By By Matthew Nascone
Are you ready for some more World Wide of Sports, Nascone edition?
Well you are going to get it anyway because right now there is nothing to write about on the local level because there is nothing going on. Of course I will be writing a column at a later date detailing why you should get your kids involved in the Pitch, Hit &Run competition, but we still have about a month to get that going.
The big talk all across the sports universe now is the trial of Roger Clemens vs. Brian McNamee. This is a huge case and it will prove that either Clemens or his former trainer have lied under oath.
Either way it will be a black eye for baseball, but the welt will be significantly larger if the greatest pitcher of this generation is proved to be a roid freak.
I remember watching games Clemens pitched in and wondering 'How does he do that at such an old age?' I hope the truth comes out whether it is good or bad for Clemens.
There is nothing better than the truth. Now many avid Jack Nicholson fans would remind me that I can't handle the truth, but I still want the opportunity to juggle that in my mind.
This topic is also another plain example of how being a star really can get the scope of the anti-steroid snipers aimed at you, and only you.
But, as per my talk with my buddy Chad, this is an unfair burden on guys like Clemens and Barry Bonds. I know all the evidence is pointing towards them being guilty, but there were many other players named in that oh so famous Mitchell Report. You don't hear the national media going after all the scrubs in the papers, but as a journalist myself I can tell you that is because not as many people care about those guys.
And the whole mantra of what have you done for me recently is also plaguing Bonds and Clemens because Mark McGwire has also been targeted for the steroids talk, but he is retired and that is why not as much heat is coming down on him.
No matter how this situation ends, it will be bad for everyone involved.
Another big news event in the sports world was the Phoenix Suns of the NBA's acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal. I only say big news because Shaq is such a large man. He will have an impact on the team, but he is a little past his prime and has seemed to be slowing as the years roll on by.
And in the never ending saga of SpyGate out in New England, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Sen. Arlen Specter are supposed to meet today to discuss what they will do next regarding the spying scandal that rocked Super Bowl Week.
Personally, I hope it is found that the Patriots cheated for every Super Bowl they ever won because it would further disprove all the notions that this is the best NFL dynasty ever. I remember hearing about how they are the best ever because they are doing it in a time of parity.
Well, I guess the way they fought parity was to spy on the other sideline. Shame on the Pats and I hope the truth is found there as well. (But I am rooting for the truth to be that they cheated.)
Matthew Nascone is the sports editor of the Atmore Advance. He can be reached at 368-2123 or online at sports@atmoreadvance.com.