Not clean or sober

The NBA is not that clean or sober.

Thus, it didn’t surprise me when Rashard Lewis of the Orlando Magic tested positive for performance-enhancing substance called dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

Lewis said he bought a dietary supplement over-the-counter and didn’t know it contained the banned substance. He probably didn’t really know but the NBA didn’t buy his alibi and suspended him for 10 games, without pay, in the incoming 2009-2010 season.

Researchers found out that DHEA has “anti-stress” effects. Special Forces, in training, with high levels of DHEA showed more resilience under stressful conditions. 

The 6-10 forward hurt his knee towards the end of the regular season but “miraculously” came back a stronger player in the playoffs and helped Orlando win the Eastern Conference title.

Lewis is among NBA players suspended for steroid other drug related cases. The list includes Lindsey Hunter, Matt Geiger, Darius Miles, Don MacLean and Soumaila Samake (the last two names don’t ring a bell!).

The league also abounds with pot-smoking players. In a 2001 article by Philip Smith titled “High in the NBA,” Charles Oakley was quoted as saying that marijuana smoking increased during his career. He also said, “You got guys out there playing high every night. You got 60% of your league on marijuana. What can you do?” (Here’s the link to the article: http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/10555/)

The players accused of smoking marijuana were Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Chris Webber and Allen Iverson.

The NBA has the most lenient testing procedure and drug policy among sports leagues in the US. Players are subject to tests in the pre-season, none in the off-season. Rookies are tested more times during the regular season and any player could be subjected to any test if there’s reasonable cause. The NBA bans players who fail doping tests but these players could come back after two years of rehab.

One of those who came back is Chris Anderson of the Denver Nuggets. The NBA banned the high-flying forward in 2006 for doping violations. Anderson was then playing for the New Orleans Hornets.

The most celebrated drug case in the NBA was that of Michael Ray Richardson, a known cocaine user. He was fourth overall pick of the New York in 1978. Twice he failed the NBA drug test, the last in 1991. He vehemently fought the ban in 1991 implying that the league has “double standard.” He contented that the NBA punished him – a black player – and never lifted a finger on Chris Mullin although the later has serious alcohol problems.

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Tomorrow, sportswriters will set aside their pens and will try to handle handguns at the shooting range of Camp Lapu-Lapu in Lahug. The activity is part of educating the sportswriter in the sports events they are covering or will be covering.

So far, our group, known as the Sportswriter Association of Cebu (SAC) under the presidency of John Pages have tried golf, karting, eskrima, jujitsu and bowling – with varying degrees of success!

Before anything else, we would like to thank Armscor, Kamagong and City Councilor Jack Jakosalem for their help in this activity.

The last time I fired a real gun was in 1990, although I have been participating in airsoft competitions since I came home in 2006. I was guest of then Lt. Col. Ricardo Brillantes (PMA Class of 1972), commander of the Ranger training command in Tanay, Rizal. For a few days while in the camp, I slept in the barracks, jogged with Rangers and joined firing exercises.

Maj. General Brillantes is now retired. He was the general who made sure Manny Pacquiao joins the Army.

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