ProfNet Wire: Entertainment & Living: Steroids in Sports
ROUND-UPS
Steroids in Sports (10 experts)
Funding for Public Broadcasting (continued, 1 expert)
Future of Radio (continued, 1 expert)
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LEADS
1. Media: Couric Faces Same Criticism as Brokaw
2. Parenting: How Can Parents Prepare for Letting Their Kids Go?
3. Parenting: Learn the Real, Subtle Impact of Internet on Children
4. Relationships: Thousands Will Not Speak to Their Moms This Mother's Day
5. Relationships: Important Secrets to Successfully Working With a Spouse
6. Religion: Easter, Passover Can Be Challenging for Interfaith Families
ROUND-UP: STEROIDS IN SPORTS
Following are experts who can discuss steroid use in sports, in light of Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig's announcement that former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell will head a probe of steroid use in baseball. [This round-up originated with a focus on President Bush's call to athletes and sports leagues during his SOTU address, and was updated following the introduction of legislation that would standardize drug testing and penalize professional leagues.] The full round-up can be viewed at: http://profnet.prnewswire.com/organik/orbital/thewire/lst_leads.jsp?iLRTopicI D=2800
**1. PAUL LAWRENCE VANN, workplace expert at LAUREL WREATH COMMUNICATIONS, INC., former Capitol Hill staffer and DC2012 Olympic Committee member: "Cleaning up steroid use in sports is a very noble idea and one that should have been addressed decades ago. When I was a track and field athlete in college, steroid use wasn't allowed, and the athletes I competed against were exceptional. Selecting former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to head the probe is a bad choice because of his ties to the Boston Red Sox. Why? It's similar to Congress writing lobbying legislation; they're too close to the issue to make an impartial decision. Likewise with Mitchell, he is too close to the issue, by virtue of his association with Major League Baseball. Selig could have made a better choice." Vann: paul@paullawrencevann.com Phone: +1-800-476-8976 (4/7/06)
**2. JEFF RUTSTEIN, author of "The Steroid Deceit," which chronicles his descent into steroid use and the uphill battle he faced with recovery: "The announcement that George Mitchell will be leading an investigation into alleged steroid use by Barry Bonds is the first step to combat this growing problem. Many are concerned with the integrity of baseball and the record book, but we are losing focus of the real problem. In my opinion, Barry Bonds used steroids to increase his power to hit more home runs. If something is not done to preserve Hank Aaron's record, you will have a new generation of children who want to emulate Bonds. It is saying that it is acceptable to cheat, lie and use illegal drugs to obtain the most prized record in sports." Rutstein's recovery from an addiction has been the subject of reports by The New York Times, Reuters, The San Francisco Chronicle and others. Rutstein: admin@customfitness.com Phone: +1-800-374-9959 Web site: http://www.steroiddeceit.com/media_room (4/7/06)
**3. DR. ROBERT BROWN, director of sport communication at ASHLAND UNIVERSITY: "Selig is between a rock and a hard place. On one side, there is an image problem for Major League Baseball. Bonds, who is widely disliked anyway, is approaching baseball's biggest records under a steroid cloud. The league would not want its most well known record held by someone who 'cheated.' On the other hand, there is the legal and labor issues that work against Selig. Steroids were not illegal until just two years ago. The Player's Union and the legal system will not support Selig hounding Bonds. Selig, to be fair, would also have to investigate all players who played under suspect conditions, and that would include very popular players like Mark Maguire, which would further hurt the league's image." Brown: rbrown2@ashland.edu Phone: +1-419-289-5133 News Contact: Theresa Rozic Sutter, tsutter@ashland.edu Phone: +1-419-289-5006 (4/7/06)
**4. MARK MINELLI, associate professor and community health division director at CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, is the author of five books and more than 20 journal articles: "Problems with athletes using anabolic steroids are compounded as studies indicate they are taking four to eight times the recommended dose. The hook to abusing these drugs is evident -- nobody wants to be number two. All drugs can have side effects. Young athletes look at short-term gains and don't worry about the long-term consequences; they think they're bulletproof. Increased aggressiveness, often called 'roid rage,' can be an advantage in a health club or on the field of play, but (it) takes the opposite effect in your personal life." Minelli: minel1mj@cmich.edu Phone: +1-989-774-2685 News Contact: Lindsay M. Allen, allen1lm@cmich.edu Phone: +1- 989-774-7327 (4/7/06)
**5. TIM DELANEY, associate professor of sociology at SUNY OSWEGO: "In the pursuit of success, some people cheat in an attempt to gain an advantage. Taking steroids, in combination with a rigorous workout, will increase an athlete's strength and endurance. But the very integrity of baseball has been compromised by these tainted numbers. Major League Baseball