Oh this is poetic.

After a three-month joint investigation between the Cambridge Police Department and the Postal Service’s Inspector General, an alleged steroid dealer was arrested, and a large quantity of drugs seized, said Dan Riviello, a spokesman for Cambridge police.

The steroids were allegedly being carried around in an Ed Hardy bag.

Stephen Rauseo, 47, of Saugus was arrested on Mooney Street in Cambridge after a search of his vehicle revealed 23 different drugs. He faces drug 23 charges of drug possession and more charges of intent to distribute.

Police seized eight bottles of liquid steroids, nearly 600 pills and various bottles of other controlled substances. They also took $1,093 in cash off Rauseo.

Baseball superstar Manny Ramirez has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and has been suspended 50 games, starting Thursday.

Ramirez released a statement acknowledging the suspension.

“Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was ok to give me. Unfortunately the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under that policy, that mistake is now my responsibility,” he said. “I’ve been advised not to say anything more.”

Some reporters, especially a vocally and clearly angry Bill Plaschke, who ranted on ESPN Thursday afternoon, don’t believe the “doctor” story.

“Was there a Dominican cousin mentioned in there? Who in their right mind would believe that?” said Plaschke.

Plaschke called the situation “devestating to this city’s (Los Angeles) baseball culture, absolutely devastating.”

“How many times are we going to keep believing players who say ‘I didn’t know what it was?’” said Plaschke. “Get the guy out of a Dodger uniform. Get this guy out of baseball.”

Ramirez asserts that in the past, he has successfully passed 15 drug tests.

“Los Angeles is a special place to me, and i know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I’m sorry about this whole situation.”

The Los Angeles Times is first reported the story Thursday morning.

The times reported that Dodgers told AAA outfielder Xavier Paul to be ready to report to Los Angeles.

The Times says that Ramirez will say the test results are because of medication he received from a doctor for a medical issue.

If the report is true, it is a brutal blow to baseball. Manny Ramirez was widely considered one of the last “clean” superstars and was an absolute first ballot hall of famer until today.

Ramirez would be the second of his superstar ilk to fall this season, behind Alex Rodriguez.

Ramirez led the Boston Red Sox to two World Series championships. He leads the Dodgers this season with a .348 batting average and has six home runs so far.

Ramirez has previously denied steroid use.

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs from 2001 to 2003.

ESPN is reporting that Rodriguez, in an exclusive interview with Peter Gammons, has admitted to allegations that surfaced in a recent Sports Illustrated report online.

“I felt an enormous amount of pressure,” Rodriguez told Gammons. “Back then it was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid. I was naive. I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth, you know, being one of the greatest players of all time, and I did take a banned substance.”

Rodriguez did appear apologetic in talking to Gammons.

“I am very sorry and deeply regretful,” Rodriguez said. “Although it was the culture back then … i just feel that I’m just sorry. I’m sorry for that time. I’m sorry to my fans.”

SI reported last week that four sources independently told the magazine that Arod tested positive for two anabolic steroids at that time. According to SI, Rodriguez’s name appears on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball’s 2003 survey testing, which the MLB Players Association agreed to allow to determine if it was necessary to impose stricter drug testing in baseball.

The drug Rodriguez allegedly tested positive for, Primobolan, is less detectable than many other steroids because its markers stay in the body for less time than other drugs. It is also expensive, costing about $500 per week, SI reported.

Rodriguez called the time a “loosey goosy” era, saying he didn’t “know exactly what substance” he “was guilty of using.”

Rodriguez hit 47 home runs in 2003, good enough for his third consecutive home run title.

New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003, Sports Illustrated is reporting.

Rodriguez won his first American League Most Valuable Player award in 2003 while with the Texas Rangers.

SI is reporting that four sources independently told the magazine that Arod tested positive for two anabolic steroids at that time.

According to SI, Rodriguez’s name appears on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball’s 2003 survey testing, which the MLB Players Association agreed to allow to determine if it was necessary to impose stricter drug testing in baseball.

