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With a whirlwind of steroid speculation in baseball, Rashard Lewis shocked the world by testing positive for a form of PEDs.
The Magic forward had been taking an over-the-counter substance called dehydroepiandrosterone, commonly known as DHEA. He's told the media that he was unaware that the product, which he purchased near the end of last year's NBA season, contained DHEA.
An NBA source told the Orlando Sentinel that Lewis had actually failed a test during last year's playoffs, and demanded a re-test after being shocked by the initial result.
A little background on the drug from the Sentinel's story (same piece linked above):
"DHEA is a compound which converts to androstenedione, Andro from the McGwire days, and that in turn converts into testosterone," Wadler said. "...It is very widely used in supplemental and complementary kind of medicines and it's in food stores."
As for DHEA's performance-enhancing capabilities, Wadler said the drug is "not very effective."
Well, the punishment for Lewis' actions—either accidental or deliberate, from what I can find, that has not yet been determined—seems to indicate that the violation wasn't very serious, as he was suspended for the first 10 games of the season.
All in all, Bud Selig must have gotten up this morning feeling both refreshed and fortunate; for once, there was a scandal involving testosterone boosters that didn't put a burden on him.
No, it was his fellow commissioner, David Stern, who now the tricky task of veering all the eyes on the NBA straight back to the MLB.
Yes, that's quite a nightmare considering how minor the circumstances are right now, but both the media and fans of other sports will have a field day pointing fingers, leaning back, and chuckling at us living in the basketball universe.
Lewis should've known better than to just buy the pills without any concern, or question, and put it into his system, especially with all the testing and controversy.
Although it hasn't yet been too big a deal in basketball, it was only a matter of time before the hammer came down and those using were plucked out of the bunch. Two wrongs don't make a right baseball junkies. Remember that.
“You just have to use great judgment. We have guys with us every day who can find out for you if it [substance] is banned or not banned by the NBA. A mistake by him."
Great judgment indeed. Though we shouldn't play the blame game and have the shots all go in Lewis' direction. Remember Nowitzski's "significant other?"
Yeah. Not a good path to leave footsteps in Dirk.
Still, Rashard shouldn't be let off the hook just because he has fellow wrongdoers. I continue to question his being "dumbfounded," which was prompted by the outcome of the test. He was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Or in this case, the medicine cabinet.
And, lamentably for us, we start a new beginning in the NBA. A dark one that is. One where fans declare war against steroids and other forms of PEDs. One where NBA stars will begin to shock us one after the other.
But what will he do? Will 10 games spiral into 20? 30? 40? A Manny-esque 50?
And probably the most important question, when will anyone ever admit their crime and move on? The saga won't end unless players can be open about their PED use.
One where, after awhile, the bad news won't induce jaw-dropping and eye-popping reactions anymore.
An era that we'll have to fight through. One where Rashard’s experience eventually becomes just a learning experience for up-and-comers in the future.
One where the spotlight will be trained firmly on Mr. David Stern.
It will be a battle, a battle which will eventually reveal the players' true colors. Would they rather cover it up and cause on-going drama for their team, or would they sacrifice a bad mark on their reputation for the betterment of the team's chemistry?
"Take five" is over, David Stern.
Let's see what lies beneath those sparkling glasses and "on-display" eyes.
Work needs to be done, action must be taken. If not soon, later will lead us down from the dark passages we just explored to the pitch-dark cellars of disappointment and sorrow.
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