When he first put together the idea of making a documentary about steroid use and the public’s reaction – or better yet overreaction – to it, Chris Bell never figured on the finished product coming out the way it eventually did, let alone having the opportunity to do another movie.

“I’m really surprised that the reaction has been this big,” he said of the 2008 Magnolia Films release he co-wrote and directed, “but in a way I also thought when we started making the movie that it was such an important issue to explore.”

The Poughkeepsie, New York native envisioned getting the marquee names that garnered the headlines on the front and back pages of the tabloids and getting their opinions to lead “Bigger, Stronger, Faster*.”

“We tried to get Jose Canseco, that was a no-brainer,” Bell said of the baseball slugger/steroid user turned author. “But he’s always out for himself and wanted money. We also tried to get (BALCO’s) Victor Conte, but he told us that he was coming out with a ‘tell-all’ book and didn’t want to do anything before it was released.

“We reached out to other ball players and even Arnold (Schwarzenegger), but no one wanted to talk about it not to tarnish their reputation,” Bell continued. “I wanted to interview (former NFL offensive lineman) Tony Mandarich. At the time he didn’t want to talk about steroids. Then he came out with a book. We tried to talk with (former Pittsburgh Steeler) Rocky Bleier, who was a Vietnam veteran and came out and said he used steroids through a doctor.”

Because he kept hitting a wall trying to convince strangers that his intentions were genuine, he went in a completely different direction, one that came with a huge question mark.

He decided to base the film on himself and his two brothers but thought, “By using the family aspect and steroids, how do you make people want to see this film?” That turned out to be a stroke of genius, even if it wasn’t obvious to Bell at the time.

“I know that performance-enhancing drugs affected a lot of people and also in America a lot of out heroes that we find out are using them – it kind of relates to everybody on some level,” said Bell. “Everybody has a baseball player that they love, a football player that they love, some sort of athlete that’s been caught using performance-enhancing drugs.”

By bringing the issue to a grass-roots environment that everyone could relate to made it feel as real as it was and not antiseptic like many documentaries end up being. By the time you finish watching the movie, you feel as if you’re part of the Bell household. When he explains that all three of the Bell boys have at one time or are still using steroids, it isn’t just Barry Bonds or Marion Jones anymore, but someone just like yourself.

(Tragically, the oldest of the three brothers was found dead in a California drug rehabilitation center in December, three months after the film was released on DVD. Mike Bell, who at one time wrestled under the nickname of Mad Dog in the World Wrestling Federation, was 37 and his addiction to painkillers and alcohol was chronicled in the film. Eerily, Chris Bell states during a scene that he would not be surprised if his brother winds up dying young.)

Bell knew the main reason why he his requests were met with so much resistance. “Steroids are so demonized in the media and they (the people that declined to be included) really didn’t know what we were doing, thinking the movie was going to be one-sided.”

That is exactly what Bell wanted to avoid. However he was to present the facts in the film, he wanted the viewer to make up his or her own mind on what side of the fence they stood. “There are a couple of sides to every story,” he said. “That’s kind of what I wanted to do. Use the humor and the archival footage – things people could relate to and kind of bring it all together and let them make their own decisions at the end of the movie.

“Because I think human beings are a lot smarter than people think sometimes and as filmmakers we dumb it down for the audience and we should never do that.”

Although Bell claims that he presented it down the middle, the proof is in the pudding and even the staunchest of the anti-steroid parade has to admit that there are misnomers about the substances that have been repeated so frequently in the mainstream media that the facts sometimes don’t make it through. What Bell did was clear up some of those clouds.

Even people that have jumped sides have succumbed to the pressure of being ‘politically correct’ in today’s society. “When Arnold (Schwarzenegger) became governor, he couldn’t even say what he wants to say,” said Bell. “We took a few stabs at him in the movie, but all in all, he’s still somebody I really look up to. Because steroids have been portrayed the way they have been in the media, he can’t even say the truth.

“I guarantee that if I had Arnold alone in a room he would tell me something different than he would tell me on camera.”

Schwarzenegger has gone on record and admitted using performance-enhancing drugs throughout his bodybuilding career, namely testosterone and dianabol. The former seven-time Mr. Olympia and present governor of California wrote back in 1967 when the substances were still legal that “steroids were helpful to me in maintaining muscle size while on a strict diet in preparation for a contest. I did not use them for muscle growth, but rather for muscle maintenance when cutting up.”