The drug Rodriguez allegedly tested positive for, Primobolan, is less detectable than many other steroids because its markers stay in the body for less time than other drugs. It is also expensive, costing about $500 per week, SI reported.

The 2003 steroids tests were sealed by agreement but leaked to Sports Illustrated by sources.

Rodriguez hit 47 home runs in 2003, good enough for his third consecutive home run title.

Their appeals were heard and they lost. Six players were suspended by the NFL today for four games for violation of the league’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.

The six players who have been suspended are: Saints running back Deuce McAllister, Saints defensive end Charles Grant, Saints defensive end Will Smith, Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams, Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams, and Texans long snapper Bryan Pittman.

It should be clear, however, that none of these six players took steroids. The substance in question is called Bumetanide (a diuretic) and it’s found in a supplement called StarCaps, which is available by prescription only and doesn’t say “Bumetanide” on the label.

“The players specifically violated a longstanding provision of the policy relating to the use of diuretics and water pills, which serve as masking agents for steroids and are potentially dangerous to the health of players” the NFL said in a release.

In the release, the NFL talked about the allegations that Dr. John Lombardo knew that a supplement known as “StarCaps” secretly included Bumetanide.

“With respect to the question of whether a specific warning should have been given regarding Star Caps, the policy does not set forth an obligation to issue specific warnings about specific products and no testimony suggests that the NFL and NFLPA have ever contemplated imposing such a requirement on Dr. Lombardo, who oversees the development of education materials on steroids” the release says. “In keeping with that responsibility, the NFL, NFLPA, and Dr. Lombardo have emphasized the need for extreme caution in the use of any supplement, including weight reduction products, have established a Hotline for players to call for information regarding supplements, have established a Supplement Certification program with EAS to provide players with supplements that are free of banned substances, and have, in conjunction with reinforcing the strict liability rule, repeatedly warned players about the dangers of unregulated and inaccurately labeled dietary supplements. In the past, players have been suspended for using dietary supplements that contained a banned substance.”

As you probably know, Roger Clemens is under investigation in the baseball performance enhancing drug scandal.

Every media outlet in every direction is analyzing quotes and the he-said, she-said and trying to figure out who is telling the truth and who isn’t.

I’m not here to do that.

I believe he’s guilty of getting his ass injected with something illegal, and I’m just going to assume he’s lying to Congress.

For four hours and 41 minutes on Wednesday, Clemens did himself no favors. Actually, he hasn’t been helping his case to remain a free American since he started denying steroid allegations to the government. It’s one thing to tell the New York Daily News that you didn’t take steroids. It’s one thing to tell your friends. It’s one thing to tell ESPN. However, Mr. Clemens, it is an entirely different issue to lie to Congress. They tend to frown upon that.

Lying to the public may not get you into the Hall of Fame and you may lose some/all endorsements, but it doesn’t get you thrown in jail. It’s bad news when a congressman feels compelled to tell you he thinks you are full of it.

“It’s hard to believe you, Sir,” Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) said. “I hate to say that. You’re one of my heroes, but itts hard to believe you.”

Remember this is coming from someone who listens to B.S. all day every day.

Chris Webber found himself in a similar situation years ago when he had to testify under oath about possible NCAA violations. It’s not worth it to lie to Congress about a criminal or minor criminal act. Who cares if the University of Michigan can’t get top recruits for a few years? Who cares if your autographed baseballs aren’t worth as much anymore?

Are those things desirable? No, but they also are a great alternative to jail. Clemens is now putting himself in a situation where he could possibly could lose his freedom. His ego and they-can-never-touch me attitude has finally gotten the best of him.

The long-awaited Mitchell report, telling the tale of a decade of steroids and performance enhancing substances in professional baseball, has been released.

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Miguel Tejada, Fernando Vina and Andy Pettitte are named in the report. Eric Gagne and Paul Lo Duca are linked to human growth hormone. More played are named in what the Associated Press is calling “baseball’s most infamous lineup since the Black Sox scandal.”

