This past week, Sports Illustrated reported that New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was one of 104 Major League players who tested positive for steroids or other performance enhancing drugs in 2003.  Baseball’s last chance at a legitimate home run king was now imbrued with the same stain that covers sluggers and hurlers across baseball during what has now been universally dubbed “The Steroids Era.” Rodriguez explained in an exclusive interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons that he used “the stuff” from 2001-2003, his first three years with the Texas Rangers.  Questions about how A-Rod would be received by his teammates and baseball fans were immediately asked, as too were those concerning his place in baseball history; specifically his chances of reaching Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame.  Those questions will remain unanswered for decades to come unless Rodriguez, the youngest player to reach 500 career homeruns, is voted into baseball’s hallowed Hall.  For now, those same questions swirl around baseball’s current, if disputed homerun king, Barry Lamar Bonds.

Barry Bonds’ story follows a similar arc to Rodriguez’s.  Both are multi-year MVP award winners, both were among baseball’s highest paid players, they each have had acrimonious dealings with the press, and both players have endured particular scrutiny over their relatively substandard performances in clutch situations.  The case against Barry Bonds will be made beginning in March 2009.  Bonds faces perjury charges stemming from his alleged untruthful statements given during an investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative, aka BALCO. Leaked from that investigation were reports that Bonds had taken steroids known as “the cream” and “the clear” but claims to have done so unknowingly.

Whether knowingly or unwittingly, the record is clear: for some period of time during his career, the most prolific home run hitter in Major League Baseball history used performance enhancing drugs.

What chance does Bonds now have at receiving baseball’s highest honor; the Hall of Fame, and how legitimate is the claim that he is among the five best players of all time?  I will make the case FOR Barry Bonds in the PAGES: Legitimate Legend?

I love you.

The Godfather.  Star Wars.  Superman.  Batman Begins.  These are just a few of the greatest movies of all time that were beaten (at least in the minds of many) by their sequels.  There have been debates over the years about sequels that out-did their predecessors.  During a scene in the movie Scream 2, the cast banters about on the merits of cinematic sequels Like Aliens and House 2: The Second Story (are you frickin’ kidding me) The cool thing was… that they were actually IN a sequel!!! Get it?!?  Ha ha ha, ‘cause it’s YOUR dog!!! (<- Road Trip reference)

Being an avid movie fan or “buffJ” I figured I’d add my two cents on movie sequels.  My list goes a little somethin’ like this:

(In no particular order)

The Dark Knight.  For those who think this mega-hit scored a half a billion dollars at the box office ‘cause fans were morbidly intrigued to see Heath Ledger, see it again.  This was the first Super Hero movie to be legitimately considered for an Academy award.  Let me say that again; a flippin’ Batman movie got Oscar buzz!!  Ledger was amazing, but the story and the cinematography were inventive and challenging to the audience- traits rarely exhibited by blockbuster summer movies. “Either you die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” So true Harvey Dent; so true.

The Bourne Ultimatum.  The third installment of the Bourne series was the best of the franchise.  A great gauge for an action movie is the opportunity for a bathroom break.  If you’re watching an action movie that you’ve seen, with a person who’s never seen it; how many times can you say “alright, you can go pee now?”  If it’s more than 3, then that movie isn’t any good.  In Ultimatum, there are ZERO scenes you can miss for a potty break.  It’s non-stop action.  Your ticket buys you the whole seat, but you’ll only need the edge.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.  How funny was this movie?  Sure, the whole “trek to Wally World” was hilarious in Vacation 1, but what’s funnier than the Griswold family cat getting fried by the lights of the Christmas tree?  In a word; nothing.

Superman 2.  I always wondered why there even were  Superman movies.  I mean, what CAN’T he do?  He’s invincible except against Kryptonite, but if someone walks up with a glowing rock that saps your power…walk away.  You ain’t gotta fly, just back-up, catch a cab, get on a bus, whatever.  Case in point, in Superman, he gets to Lois Lane too late and she died. So he flies into space, circles the Earth and makes time go backwards.  Even as a youngster I remember thinkin’ “well sh(oot,)  If he can do that whenever he wants to, why doesn’t he just go somewhere and chill?  If stuff happens, he can just go back in time and stop it.”  In Superman 2 though, he has to fight three villains all with the same powers he has.  Now that’s conflict.  I still don’t know how those idiots didn’t win, I mean, there were 3 of them, for Pete’s sake!!

