foul play.
Standing behind his natural physique and
pure hitting power, McGwire stated in a tel-
Swimmers
The men and women's swimming and diving teams established a name for
themselves beating out AMCC teams at the Grove City Invitational
Feb. 10-12 marked the final team competition for both the
men's and women's swim teams. It also marked a three-day
period of team excitement, best times, and new records. The
Lion's traveled to Grove City for an invitational where they
competed against 11 teams. The men finished fourth overall
and first in AMCC competition. The women finished fifth
overall and also placed first in AMCC competition.
"We had nine men swimmers and divers and placed fourth
overall," said Head coach Jen Slack. "Everyone stepped up to
competition, swam fast, and got back into finals and consola
tions."
At the meet, the men went on a record breaking rampage set
ting three new individual team records, two relay records and
one AMCC record. Top finishers for the men were sophomore
Brandon Thiel, freshmen Dustin Fairchild, Matt Seiferth,
Anthony Spoto and diver Dan Wiltrout.
Fairchild set one new AMCC record in the 500 freestyle with
the time of 4:53.14; that time also set a new team record.
Fairchild's 200 freestyle performance was good enough to set
yet another team record with the time of 1:48.34. Spoto's 100
freestyle time 49.71 added to the record breaking performanc
es.
In relay action the combination of Fairchild, Seiferth, junior
Steve Schleicher and Mel broke the 800 freestyle relay record
(7:24.13). On Saturday, the four-man team of Spoto, Fairchild,
Seiferth and Mel ended the meet setting the 400 freestyle team
record (3:18.58). Both relay records wiped out records that
were originally set in the 2001 season, which was the men's
second varsity swim season.
"They were tough records to break," said Slack. "It was
exciting to see them work together to break those records."
"All of the guys swain great at championships," said
Schleicher. "We had a great meet, swimming fast times and
breaking many individual and relay records. Ending a season
like we did just makes you more excited for an even better sea
son next year."
The women had just as an exciting meet as the men. The blue
and white teamed up„ setting a record-breaking nine new indi
vidual team records and four new relay records. To put the
icing on the cake, the Lady Lion's set seven new AMCC indi
vidual records and four new AMCC relay records. The record
breaking performances were surrounded with team best and
Behrend's fast-ever individual event Champion at the Grove
City Invitational.
"They really came together and helped each other push
through the competition," said Slack.
By Samantha Cibula
sports co-editor
Barry Bonds of the San Fransisco Giants has been
suspected of using steroids during the BALCO
investigations.
evision appearance, "Once and for all I did
not use steroids nor any illegal substance.
The relationship that these allegations por
tray couldn't be further from the truth."
Since many players have rejected the
accusations of Canseco, many people have
begun to question the credibility of him as
a source. According to Tony Laßussa, who
managed McGwire in his record-setting
home run campaign, "I think he's in dire
straits and needs money. I think secondly
there's a healthy case of envy and jealousy."
In his book, Canseco declares that every
thing he says and everyone he accuses is
absolutely true. Even the lawyer represent
ing Canseco in the matter claims that he is
100 percent straightforward and truthful.
However, in his interview with Mike
rewrite record books
Three days, 18 new
team records, 12 AMCC
records,
a fourth place
mens finish and fifth
place women's finish
marked the end of the
2004-2005 swim season
Placing in the top six in individual events were freshi
Cyndi Morales, Missy Pilewski, diver Jenny Conrad, sop]
more Whitney Marshall and senior diver Catherine Fanklin.
Morales placed first in both the 500 and 1650 freestyle.
mixed in a second place finish in the 10(X) freestyle.
Morales, who made history earlier this year making EC,
cuts, once again gave Behrend swimming something to rec
in the history books. She was the first Lady Lion to take hi
a first place finish not in one event but two. Adding to her
formance were record breaking swims in the 500 free (5:12.15),
1000 free (10:43.53) and the 1650 free (17:54.67). Each
record was a team and AMCC record.
Marshall also had a standout meet. The sophomore captain
broke records in the 200 free (1:59.11), 200 fly (2:18.80), and
100 free (55.59). Marshall's times in the 200 free and 200 fly
set AMCC records. Her 100 freestyle time just missed the
AMCC record set by Kim Love (55.15), Penn State Altoona
in 2002. Marshall's largest time drop came in the 200 fly.
"Whitney dropped six seconds in the 200 fly," said Slack.
"I knew she had it in her. It is so exciting to see someone do
so well in a race that can be so tough."
Pilewski's bread and butter events guided her to two record
breaking performances as well. Her 200 breaststroke time of
2:38.63 and 100 breaststroke (1:11.34) set both team and
AMCC records. Sophomore sprinter Brittany Yost also
knocked down a record in the 50 backstroke (30.21).