Bell brought up the day in 1988 while Ben Johnson, the Canadian Olympic sprinter, was being condemned for using steroids that there were 75 reporters in the New York Giants locker room waiting for Lawrence Taylor, who had just returned after serving a suspension for using cocaine. “That’s sending a mixed message,” he said.

He commented that a major complaint of athletes using steroids is that it is a bad influence for children, but he also questioned the actions of other so-called role models for youngsters. “Are they going to start drug testing Hollywood and the rap stars?” Bell asked himself. “They may be smoking pot and that’s also illegal. They should crack down on everything then and not be selective.”

One category of substances that is commonly put on the back burner is painkillers. Many different athletes from all walks of life use them regularly and in 1996, three-time NFL Most Valuable Player Brett Favre admitted being addicted to Vicodin and entered a rehabilitation center.

Due to the vigorous work schedule and physical demand put on them, professional wrestlers are one group that has had major issues with painkillers. Bell, who previously worked for World Wrestling Entertainment as a writer, had a conversation with Vince McMahon and the WWE mogul told him “We’re not so concerned about steroids because we have a policy for that. There’s more of a concern for painkillers.”

Bell added, “A guy can get a prescription for painkillers and then buy 500 more on the black market. If you test them, they’re already covered (with the prescription).”

Shedding some light on this issue is what Bell has in mind for his next project. “I’m looking to do a narrative film, not a documentary, presented in a more dramatic fashion based on an ultimate fighter that gets addicted to painkillers,” he said of his intentions. “Instead of using them as a performance-enhancer, athletes use them to get back in the game. I wanted to examine that in a different way.

“In a dream world, I’m looking to have The Rock (actor and former WWE wrestler Dwayne Johnson), who is a friend of mine, play the lead role,” he continued. “We haven’t got to that point yet, so we’ll have to see.”

The main character is based on Mark “The Smashing Machine” Kerr, who began his Mixed Martial Arts career back in 1997. “It actually takes place in the old days of ultimate fighting, which to me makes it so much more interesting,” Bell said. “I started watching it a long time ago when it was a blood sport and it was pretty amazing back then.”

Bell and his production company are trying to obtain the rights of a 2003 HBO documentary entitled, “The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr,” which chronicled the career and addiction of Kerr and the ‘no-holds-barred’ style that Bell spoke about.

If things go the way he hopes, Chris Bell will have another opportunity to tell a story, and most likely a story within a story. He hit a home run with his first at-bat and, naturally, should go two-for-two when his next film is released.

Just as the ups and, mainly, downs of Wall Street seem to be forever in the news so does the use of anabolic steroids in various sports. This week saw the spotlight turning once again on the world of horse racing. On Tuesday (October 14) the New York Racing and Wagering Board let it be known that it is implementing new rules as regards the administration of anabolic steroids in the world of horse racing.

This is a follow up to the earlier revelation that the recently retired racehorse, Big Brown, was juiced on Winstrol whilst competing in the Kentucky Derby. Even though this was in fact entirely legal in terms of horseracing protocol, board chairman John D. Sabini stated in an article in the ‘Daily News’ that by imposing limits on four steroids currently used in horse racing New York would be leading the pack when it came to preserving integrity within the sport. He also made it clear that the intended message to owners and trainers was, “If you flaunt our steroid rules, you will be held accountable.”

According to the new rules, four steroids will be permitted for use by racehorses, but only one of the four may be found in the horse at any one time (therefore ‘no stacking on the track!’).

The four permitted steroids are: stanozolol (Winstrol), boldenone (Equipoise), nandrolone (Durabolin) and testosterone. The reasoning being that small concentrations of these substances would not be significant enough to affect a horse’s performance.
The rules will go into effect on January 1 2009.

CANSECO IN FERTILITY RAP!

Meanwhile on the human side of the anabolic coin, former slugger Jose Canseco was caught trying to smuggle the female fertility drug Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) across the border from Mexico last week. Canseco, who authored the 2005 book “Juiced” exposing the use of anabolics in baseball, was charged with Introduction into Interstate Commerce of a Misbranded Drug (considered a misdemeanor).

According to the report, Canseco, a female driver and the female driver’s “minor daughter” were stopped by Customs and Border Protection agents entering California at the San Ysirdo checkpoint. An inspection of their vehicle revealed six vials of HCG and 10 syringes in the armrest compartment.

