Stanozolol

Byline: Michael Wilbon

Welcome to another edition of The Chat House where Post columnist Michael Wilbon talked about the latest in sports news.

The transcript follows .

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Michael Wilbon: Hi everybody...We'll start now, but I've got a developing situation which could throw a rock into this week's Chat...Phil Mickelson, who just won the PGA Championship, is ready to be interviewed and I have to talk with Phil, for obvious reasons...We'll start and wee what we get to now and figure out Plan B when we need to...

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Potomac, Md.: What possible, plausible explanation can Rafael Palmeiro have about his recent positive steroid test? Is there a chance that a mistake was made? As I understand it, the test indicated the use of a steroid that must be injected. Do you think he will reveal his source of the drug?

Michael Wilbon: I have no earthly idea of what he could be talking about, or what his excuse could be. No idea. None at all. Zilch. Zero. He talked about this when it first became public, gave his story, and people ripped him. So what's he going to do now, change his story? Give the "true and untold" story? I don't get it...

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Would Tiger have choked?: Mike,

In your gut, do you think Woods would have choked like the vast majority of the "leaders" at the PGA this weekend had he been in a REAL position to win? If he had been anywhere near the lead, I think the others would have continued to falter and he would have been steady. Mickleson was +4 on the weekend. Do you agree that Woods NEVER would have let the masses get back in it like that? and that he would never have lost it if he was given such a chance?

Michael Wilbon: Well, there have been a time here or there where Tiger let people back in...like The Masters in April. Granted, he had played something like 30 holes in one day because of a rain the previous day. I don't know if those guys all choked. I don't buy that. It was hot as hell. The course was playing harder. Nerves are supposed to come into play. Did they distinguish themselves down the stretch? Nope. But choke seems a bit harsh to me...Usually, though, Tiger is steadier than most in those moments, which is why he's the best now and may one day be the best ever. But everybody can't be Tiger, or Jack, or Michael Jordan, or Muhammad Ali...

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San Francisco, Calif.: I have been a Redskins fan for over 20 years (for better or worse!). I have noticed over the last few years there always seems to be an inordinate amount of excuses why the team does not look like a streamlined unit while other teams we play always appear to be in sync.

Do you think there is a significant reason why the Redskins (primarily offensive) team never seem to be on the same page?

Michael Wilbon: The Redskins have had too much turnover, too frequently. Too many coaching changes, too many roster changes, too many changes in philosophy of how to do stuff...How can you find a steady couse if you're jumping to a new one every year? The Patriots haven't had that kind of upheaval...the Steelers haven't had that. The Ravens haven't had it...

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Fayetteville, Ark.: As far as scoring is concerned, do you think the Redskins, with their newly acquired wide recievers, have a shot of scoring more than 21 points before week 13 this year?

Michael Wilbon: Well, even if the running game is better conceived they would have to score more points...But 21 per game? I don't know...It sounds reachable enough, but who knows what the quarterback situation is going to be after six weeks? That's still the place to start ...

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London - England: Hey Mike, I just wanted to ask, IF!, and that's a big if, the offense still fails to produce after 8-10 games, do you think we'll see Campbell get some action this year? He looked pretty settled in the 4th qtr in those two late drives.

Michael Wilbon: I think so. And players I've talked to over the summer think so, too. They feel after Week 8 or 9 we're going to see the kid...but only after Brunell gets a chance...

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Conshohocken, Penn.: How did Patrick Ramsey's body language/demenanor appear on the sideline and/or the series after the interception ?

Michael Wilbon: I'm not a big body-language guy. Unless a guy is kicking and crying or something terribly obvious. I'm not on the sideline during games. I'm in the press box, so I'm not so close as to see facial expressions. You see more of that on TV anyway...I care less about his physical reaction than his psychological reaction...

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Alexandria, Va.: When will the Nats get an owner?

Michael Wilbon: I think we're looking at sometime during the playoffs, so October...That's the earliest time table I can see...

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Mike,

If the Eagles want, can they suspend T. Owens for the rest of the season without pay?

Michael Wilbon: Suspend him, yes. Without pay? No. The union prevents that. I'm sure there are actions that could put him in a suspension-without-pay situation. But he hasn't done anything that serious...

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C'ville, Va.: I know it's just preseason, but it was a football game. The starting offense looks bad. The defense, banged up as they are, aren't getting a lot of chances to play together. The secondary is particularly worrisome. Ramsey has no confidence -- he looks scared in the pocket.

How do you fix all of this in a month?

Michael Wilbon: I don't want to hear, it's preseason, but...How long were the starters out there Saturday night? We don't know how many of the guys who played the final three quarters will even make the team. So, don't tell me about looking scared in the pocket. You have no idea of what the guy is feeling in the pocket. Are you Vince Lombardi? Bill Walsh? Let's not get carried away. Sit back and watch the course of what's happening...Don't try to make declarations about anything...

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Landover, Md.: Why won't they just let Fred Mallick by the team he is a native Washingtonian.

