Flaxseed Oil speaks out!

Raleigh, NC --Flaxseed Oil made a statement during a press conference today following allegations from Marion Jones that she believed Coach Trevor Graham provided her with Flaxseed Oil and not any banned substances.

"I called this press conference today to clear my name. I have been accused of being taken by some very high profile athletes to explain why they have become bigger, stronger, and faster.

I am innocent. I have never met these people who are throwing my name around like they know me. And before any of these folks start pointing the finger at my twin brother Linseed Oil, he is also totally innocent.

I do a lot of things like lower blood pressure, help prevent heart attacks and stroke, and lessen some of the symptoms of arthritis. Some people even think I can help certain cancers although doctors haven't proven that yet.

But I do not produce super athletes!

Me and Linseed come from seeds of the plant Linium usitatissimum. The villain you are looking for is not natural or legal like me. It's some manufactured, man-made product going by the name of the Clear or the Cream.

I ask that you respect the real work my brother and I do for every day people. Please stop believing these athletes who say their coaches provided them with our essence to make them bionic athletes.

Thank you."

Stay Gold

Long before I became a football fan, I was 100% an Olympics geek. I loved the summer Olympics best. Gymnastics, track, and swimming were my favorites. I loved everything about them--the Bud Greenspan documentaries, the athlete sob stories, seeing other countries, hearing other languages and national anthems, etc. I bought into the national honor thing hook, line and sinker. I even took pride in the fact that while the Soviet Union and German athletes were paid professionals who often won by any means necessary, our American athletes were true amateurs--unpaid athletes scraping together the funds to compete to honor their country and show excellence in sport.

For me it started with Ben Johnson of Canada. We Olympic purists wanted to believe that he was an aberration. Fast forward to Marion Jones. I can't say I'm shocked. But it is just one more piece of wood stoking my fire of disillusionment, disgust and bitterness. It seems that where there is smoke there is fire. (Landis, Vick, Bonds, Giambi, et al)

I still want to believe that there are athletes striving to be the Olympic ideal without unnatural enhancements.

You ain't cuz you not.

It's a sad day when you're cheering hysterically in the 4th quarter for the first TD of the day-- happy to just escape without a big fat donut on the scoreboard.

And Carolina got rid of Keyshawn, why? Who is helping Steve Smith? What was the draft picks name?

And we didn't go after Daunte Culpepper or Byron Leftwich, why? At least Miami is feeling dumber than Carolina today. And the Raiders management finally looks smarter (although that's just smoke and mirrors).

I'm scared to whine too much about the Panther's situation because look at San Diego and Chicago. Calls for heads to roll today might seem like a good idea, until you're left with something much, much worse.

This is REALLY my favorite

Tiny mites are irresistible! Link.

Sunday Night Shout-outs

I like when a guy gives a shout-out to his high school team during the team introductions. It would be even more awesome if the players who played Pop Warner or Mighty Mites football as kids would give those teams a shout out. College and high school polished the diamonds in the rough, but those "little leagues" nurtured the passion and fun.

Speaking of Mighty Mites, this is one of the best local sports news segments on NBC17. Check out the current Pint-Sized Pigskin. Below is one of my favorites.