must do something. But would anyone expect that athletes would voluntarily give up information on steroid use? And just what legal authority will George Mitchell have? He cannot issue subpoenas. Baseball is in a precarious situation. If they find 'something,' the game is officially tainted. If they don't, people will think they did not look hard enough." Delaney: tdelaney@oswego.edu Phone: +1-315-312-3410 News Contact: Tim Nekritz, nekritz@oswego.edu Phone: +1-315-312-2265 (4/7/06)
**6. MARSHALL BRAIN, founder of HOWSTUFFWORKS, an award-winning resource Web site: "Most performance-enhancing drugs used by athletes can be detected in samples of urine. The most commonly used testing methods are gas chromatography, mass spectrometry and immuno-assays." HowStuffWorks.com features a comprehensive, easy-to-understand article on "How Performance- Enhancing Drugs Work." Steroid testing methods, how athletes can mask drug use, as well as other relevant information and can be found in the article at: http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/athletic-drug-test.htm News Contact: Michele Wisch, mwisch@convexgroup.com Phone: +1-404-760-4336 (4/7/06)
**7. TIMOTHY FERRISS, ACSM, IFT, ACE, director of athletic development at ADAPTAGENIX BIOSCIENCES, is a writer for Powerlifting USA and a steroid expert who has legally helped athletes to break more than 30 world records in the last three years alone. As interviewed by media from MLB.com and NBC to the New York Times, Ferriss can discuss (both as a former national champion and trainer) the extent of the doping phenomenon, how athletes beat tests, how testers are disadvantaged, and what must be done to address the enormous scientific and political problems of drugs in sports. He predicted the BALCO scandal and is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and Institute of Food Technologists. Ferriss: timferriss@gmail.com Phone: +1-650- 279-3540 (4/7/06)
**8. MIKE STRAUBEL is a professor of sports law at VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY and director of the VU Sports Law Clinic, the nation's first legal clinic dedicated to providing free legal assistance to athletes, coaches and others involved in amateur sports. Straubel's specialty is in sports doping cases and is currently representing several athletes in doping cases. In addition to teaching, he has served as Valparaiso's cross country coach and assistant track coach for 18 years. Straubel: mike.straubel@valpo.edu Phone: +1-219- 465-7812 News Contact: Dustin Wunderlich, dustin.wunderlich@valpo.edu Phone: +1-219-464-5114 (4/7/06)
**9. HARLAN WERNER, sports marketer and president and CEO of Los Angeles- based SPORTS PLACEMENT SERVICE INC., whose past and present clientele includes Mark McGwire, Sandy Koufax, Jim Brown, John Riggins, among others, is available for comment. Werner's company has been in business for 20 years and is a tremendous resource for an article pertaining to the marketability of some of today's contemporary, yet controversial, athletes embroiled in the steroid scandals. Will corporate America accept them? How will history view them? News Contact: Theo Dumont, tdumont@lcoonline.com Phone: +1-310-300- 0950, ext. 236 (4/7/06)
**10. WILL CARROLL, is a senior writer for Baseball Prospectus (he writes the "Under the Knife" column on BaseballProspectus.com) and is the author of "The Juice: The Real Story of Baseball's Drug Problems," where he explains the science of steroids and other drugs, describes how athletes are tested, considers the scientific evidence of effects and side effects, and, most importantly, analyzes whether and how these drugs affect the game. He is also the author of "Saving the Pitcher," which is about preventing pitching injuries. News Contact: Oleg Lyubner, oleg@workman.com Phone: +1-212-614-7768 (4/7/06)
ROUND-UP: FUNDING FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (continued)
We've added the following to items posted previously at http://profnet.prnewswire.com/organik/orbital/thewire/lst_leads.jsp?iLRTopicI D=13103
**1. DAVID BOAZ, executive vice president of the CATO INSTITUTE: "We wouldn't want the federal government to publish a national newspaper, neither should we have a government television network and a government radio network. If anything should be kept separate from government and politics, it's the news and public affairs programming that informs Americans about government and its policies. When government brings us the news -- with all the inevitable bias and spin -- the government is putting its thumb on the scales of democracy. Journalists should not work for the government. Taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize news and public-affairs programming." News Contact: Evans Pierre, pr@cato.org Phone: +1-202-789-5200 (4/7/06)
ROUND-UP: FUTURE OF RADIO (continued)
We've added the following to items posted previously at http://profnet.prnewswire.com/organik/orbital/thewire/lst_leads.jsp?iLRTopicI D=6234
