Being a personal friend of Gregg’s and having spoken to him about this appearance for months now, I had figured that – for the most part – he would be portrayed the way he has been in a number of other mainstream media outlets the past few years. For the first part of the story that held true. The reporter spoke to Chris Bell, director of “Bigger, Stronger, Faster” and – in a part that should have made the cutting room floor – a brief word or two from Dan Clark who played ‘Nitro,’ one of the original American Gladiators who has admitted to being a steroid user for 20 years. Clark admitted that he didn’t know Gregg personally but was at a loss to comprehend how he does not have any side effects from his extended use of anabolics and stated that Valenino was a “walking side effect.” This claim was totally refuted when ESPN put Valentino through a battery of medical tests and, according to the reporter, he is in overall good health. 

At one point during the story, the screen goes black and states, ‘One month later,’ and Valentino is again being interviewed and breaks down emotionally. This is due to the fact that he is estranged from his teenage son and that his daughter saw him on a school film talking about drug and steroid abuse. That was it for him and Valentino had an epiphany. 

The man who has always been connected to steroids does not want to talk about them any longer and feels that they are ruining the sport of bodybuilding. On camera he is seated in front of his computer at home and was writing his “Ramblin’ Freak” column for the June issue of Muscular Development magazine. This one would be different, he said, and didn’t care if people would consider him a sell-out for writing what he did. 

As soon as the segment ended, I called Gregg and to my surprise he was not watching it but rather out on the road somewhere in his car. He told me that he was “nervous” to watch it but wanted to make sure that it was done properly and in good taste, especially the parts about his children. 

For those of you that do not know Gregg and he is just a guy you read about in the magazines, he is the most down-to-earth and honest guy out there. His knowledge of the history of the sport of bodybuilding is vast and deep and he is far from just ” The Man Who’s Arms Exploded.” Being funny, witty and having street smarts are just a few of the traits that make him who he is. 

Gregg compared the way he feels now to a recovering alcoholic that never wants to see a bottle again. Although he has been talking about this for some time now with me, I was still surprised to see this side of him come out in the media. He may have made a name for himself due to steroids, but he is so much more than that and I for one feel that it is about time that everyone gets to see the ‘new Gregg,’ if you will, and not just the ones who know him away from the game. 

Gregg Valentino E:60

E:60 Gregg Valentino Preview

By the time Donnie Walsh is done, the Isiah Thomas era will be nothing more than a bad memory. The new president of the New York Knicks has reportedly traded leading scorer Jamaal Crawford to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for forward Al Harrington, according to Newsday.com.

Former head honcho Thomas acquired Crawford in 2004 from Chicago, with the eight-year pro holding a player option for two more years after the current one on the deal he signed. Harrington’s deal expires after the 2009-10 season. Why is that so important? The Knicks are doing everything possible to clear cap space to make a run at LeBron James, who hits the open market in 2010.

But is this trade just the first of many? Newsday is also reporting that a bigger, three-way deal may be on the horizon.

This menage-a-trois supposedly also involves the hapless Los Angeles Clippers, with Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins packing their bags and clearing space in the locker room for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas. While this should not get anyone’s pants stained, when you hear that all three (Harrington, Mobley, Thomas) come off the boards by 2010 you may get some movement, if you know what I mean.

Thomas has already been a Knick (and a forgettable one at that), and Mobley has bounced around the league, playing for four teams in 11 seasons.

Randolph has produced since coming to New York, but is a ticking time bomb and makes a ton of money, while Collins’ claim to fame has been brawling with Carmelo Anthony. Two more Isiah mistakes that won’t be missed.

If all of this comes to fruition, then Knick fans may finally feel that something good os brewing at the Garden. It is nearly impossible to watch this team, even though they have played some spirited basketball with new head coach Mike D’Antoni. But the fact remains that there are still slugs like Eddy Curry, Jerome James and Stephon Marbury (did I mention that these three are also here by way of Isiah?) taking up space on the roster. Once these can be redacted, maybe…just maybe the Knicks can shake the label of being the league’s ‘shittiest’ team once and for all.