Former Senator George Mitchell delivered a cross-check to baseball, and went on the offensive against the players’ union especially:

“The Players Association was largely uncooperative,” he said

1. It rejected totally my requests for relevant documents.
2. It permitted one interview with its executive director, Donald Fehr; my request for an interview with its chief operating officer, Gene Orza, wasrefused.
3. It refused my request to interview the director of the Montreal laboratory that analyzes drug tests under baseball’s drug program but permitted her to provide me with a letter addressing a limited number of issues.
4. I sent a memorandum to every active player in Major League Baseball encouraging each player to contact me or my staff if he had any relevant information. The Players Association sent out a companion memorandum that effectively discouraged players from cooperating. Not one player contacted me in response to my memorandum.
5. I received allegations of the illegal possession or use of performance enhancing substances by a number of current players. Through their representative, the Players
   Association, I asked each of them to meet with me so that I could provide them with information about the allegations and give them a chance to respond. Almost without exception they declined to meet or talk with me.

The illegal use of performance enhancing substances poses a serious threat to the integrity of the game. Widespread use by players of such substances unfairly disadvantages the
honest athletes who refuse to use them and raises questions about the validity of baseball records. In addition, because they are breaking the law, users of these substances are vulnerable to drug dealers who might seek to exploit their knowledge through threats intended to affect the outcome of baseball games or otherwise.

Players also named include: Chuck Knoblauch, Jason Grimsley, Gregg Zaun, David Justice, F.P. Santangelo, Glenallen Hill, Mo Vaughn, Denny Neagle, Ron Villone, Ryan Franklin, Chris Donnels, Todd Williams, Phil Hiatt, Todd Pratt, Kevin Young, Mike Lansing, 10-year minor league catcher Cody McKay, Kent Mercker, Adam Piatt, Jason Christiansen, Mike Stanton, Stephen Randolph, Jerry Hairston, Jr., Adam Riggs, Bart Miadich, Kevin Brown, Mike Bell, Matt Herges, Gary Bennett, Jr., Jim Parque, Brendan Donnelly, Chad Allen, Jeff Williams, Howie Clark, Marvin Benard, Jeremy Giambi, Jason Giambi, Benito Santiago, Gary Sheffield, Randy Velarde and Nook Logan.

Several other players were named because published news reports indicated possible substance use including:

Rick Ankiel — “On December 6, 2007, the Commissioner’s Office announced that there was insufficient evidence of a violation of the joint program in effect at the time of the
conduct in question to warrant discipline of Ankiel.”

David Bell — “Neither I nor any member of my investigative staff had any prior knowledge of any allegation about Bell.”

Paul Byrd — “Byrd admitted that he had been taking human growth hormone but said that he had been using it to treat a tumor on his pituitary gland.”

Jay Gibbons — “I am deeply sorry for the mistakes that I have made. I have no excuses and bear sole responsibility for my decisions. Years ago, I relied on the advice of a doctor, filled a prescription, charged the HGH, which is a medication, to my credit card and had only intended to help speed my recovery from my injuries and surgeries.”

Troy Glaus — “On December 6, 2007, the Commissioner’s Office announced that there was insufficient evidence of a violation of the joint program in effect at the time of the conduct in question to warrant discipline of Glaus.”

Jose Guillen — “On December 6, 2007, the Commissioner’s Office announced a 15-day suspension of Guillen for violation of the joint drug program, to take effect at the start of the 2008 season.”

John Rocker — “Rocker initially denied the allegations, but his spokesperson later reportedly said that Rocker had been prescribed human growth hormone in connection with shoulder surgery”

Scott Schoeneweis — On December 6, 2007, the Commissioner’s Office announced that there was insufficient evidence of a violation of the joint program in effect at the time of the conduct in question to warrant discipline of Schoeneweis.

ESPN has a full categorized list on their website.

The report largely centers around the cooperation of two men including Kirk Radomski, a former Mets employee, who said he supplied several players with performance enhancing drugs. The report includes copies of checks and notes written by athletes to suppliers of the supplements.

Download the Mitchell Report from Blast Magazine.