News that Cardinals 1B Mark McGwire uses Creatine for
an "energy boost appears to have ignited the booster-rockets
on an already sizzling product," according to Richard Wilner
of the N.Y. POST. Creatine's sales are estimated to be
$180M this year, but some think sales could hit $300M in '98
now that McGwire "has so enthusiastically endorsed the
product." Steve Goldberg, Owner of Great Earth Vitamins
store: "We have definitely seen an increased interest and
awareness in Creatine following all the hoopla this weekend"
(N.Y. POST, 8/25). Meanwhile, sales of another nutritional
supplement that McGwire uses, Androstenedione, "boomed" last
week in Dallas "as recreational athletes tried to be like
Mac." Michael Link, Manager of Great Earth Vitamins: "I'd
say sales went up 1,000 percent" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS,
8/25). Headline in today's TORONTO STAR: "Mac Hikes Drug
Sales. Androstenedione Demand Increasing" (TORONTO STAR,
8/25). Penn State Univ. Professor Charles Yesalis: "This
entire episode has been one great big advertisement for the
drugs. You're going to have all kinds of kids running out
to the malls to buy it" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/25). A USA TODAY
editorial wonders "how many 16-year-olds, wanting to be like
[McGwire] and not wanting to wait until their 30s, will
overload on androstenedione now?" (USA TODAY, 8/25). In St.
Louis, Bernie Miklasz writes that MLB "needs to come up with
some hard, clear answers about" the products' benefits and
dangers, and tells children, "You should never use anything
just because it works for an athlete" (POST-DISPATCH, 8/25).
CRITIC PANS CREATINE AD ON ESPN: In Boston, Howard
Manly criticizes ESPN for running a Creatine ad during the
Little League World Series, calling it "pretty shameful" to
air "presumably when young athletes are watching." Manly:
"There's some money that is just not worth having, and while
the product is legal, showing sculpted bodies enhanced by
Creatine is not the way to encourage the young -- or old --
about sweat equity" (Howard Manly, BOSTON GLOBE, 8/25).