Canseco was detained for nine hours by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and had to consent to a search of his Los Angeles home as a precursor to his release. No drugs were found on inspection and Canseco was released pending a court date on Nov 4.

Canseco claimed that the drug was for personal use due to the fact that previous steroid use has left his testosterone levels extremely low necessitating a hormone therapy plan.
He also said that he was in Mexico seeking “inexpensive dental implant work”..So I guess he was doing a ‘Wal-Mart’ one stop-shopping trip!

Whatever the case, the fact remains that hard-core steroid use does lead to testicular atrophy, low testosterone and sperm counts in male athletes. The drug HCG is frequently used to prevent this. You wanna know a better way of preventing this condition? Stay away from ‘roids altogether!

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate.

Having also studied pharmacology in relation to sports performance, her writing began taking her in that direction until the present day which sees her embarking on a return to the magazine world, as well as extending her web-related work in the bodybuilding and fitness field.

Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’
She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com or you can also check her out at New York’s favorite metaphysical store www.stickstoneandbone.com.

Although he hasn’t played a major league baseball game since 2001, Jose Canseco is still taking care of his body, at least in the way he has spoken about in his two ‘tell-all’ books. Perhaps even the once-rich and famous are having issues obtaining performance-enhancing drugs in this day and age of mass hysteria.

Attempting to smuggle in a supply of human chorionic gonadotrophin, commonly known as HCG, through the Mexico/San Diego border, Canseco was held by immigration authorities for 10 hours after the substance was found in his vehicle.

Although a fertility drug, HCG is used in combination with anabolic steroids, either during or after a cycle to return testosterone production and size in the testes. So, in reality, Canseco had his balls busted as a result of trying to limit the shrinkage.

It appears that the 44 year-old is still using performance-enhancing drugs and would have no other reason to take a trip to Mexico and bring back HCG. A commonly-used post-cycle therapy substance, it is popular amongst bodybuilders and used either separately or in conjunction with Clomid or Nolvadex.

Perhaps Canseco wanted to take the bull by the horns, or so to speak, and get his hands on his own stuff. Paying the middle man can jack the price up, but the alternative is what happened to him.

A day before the Major League Baseball trading deadline, the Bronx Bombers made a bold move, which shored up their catching situation following a season-ending injury to Jorge Posada. Middle reliever Kyle Farnsworth was sent to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for 14-time All Star Ivan Rodriguez, who has went from being the elite at his position to very average amidst numerous allegations of him using performance-enhancing drugs.

Rodriguez, 36, has been in the big leagues since the young age of 19 and is still looked at as one of the better defensive catchers around. The problem has been his hitting, which was a superstar-status .332 with 35 home runs and 113 RBI in 1999, when he won the American League MVP. His production has fallen off considerably since then, with his long ball totals being 27, 25, 19, 16, 19, 14, 13, and 11.

Although Rodriguez is batting .295 in 82 games, his power numbers being a dreadful 5 home runs and 32 RBI. He has also struck out 52 times with only 19 walks. A far cry from the height of his career, which just so happens to be when the suspicions of his steroid use began.

Jose Canseco stated in his first book, “Juiced,” that he observed Rodriguez using steroids when both of them played on the Texas Rangers together. John Rocker also made a statement that a doctor hired by the Players’ Association had a conversation with him, Rodriguez, Raphael Palmiero and Alex Rodriguez during spring training in 2002 when they were with Texas. The doctor informed the group of players about safe ways to use the drugs.

“Look guys, if you take one kind of steroid, you don’t triple stack them and take them 10 months out of the year like Lyle Alzado did, if you do it reasonably, it’s not going to hurt you,” is Rocker’s version of what the doctor said.

Alzado died of brain cancer in 1992 after an NFL career of steroid abuse, but his illness could not be attributed to his drug use. Palmiero tested positive for Winstrol in 2005, while Rocker was one of the players named in the Mitchell Report for receiving two HGH prescriptions in 2003. A-Rod has had his name thrown about by Canseco in accusations, but has never failed a steroid test.

Rodriguez – Ivan, not Alex – has staunchly denied all of the steroid allegations from Day One, but it is difficult to buy that when his three best seasons (1998-2000) came during the prime years of baseball’s ‘steroid era.’ He has also appeared considerably smaller since that time, another indicator used by the media. When Rodriguez’ contract expired with Texas after the 2002 season, he had a near-impossible time landing any job, having to settle for a one-year, $10 million deal with the Florida Marlins. Having a good season, Rodriguez was a leader on a young team that got hot and surprised everyone by winning the World Series.