Friday The 13 Part 2.  True slasher-flick fans will remember that this was the first movie featuring Jason as the killer.  You’ll also remember that while the hockey mask is legendary horror movie stuff, in Friday The 13th Part2, Jason wore a sack with an eye hole cut out, over his head.  That’s just creepy!  It was the first sequel I remember seeing that did the whole “recap” sequence at the beginning… kinda like Days of Our Lives,  “Last time, on Friday The 13th…”  Even if you didn’t see Part 1, the intro got you up to speed right off the bat.

The Empire Strikes Back.  This is my favorite Star Wars movie.  Why?  Just take a gander at the opening battle on the ice planet, Hoth.  A sci-fi movie with a battle in the snow?  Come on, that’s cool.  And the main threat to the rebel fortress were the Imperial Walkers or “At-Ats;” huge walking robots with impenetrable armor.  Luke and the boys had to trip them with tow cables… I’m gettin’ a geek-erection just thinkin’ about it.  We also got to meet Yoda and find out that “Luke…. I AM your father!!”  They should re-release this classic and during that scene, they should bring out Maury Povich to say “When it comes to 17 year old Luke SkyWalker… Darth Vader…. You ARE the father!”

There are other worthy films like X-Men 2 and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  There’s of course The Godfather II.  But those movies are my top 6.  I know Terminator 2 was way better than The Terminator, and The Road Warrior kicked Mad Max’ butt, so don’t get yer panties in a bunch.  The Steelers have 6 rings and these are my 6 favorite sequels; deal with it.

Sequels that fell off:  Home Alone 3.  Die Hard 2.  Speed 2. American Pie 2. Next Friday.  Halloween 2,3,4,5,and 6.

Call it one for the other thumb. Call them the SIX-burgh Steelers. Whatever you call them, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the Super Bowl Champs!

In a contest that started out as a mismatch according to Las Vegas, Super Bowl XLIII had morphed by Sunday night into an event rich with storylines and subplots and more answers than prognostications. Would the Steelers and their top ranked defense be able to contain Larry Fitzgerald, who had already amassed the greatest post-season statistics for any receiver in NFL history? Can the Steelers offense rise from beneath the shadow of their vaunted defense and score with the prolific offense of Kurt Warner and the Cardinals? Would Super Bowl XL MVP, Hines Ward be able to play with his sprained right knee and if not, who would emerge as Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite target?

Both teams arrived in Tampa, Florida to answer those questions and more, and in doing so, put on a spectacle that would rival the most amazing contests in Super Bowl history.

There was a time not too long ago, when the Super Bowl was nothing more than a Super disappointment. Just take a look at the scores; Super Bowl XX, 46-10 Bears over the Patriots. Super Bowl XXIV, The 49ers beat the Broncos 55-10! In fact, the average margin of victory for Super Bowl champions during the 1980’s was 21 points. 4 of the last 6 Super Bowls have been decided by 3 points. So, with blow-outs going the way of the fanny pack and stone washed jeans, we had to have known this latest Super Showdown would be closer than the 7 points predicted by Vegas odds makers. Not only was it close, but Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers was the best Super Bowl ever.

Early on, The Steelers looked to have the game in complete control. Their opening drive covered 71 yards before stalling at the 1 foot line ending with a Jeff Reed field goal. Though they didn’t score a touchdown, it seemed that all of the questions about the Steelers ability to move the ball against Arizona’s defense, a defense that had played remarkable better in the post season than it had during a 9-7 regular season, were answered. Meanwhile, The Cardinals offense had its hands full against the League’s best defensive unit. The Cards opted for a game plan that highlighted Kurt Warner’s ability to get rid of the ball quickly, no doubt out of respect for the Steelers pass rushing duo of Lamar Woodley and defensive player of the year, James Harrison. This meant that that we were unlikely to see the brilliance of Larry Fitzgerald catching touchdown passes by out leaping defensive backs, a scene that had become a staple of this years playoff run for the Cardinals. Or were we?