Michael Wilbon: So is my cousin Joan, but so what? This isn't a civic award, it's an auction. Money, my man, money. That's what will drive the decision-making process the owners and Bud Selig will embark on.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Sports reporters, both on-air and print, frequently make statements or assumptions about the use of performance enhancing substances that are inaccurate or only partially accurate, such as the reference from the first e-mailer that Stanozolol can only be ingested via a syringe. You frequently hear baseball writers speculate about steroids causing injuries and then they turn around in Palmeiro's case and attribute his longevity to steriod use. Why do you think that sports reporters fail to educate themselves on basics such as Steroids 101 and is this likely ever change?

Michael Wilbon: Great point. I don't know why more of the people in my profession don't do a better job of talking to doctors and trainers and steroid experts. I don't pretend to be a steroid expert, but we've all got to be better on this topic. Nobody gets into sportswriting to talk about steroids, but it's a fact of life in sports today.

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Frederick, Md.: Do you believe that golf is now Americas' favorite pastime? Moreso than baseball or football?

Michael Wilbon: What? Are you nuts? I play golf. I'm addicted to golf, but I would never make that case. Football is America's pasttime, period and no arguments. Just look at the TV ratings. Nothing comes close to NFL games on TV or in terms of percentage of seats filled, or merchandise sold...Nothing is in the sama universe. Auto racing, whether people want to deal with it or not, appears to be second with a bullet. Baseball, if we use ratings and such as evidence, is third. Basketball, after moving past baseball during the Jordan years, is back in fourth...

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Arlington, VA: Do you ever watch any of the X Games? I'm 40 years old and watch a lot of it. The stuff these guys do is amazing, particularly the motorcycle stuff. The Winter X games with the snowboarding, ski jumping etc. are pretty cool as well.

Michael Wilbon: It is amazing stuff. And they do it hurt all the time, with injuries tennis players would hardly every dream of playing through...But I don't watch it. I'm not into those sports the X Games stages...It just doesn't move me...I would never demean the people who compete at those sports. It's just not on my radar...

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Raleigh, NC: I know you don't put too much stock in NFL preseason games, but what are you initial impressions of Nehemiah Broughton? The guy looks like he brings a load, and might be able to provide a spark in short yardage situations. What are the thoughts in camp about Broughton vs. M. White?

Michael Wilbon: I know the coaches like both...no, love both. But I think we're going to need to see more of both these next three preseason games. And what would that mean for Rock Cartwright? How many backs can you have if Portis and Betts are going to get all the carries? Yes, short yardage is another issue and fullback is another issue, sort of...There's still only one football and so many snaps to go around.

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Sterling, VA: Wilbon!;

Why doesn't anyone bring up the fact that T.O. has NOT made it through a season healthy in at least 2 years in a row (collar bone in 2003, ankle in 2004).

I always hear contract demands laughed at when previous "injury prone" players demand them. Why not the same for TO?

Thanks!;

Michael Wilbon: Bingo! Great point.

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Ramstein Germany: Mike

Thanks for the columns and chats. It helps when stationed overseas. My question deals with QB Pat Ramsey. Who actually made the pitch to draft him -- Vinny Cerato or Dan Snyder? It certainly wasn't Spurrier, who said he had flaws and wanted to trade him to Chicago or Gibbs. It's still early in his development, but he seems afraid to pull the trigger and just thrown the darned ball.

Thanks Mike

Michael Wilbon: Thank you for joining us, at what, 7:45 in the evening in Germany? (Or is it 8:45?)Goodness, don't give me any memory testers...Mine is terrible, especially since I'm not the beat writer and don't keep those bits of info at the front of my head...No, it wasn't Spurrier, who wanted to trade him to the Bears on the eve of the season...It had to be Vinny, though I don't recall any specific conversations where Vinny was overjoyed with Ramsey. It didn't seem to be the most well thought out pick even then, and less so now if Ramsey is never going to be the franchise quarterback. You take a QB that high and he has to have every chance to be the franchise QB.

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Alexandria, Va.: Mike,

As much as any fan can, I usually appreciate the needs of the TV people to have an event that fits their desired time frame. Yet once again, the demands of TV help to wreck the drama of an important sporting event and I can only believe ultimately cost themselves ad dollars and viewers. Can't they see that ??

Michael Wilbon: How, exactly, did the demands of TV bring that thunderstorm into play in New Jersey? TV didn't take the golfers off the couse Sunday evening. Lightening did. Did you see David Love III pointing at the sky after his tee shot? He wanted to walk off the course then and thought the horn, signifying severe weather (and that means lightening) should have been sounded earlier. What in the world are you talking about?

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Potomac: A quick Wizards question...what are you thinking about the offseason moves so far? How much will it hurt that we lost Larry Hughes?

Michael Wilbon: Excuse the typo, I meant DaviS Love III...And just as I knocked around Redskins fanatics about out-of-season obsession, I should probably do the same for Wizards fanatics...Hey, take a couple of months off. Camp comes the first week of October...You're thinking basketball now, what with all the golf drama and preseason NFL stuff?

