MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and MLBPA Exec Dir Don Fehr
issued "a joint statement yesterday saying that they have
asked their medical experts to study the whole area of
nutritional supplements," according to Murray Chass of the
N.Y. TIMES. The two acted because MLB is "concerned" that
the controversy over Cardinals 1B Mark McGwire's admitted
use of androstenedione "will undermine the mushrooming
interest in the pursuit" of the single-season home run
record by McGwire and Cubs RF Sammy Sosa. The statement
said that since the "substances in question are available
over the counter and are not regulated" by the FDA, "it
seems inappropriate" that press reports should "overshadow
the accomplishments of players such as" McGwire (N.Y. TIMES,
8/27). McGwire, on MLB's statement: "It's what I've been
saying all along. I don't know why the media made such a
big deal out of it" (Hal Bodley, USA TODAY, 8/27).
STILL CASHING IN: USA TODAY's Bruce Horovitz charts
"who's profiting, or trying to, from the hype" around the
nutritional supplements. MET-Rx Engineered Nutrition CEO
Len Moskovits: "The last time I saw publicity like this was
when Viagra hit the market" (USA TODAY, 8/27). Jamie
Laubacher of Great Earth Vitamins in San Jose, CA, said,
"We've been selling a lot" of androstenedione. Laubacher:
"We can't keep it on the shelves" (MERCURY NEWS, 8/27).
FOR THOSE SCORING AT HOME: ESPN said yesterday that
running a Creatine ad during its Little League World Series
coverage was a "mistake," and it has cancelled further
spots. ESPN Communications Coordinator Josh Krulewitz: "It
was inappropriate" (Howard Manly, BOSTON GLOBE, 8/27).
FRONT-PAGE TREATMENT: In Philadelphia, Jayson Stark
writes on McGwire's and Sosa's HR chase on the front page of
the INQUIRER under the header, "Home-Run Derby A Delight For
All." Cardinals Dir of Media Relations Brian Bartow: "There
has been more interest in this from the non-baseball media
than you would see for the playoffs or World Series. This
has become a story that's more than just baseball -- and
more than just sports" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/27).