The Lady Lion's also rewrote four of five AMCC and team
relay records. The quartet of Marshall, Pilewski, Morales
and Yost broke the 400 free relay, 200 medley relay and 400
medley relay AMCC and team records. Marshall, Yost and
Morales teamed up again, this time with sophomore distance
swimmer Alexis Puhala to set the 800 free relay team and
AMCC record with the time of 8:17.72.
"For some of the relays we weren't expecting to swim as
fast as we did," said Yost. "But when you put four girls
together behind a starting block, combined with intensity and
determination, you realize anything can happen."
After a physically and emotionally wearing three-thy
meet, both teams fmd their seasons over. Morales, howev
er, made ECAC cuts and will be traveling to the University
of Pittsburgh where she will compete in the 1650 and 500
freestyle.
"On both sides I'm excited for next season," said Slack.
"They will need to stay in shape during off season and we'll
work on tweaking training for next season."
Ending on a high note, swimmers wanting more and
sending the first PSB Lady Lion to the ECAC meet might
just be the ending to a somewhat storybook season that will
carry the varsity swim teams to the next level.
popT
Wallace on 60 Minutes,
Canseco confessed to possess
ing shaky details. A memory
that has been interrupted and
altered may have been a driv
ing force during the completion
of the book.
There are many reasons
to believe that Canseco strives
for attention and has placed his
lies in his book. First, he
alleges that Miguel Tejada
used steroids to achieve a
higher salary even though
Canseco had no source for
this information.
Secondly, he claims to
have spoken to Bret
Boone about Boone's
steroid use in a spring
training game after
Canseco doubled and
landed near Boone's posi
tion. Sources say that
during the series between
the two teams, Canseco
never even reached base.
Whether you stand
behind Canseco in his tes
timony or if you side with the
players on their authentica
tion, no one can deny the fact
5
CY
CL
.-.)
:hat steroids do exist in base
ball. From the confession of Jason Giambi
before a grand jury to Ken Caminiti admit
ting right before his death to using illegal
drugs, the evidence is clear.
However, people may find themselves in
trouble if they believe any particular player
when they point their oversized finger. The
timing was right for Canseco. His book
came in the midst of the BALCO scandal
and the inspection of Barry Bonds and
other big leaguers in the area of steroids.
Canseco's book may hold some truth as he
describes his lifestyle of sleeping with over
100 women, dating Madonna and making
out with Tara Reid. The validity of his fin
ger-pointing at ballplayers, however, is
something that cannot initially be taken as
truth.
( - I
Senior Spotlight
ROB FRANK/13EFIRI-:ND BEACON
Torn Lulich (far left) and Jared Clough (second from right) with the rest of the
men's basketball seniors.
Jared Clough and Tom Lulich
Behrend Beacon: What are your plans for after graduation?
Jared Clough: After graduation, I plan on attending seminary to become a
pastor.
Tom Lulich: I am contemplating graduate school and also interviewing for some
jobs in Plastics Engineering.
BB: What will you miss most about Behrend?
JC: The thing I will miss most is having to wake up on Saturdays 1 . ()r walk
through and the hoop squad.
TL: I will miss my friends, coaches and teachers and also the crazy times with the
Frosh, hoop squad, Roadhouse with the folks, Dobbins, dancing in Cam's room to
Cotton-eyed Joe and the parking tickets.
BB: What is your favorite basketball memory?
JC: My favorite memory is the NCAA tournament game against Potsdam
TL: Playing in the NCAA Tournament. The crowd and the intensity in the gym
that night were incredible and, hopefully, we will make another appearance there
before my career ends.
BB: What is your most embarrassing or funny moment?
JC: Spain, that's all that I can say.
TL: Getting thunderdunked on against Pitt-Greensburg. It was pretty sweet, espe
cially when they called the blocking foul on me too.
'Spirit Against Cancer' generates $7OOO
for American Cancer Society
Penn State Behrend's fourth annual Becky Hubler Decker Dance and
Cheerleading Competition, held Feb. 12, generated $7,000 for the American
Cancer Society with more than 2,000 people attending this unique event in the
Junker Center.
48 teams participated in the competition that ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dance and cheerleading teams from middle school, junior high, junior varsity,
high school varsity, collegE and all-star (open) squads participated winning
awards in several categories.
"Spirit Against Cancer" was created in memory of Becky Hubler Decker. Her
commitment to the community included serving as dance coach at Penn State
Behrend, cheerleading coach at Edinboro University, she was captain of the
Invaderettes dance team and a member of the Buffalo Bills (Jills) dance team.
All proceeds from this special event will benefit the American Cancer Society.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Freshman Cyndi Morales set three individual team records and AMCC records
at the Grove City Invitational. Morales looks to better her times in the 1650
and 500 freestyle at the ECAC swim meet Feb. 24-27 at the University of
Pittsburgh Trees pool.
The Behrend Beacon I