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Washington, D.C.: Is Donovan McNabb TOO nice? Too civil? I admire the way he's handling this TO drama, and the Eagles for that matter, but at some point you'd expect him to take more of a hard-line stance. I'm not saying he's a pushover, but when you're dealing with a narcissistic borderline-bully like TO, the best way to handle him is to pop him in the mouth (figuratively) when he pops you.

Michael Wilbon: Donovan is doing exactly what you would hlpe your franchise quarterback would do...Exactly. Would I be that patient with T.O.? No. But I'm a sportswriter. I'm not paid to produce Ws for a team, nor lead one. Donovan, trust me, is sick of T.O. Good and sick of him and would like to do just what you suggest. But he's got discipline, great discipline and that's part of what sets him apart...and certainly what helps him distinguish himself as that team's primary leader.

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RE: Ranking the Favorites: Wilbon,

Unless your numbers reflect just professional sports, I agree with you except for your glaring omission of both college football and college basketball.

To be honest, I think the NBA comes in last after these two sports.

NFL

Racing

MLB

College Basketball

College Football

NBA

The NBA is good experience live...but really boring on TV.

Michael Wilbon: We were talking about pro sports. And college regular season games don't get what big weekend pro basketball games attract.

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Germantown, Md.: Will Ramsey still beat out Brunell for the starting job after Saturdays performance?

Michael Wilbon: One preseason game won't determine that, nor should it.

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Charlotte, N.C.: I read your article and one preseason game does not make a season, but Ramsey looked shaky. What are you looking for as a good sign for his improvement? Also, what did you think of Brunell and Campbell? I still think Ramsey should be the starter but he must show some improvement for the rest of the preseason and the first 3 regular games.

Michael Wilbon: I'm looking for more than 15 snaps, that's what. Did you ever play sports? Did you ever play better, or evolve as a player, or get into a groove and play better at something? Did you ever have a bad day that didn't reflect where you were overall?

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Cheverly, Md.: Mike, it was so refreshing to see the NFL Players Union say, OF COURSE the Eagles have the right to suspend T.O. for conduct detrimental to the good of the team. Can you think of any situation where the MLB players association would make a similar comment?

In any sport other than baseball, if a player uses a banned substance, the substance is made public, and they have meaningful penalties. Raffy's refusal to comment on his situation is outrageous.

This isn't a "mistake," like failing to pay a parking ticket. Rather, it brings disgrce on himself, the Orioles, and all of baseball -- not to mention perjuring himself before Congress. The fans who cheer him are just plain wrong.

Michael Wilbon: Thanks for the comment.

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College Park, Md.: As another Hall of Fame induction has come and gone without Art Monk taking his rightful place among the immortals in Canton, when (if at all) do you think football's most glaring omission will recieve his do? Also, with his excellent credentials and immense talent, why do you think he has been left out thus far? I cannot find one significant hole in his resume. What do you think?

Michael Wilbon: I don't know that it's the most glaring omission, but I agree Monk belongs. For that matter, I'm a Hall of Fame selector who helps Len Shapiro of The Washington Post nominate Monk every year. I believe in his worthiness. Shapiro does, too. And it irks me that others in that room don't believe what I believe...I don't know when he'll be voted in, or even if he'll be voted in...I hope so, but I don't know it.

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Chicago, IL: Hey, Mike, how about a Chi-town question!; What have you seen so far from the young QBs who are entering "make or break" years? That's Joey Harrington, Kyle Boller, and Patrick Ramsey? Thanks from the South Side!;

Michael Wilbon: Great question...All those guys are indeed in make-or-break seasons...Used to be NFL teams didn't expect anything from its quarterbacks until their third seasons...Now, if you don't show something by that third season, you run the risk of being dumped. And since you're from Chicago, let me say, I feel so bad for Rex Grossman...I was never a big Grossman fan but I hate seeing him lose a second season...just hate it. I do like Kyle Orton, though, so I'm not entirely depressed over the Grossman injury...I think Harrington and Boller have the weapons to be good this season. Boller's committment has come into question, in terms of practicing and studying and taking on the role of a big-time quarterback in the NFL...

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Richmond, Va.: Tour officials knew of a high likelihood of severe weather late afternoon/early evening. Mickelson himself said he thought they should have gone off an hour earlier. They didn't do it because CBS wanted it as the lead-in to "60 Minutes."

Michael Wilbon: It would still have led into 60s minutes...And not all of the action was on CBS. The early rounds were on TNT, even on the weekend. And CBS was already on the air, so a start of one hour earlier wouldn't have taken the action off of CBS...

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Silver spring, Md.: Regarding Monk and the H.O.F...I've heard that Peter King is a vocal opponent of Monk because he never had a "signature game". What is that all about?? I thought the H.O.F. was about a whole career.

Michael Wilbon: So did I. But others have a problem with Monk's worthiness, and until they are convinced otherwise, he's not going in....Okay, I don't know if we're going to get Phil or not today but I have to run and see if we can have a conversation with him...Be good, peeps, and we'll chat Monday..have a great week.

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