Trying to capitalize on that, Rodriguez once again hit the open market after Florida wouldn’t give him a raise, but did not attract a lot of attention. The Tigers, coming off a 119-loss campaign, were the only team to make him an offer, a back-loaded, four-year, $40 million one.

The Yankees are taking on his contract only for the remainder of this season. With Posada re-signed to a ridiculous long-term expensive contract last offseason, they probably will let Rodriguez walk, even though they are trying to wean Posada away from behind the plate.

Rodriguez hopes to parlay his time in New York into another contract. “It’s going to be exciting to play with the Yankees,” he said to reporters. “It’s time for me to take the trade and go somewhere else. Right now, I’m going to be there for two months. I hope I can stay there.

“We’ll see what happens, but at the same time, I’m just going to concentrate every single day there and try to make the Yankees make the playoffs again.”

Even with his best days long behind him, Rodriguez is sort of a good luck charm in some aspects. The Rangers made the postseason three times during his tenure, the aforementioned run in Florida, and the Tigers rebounded to make the 2006 World Series. Perhaps he can bring some of that to the Yanks, who – at the time of the deal – were a game out of the wild card lead and four back of Tampa Bay in the division.

If they can make a run with the catcher known as “Pudge,” the trade will be viewed as a shrewd move. Even though Rodriguez may be a shadow of his former self.

Photo credit: mlb blogs

At least Jose Canseco is up front with us. He came right out and said that he needs money – in a hurry due to a bad divorce. He put up a challenge to anyone and everyone for a celebrity boxing spectacle in Atlantic City. The taker? Probably the smallest football player this side of David Meggett. No lineman, linebacker or even a tight end. No, Canseco lucked out with a return specialist, all 5’9″, 190 pounds of him.

Since hanging it up, Vai Sikahema has been a sportscaster in Philadelphia, where he played a good part of his career. Now the 45 year-old is a former Pro Bowler, as well as an ex-Gold Gloves participant. We all recall when he brought one back all the way at Giants Stadium and proceeded to throw combinations at the goal post padding with the home team logo.

Sikahema will receive $5,000 for the bout, courtesy of the Canseco’s challenge purse. To make the sideshow even more ridiculous, the match will not take place at one of the many casinos in town, where real boxing can be seen, but rather at a minor league baseball stadium, of all places. Bernie Robbins Stadium will hold more than America’s Pastime on July 12.

There have been no reports if the 6’4″, 240-pound former slugger turned two-time author will come onto the fight following a cycle. Readers of “Juiced” and “Vindicated” have to lean towards Canseco doing so, judging by his attitude towards performance-enhancing drugs.

For anyone who decides to attend these shenanigans, two former athletes should be able to entertain better than previous attempts at celebrity boxing, match-ups such as ‘Danny Patridge’ taking on ‘Greg Brady’ and Paula Jones versus Tonya Harding a few years ago.

Barry Bonds may have the all-time home run record and can probably still help a team or two out there with his power. But the 43 year-old free agent has probably played his last game due to the BALCO scandal and his upcoming trial, in which he is accused of lying to a grand jury and faces 14 counts of perjury and one of obstruction of justice.

Last week, Bonds led not guilty to the charges and was met outside the San Francisco courthouse by a large group of supporters. He was said to be in “good spirits” by his attorney Allen Ruby. If found guilty of all the charges, Bonds could face up to 80 years in prison and $500,000 in fines. That seems unlikely, though.

The 14-time all-star with 762 career home runs (including 28 last season) has not been contacted by any team, according to his agent. If he isn’t signed this summer, he is finished. No team will want the distraction of his looming trial, which will start right at the outset of spring training. Bonds will be 44 by then and every year that goes by does not bode well for the aging outfielder with the bad knees and elbow.

Bonds is also the type of personality that would not sign to play in a lower level independent league. Other players, such as Jose Canseco and Rickey Henderson, have extended their careers by going to far outposts such as the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League. Don’t expect the mercurial Bonds to make such a move. He was a great player that believed he was above everyone else, and compounded the specter of his steroid use by staunchly denying it. He would have ben better off by just coming out and saying the truth.

Photo credit: Bloomberg News