**1. DAVE ULMER, senior director of marketing of digital media services at MOTOROLA, can talk to the future of radio and the concept of seamless mobility. He can discuss the new landscape of radio -- terrestrial radio, Internet radio, satellite radio, HD radio and new options for music via the mobile phone, from ringtones to new music subscription services. He can discuss the impact of digital rights management, why each form of radio is an island of content, and emerging ways to unite content of all kinds from personal MP3 collections with other forms of radio. News Contact: Beth Hespe, bhespe@garfieldgroup.com Phone: +1-215-867-8600, ext. 235 (4/7/06)
_____ LEADS
**1. MEDIA: COURIC FACES SAME CRITICISM AS BROKAW. DR. DOUG FERGUSON, professor of communication at the COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON: "Some observers may make this a payback opportunity to criticize the journalist's 'gravitas' instead of the president's, but I think she's well qualified for the job. Tom Brokaw had to live down criticism early on that he had first hosted 'Today' before anchoring the 6:30 news. It's only fair to expect the same success for her that he enjoyed. I am concerned that anyone can earn a high salary delivering news once a day to audiences accustomed to the Internet and cable news channels. Couric commanded $15 million a year from NBC because 'Today' grosses $550 million per year in revenue. If CBS pays her more, it won't recoup the money in advertising." Ferguson: fergusond@cofc.edu Phone: +1-843- 953-7854 News Contact: Mike Robertson, robertsonm@cofc.edu Phone: +1-843-953- 8171 (4/7/06)
**2. PARENTING: HOW CAN PARENTS PREPARE FOR LETTING THEIR KIDS GO? DAVE VEERMAN, vice president of LIVINGSTONE CORP. and author of "Letting Them Go": "Whether it's going to college, joining the military or entering the workforce, leaving home is a significant passage both for kids and their parents. Watching a son or daughter emerge from the chrysalis and fly off as a fully formed butterfly should be an exhilarating and joyful experience. We need to prepare our minds for the change. We need to prepare our hearts." As seniors across the country prepare for college and beyond, Veerman offers parents tips for going through the "letting go" process. News Contact: Paige Harvey, paige@psmediarelations.com Phone: +1-615-579-4515 (4/7/06)
**3. PARENTING: LEARN THE REAL, SUBTLE IMPACT OF INTERNET ON CHILDREN. JOHN CAROSELLA, vice president of BLUE COAT SYSTEMS and project leader for a free K-9 Web filtering tool: "Internet child safety conversations are important, but don't miss the bigger picture. The Internet is a permanent presence in our children's social lives and changes their world view. Learning the real, often subtle, impact of these new technologies and behaviors takes a willingness to dig deeper. It's much easier to understand your children when they're in the family room and you're in the kitchen. It's much harder when they're hanging with their friends in cyberspace." News Contact: Elizabeth Dolcourt, edolcourt@citigatecunningham.com Phone: +440-207-471-6819 (4/7/06)
**4. RELATIONSHIPS: THOUSANDS WILL NOT SPEAK TO THEIR MOTHERS THIS MOTHER'S DAY. LINDA JOY MYERS, Ph.D., author of "Don't Call Me Mother: Breaking the Chain of Mother-Daughter Abandonment": "For some, their mother is too close, she's too much; she has advice, is nosy and interferes. The adult child wants separation from the mother. Others may experience a much more caustic relationship with their mothers. These moms may be so self-involved as to be emotionally absent; they may be neglectful, selfish and abandoning or even suffer from mental illness. It is hard for an adult child to see this fully or to forgive." Myers give 10 tips on how to deal with the pain of being an abandoned child. News Contact: Jacqueline Church Simonds, jcsimonds@beaglebay.com Phone: +1-775-827-8654 (4/7/06)
**5. RELATIONSHIPS: IMPORTANT SECRETS TO SUCCESSFULLY WORKING WITH A SPOUSE. EILEEN HASSON, president of THE COMPUTER COMPANY, one of New England's largest computer systems integrators, is now celebrating the 10th anniversary of her company as she shares this business milestone with her husband and corporate CIO, Matthew: "You really need to define your roles in the office environment and understand that you have an equal partnership. As you have in your marriage at home, you also need to trust each other in the business setting. This trust needs to transform into complementary roles at work and in your personal lives. If I need to stay at the office, he needs to be ready to pick up our children at school. No doubt, your spouse needs to be your 'ying' to your 'yang,' and at the end of the day you need to remain best friends." Hasson: ehasson@computercompany.net Phone: +1-860-236-1600 News Contact: Ron Dresner, ron@dennispr.com Phone: +1-800-990-6685 Web site: http://www.computercompany.net (4/7/06)
**6. RELIGION: EASTER, PASSOVER CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR INTERFAITH FAMILIES. EDMUND CASE, president and publisher of INTERFAITHFAMILY.COM, an independent non-profit publisher and advocacy membership association: "Easter and Passover overlap this year, the eighth time in 10 years. For many of the 2.5 million Americans in interfaith relationships, dealing with the Passover dietary restrictions during Easter dinner can be awkward." Case can provide tips and advice for the interfaith families, and can discuss the results of a survey conducted by InterfaithFamily on how interfaith families will be handling the holidays. News Contact: Norman Birnbach, birnbach@birnbachcom.com Phone: +1-781-639-6701 (4/7/06)
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