By late in the first half, Fitzgerald had just 1 reception for 12 yards, but with the Arizona Cardinals knocking on the door and hoping to take the lead going into the halftime, James Harrison dropped into coverage at the goal line. Warner’s quick pass to a slanting Anquan Boldin was picked off by Harrison, and returned 100 yards for a touchdown as the first half ended. The play was the longest in Super Bowl history, and gave the Steelers a 17-7 lead, thwarting Arizona’s mounting momentum.

In the third quarter, Pittsburgh had increased their lead to 13, 20-7 when the Cardinals went to their no huddle offense. The plan worked. The Cardinals gashed the Steelers “D” and racked up first downs with passes to Boldin and Pittsburgh native Steve Breaston. Larry Fitzgerald caught one of his patented fade route “jump balls” and the score tightened to 20-14. The Steelers held the Cardinals on their next drive and forced a punt that was downed at the 2 yard line. Beneath their own goal posts, the Steelers would need to drive the entire length of the field for a touchdown, but first, they’d need to get room away from their own goal line to operate their offense. The first play was a run up the middle by Steelers running back, Willie Parker. It was all that Parker could do to avoid a safety. The next play, Roethlisberger fired a pass to Santonio Holmes for a first down and much needed space, but there was a flag on the play. The penalty was for holding, and since the foul occurred in the Steelers end zone, a safety was called and 2 points awarded to the underdog Cardinals; 20-16 Steelers.

The Cardinals got the ball back and continued to have success on offense. With time winding down, Kurt Warner found Larry Fitzgerald on an inside crossing route that he took all the way for the go ahead score. Steeler Nation was stunned; the Arizona Cardinals, who had as many Super Bowl titles as I have, were leading with just over 2:30 to play.

The camera cuts to Ben Roethlisberger who without emotion, grabbed and donned his helmet. He knew that on this drive the Steelers would need at least a field goal, there would likely be no time for another possession should this drive fail.

The first play was a holding penalty. Instead of picking up yards, the Steelers were forced back 10 yards. Next, Ben completes a pass to Heath Miller after scrambling left then right then left again. First down. Roethlisberger finds Holmes open and the shifty receiver from Ohio State darts to the outside and up the field for the biggest Steeler gain of the game. At this point, the Steelers are well within Jeff Reed’s field goal range and are now thinking touchdown. On first down, Roethlisberger throws a high pass to the back left corner of the end zone. Holmes is open but the pass streaks right between his hands for an incompletion. With 40 seconds left, it’s 2nd and goal. The next play, Ben scrambles as he’s done all game. He pumps once, pumps twice; points to a receiver in the middle of the field then fires a tight spiral toward the stands just beyond the right corner of the end zone. Out of nowhere, surrounded by three crimson clad Arizona defenders emerges a pair of yellow gloves- Santonio’s gloves as he snatches the ball from the air and balletically points his toes as he falls out of bounds. The referees scurry over to the fallen receiver, hesitate, then raise their arms to signal TOUCHDOWN!! But was he in? NBC shows the catch from every conceivable angle. Steeler fans saw touchdown and Cardinal fans were calling for an incompletion. But what would the replay officials see? After 2 minutes the referee returns from the viewing booth and offers, “Upon further review…” The anticipation grew, the stadium silent, “The receiver maintained possession and had both feet in bounds. The call on the field stands: Touchdown!” Steeler fans who had made the trek to Raymond James Stadium, erupted. With just 35 seconds to play, Pittsburgh had reclaimed the lead and looked to have clinched their record 6th Super Bowl title.

Arizona had one more chance, but their hopes were dashed when Woodley sacked Warner for the second time of the game, this sack resulting in a fumble, securing the win.

And so it was. This mismatch of Super Bowl veterans and Super Bowl Rookies. The “David’s” from Arizona against the “Goliaths” from the Steel City. This time, Goliath won and so did football fans around the world. This was truly a Super Bowl, an epic battle with a thrilling finish.

Today, Steeler fans welcomed their 6 time champs in a parade through downtown Pittsburgh. Nowhere else is a marriage between fans and players so enduring. The fans gave their thanks as the players stoked the flames of a repeat in 2010. We’re off on a Stairway for 7 but for now, number six will do us nicely.