In N.Y., Howard Beck notes NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter yesterday “announced a modest list of reforms" that were "intended to rectify concerns about his stewardship and perhaps save his job.” The four-point plan “deals mostly with nepotism and conflicts of interest, and comes days after Hunter dismissed three family members who were either directly or indirectly employed by the union.” The actions are a “response to an audit released this month that faulted Hunter for hiring family members, among other concerns.” The debate over Hunter’s future is “expected to take place next month,” when the NBPA “holds its annual meeting during All-Star weekend in Houston” (N.Y. TIMES, 1/31).
SEEKING PROOF: YAHOO SPORTS’ Jeff Passan cited sources as saying that MLB “plans on interviewing all of the players accused of receiving performance-enhancing drugs from the Biogenesis clinic, though the league hopes first to obtain the documents that tied” Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez and other major leaguers to HGH and synthetic testosterone “before moving forward with potential disciplinary action.” MLB officials “expect to travel to Florida in the coming days to discuss with Miami New Times editors and lawyers” whether the newspaper, which broke the story, will “provide the league with the Biogenesis records” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/30).
UNEASY SILENCE: In a special to the WALL STREET JOURNAL, Pro Football HOFer Fran Tarkenton writes, “While cycling, baseball, track and field and other sports have seen major scandals over steroids, there doesn't seem to be comparable outrage or concern over drugs in football.” PEDs can “make you bigger, faster and stronger -- so it is hard to imagine that they aren't widely used in football, the most physical sport of all.” The NFL “doesn't talk about steroids or human growth hormone.” Nor do “many journalists, at least with regard to football.” Yet this is a story about “not only cheating but player safety and long-term health.” Tarkenton: “We're talking about dementia and Alzheimer's. About depression, suicide and early death. Does anybody care?” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/31).
