Hands-up to those surprised to learn Alex Rodgriguez confessed back in January to doing business with Miami steroid dealer Tony Bosch and using performance-enhancing drugs just as Major League Baseball alleged? Anyone? We didnt think so. Twenty-six years after Ben Johnson professed his innocence to a nation that desperately wanted to believe him. It doesnt take a cynic to roll their eyes in the face of busted athlete drug cheats who profess their innocence. We all know the script of the busted athlete who tries to position him or herself as the victim in a performance-enhancing drug witch hunt. It goes a little something like this: I have always prided myself on my ability to compete clean, I would never disrespect the game, my teammates, the fans and most of all my family. You know the rest. With a parade of all-stars from Marion Jones to Lance Armstrong to Ryan Braun, it was almost laughable that at this stage of things Alex Rodriguez thought he could convince anyone of his innocence, never mind the people who were out to get him. What we need to understand is that taking performance-enhancing drugs is a simple risk-reward proposition for a lot of athletes, during which time they understand the public plea they will have to make if they are accused or caught. So while we might wonder how athletes can so easily compromise their integrity by flat-out lying to the very people who have made them what they are, this part of the equation is settled long before the gotcha moment. Former Canadian sprinter Angela Isajenko said it more than two decades ago during the Dubin Inquiry into drugs in sports when she described the athletes handbook for what to do when you are caught: deny, deny, deny. The few who have deviated from that script are far and few between. Years ago, I wrote a piece in The Globe and Mail which suggested it was difficult to know whether to cheer for Lance Armstrong, purely for the reason that he was so dominant in a sport that was well-known to be dirty. The vitriol I received in response from Armstrong fans, many of them cancer survivors who considered him a real-life hero, was unlike anything I have received before or since in my career. They were simply horrified that I could even entertain the idea that someone of his character and accomplishments might be a cheat. And besides, hed already faced-down his accusers in public and pledged his innocence. Did I really think he would let down the legions of people to whom he was nothing less than a superhero? We all know how that story ended. Im sure there are athletes who test positive or are accused via investigation of using performance-enhancing drugs and it all turns out to be a mistake. I just cant think of any. Alex Rodriguez lying and then eventually confessing to performance-enhancing drug use hardly qualifies as disappointment. And he may truly be as detestable as he seems. But in this case, hes not the worst of the worst. He was merely travelling down the same well-worn path of those who came before him. jerseys from china . Dyson Stevenson and Dryden Hunt also scored for the Pats (15-12-1), while Nick Schneider made 13 saves in net. Bryson Gore scored the lone goal for Moose Jaw (8-18-5) nearly three minutes into the game before Reginas offence exploded. cheap jerseys .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills are dealing with several injuries that are testing their roster depth just a couple of weeks into the pre-season. http://www.cheapjerseyssafe.com/ . -- Houston Astros shortstop Clint Barmes has a broken left hand, the result of getting hit by a pitch, and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks. wholesale jerseys . Colorado called up catcher Wil Nieves from Triple-A Colorado Springs to take his spot. They also transferred infielder Hector Gomez from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL with a strained groin. cheap nfl jerseys . The CFL club announced Thursday that Willis was arrested Sunday with one count of driving under the influence in Atlanta.It was a night of mixed emotions for a lot of people Saturday as the Jets met the Anaheim Ducks. Teemu Selanne was a terrific Winnipeg Jet when the Jets were first in the NHL. After three-plus years, he was dealt to Anaheim. "The trade, it all happened so quickly, I never had a chance to say goodbye to a great city and all the great fans," said Selanne. A 76-goal rookie season will be tough to break. A standing ovation when Selanne came onto the ice, another when the Jets paid tribute to the "Finnish Flash" on the big screen, another at the end of the game and yet another when he came out after being selected one of the games stars. As for the game, two assists for Selanne to extend his point streak to eight games (2-9-11). He was also stoned by Chris Mason in the third period when he was one on one with the Jets netminder. The Jets won the game 5-3, a game that was not played very well. Plenty of turnovers, questionable goaltending from Dan Ellis, some sloppy play by the Jets in the third that allowed the Ducks to stay in the game, and some east/west play when Coach Claude Noel wanted north/south. But in the end it was a win, and two points to help stay in the playoff hunt in the eastern conference. Jets jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Kyle Wellwood and Blake Wheeler scored. A time out and the standing ovation for Selanne during the first commercial break sparked the Ducks and it was 2-2 after one. Alexander Burmistrov back in the lineup after missing two due to injury scored 31 seconds into the second and Andrew Ladd scored with 1:40 left in the second to give the Jets a 4-2 lead after two periods. The Ducks felt Ellis was interfered with on Ladds goal. Zac Bogosian scored early in the third to make it 5-2, one that Ellis would like back, and the Jets then held on for the win. Nik Antropov was back in the lineup and was a huge benefit to Wellwood and Ladd. Wellwood had a goal and an assist on the night. Leading the way offensively was Bogosian with a goal and two assits for a three point night, his best output of the season. Corey Perry had ttwo for the Ducks.ddddddddddddWheeler has 14 points in 14 games, two assists for Dustin Byfuglien gives him 19 points in the last 20 games. Jets lost Bryan Little in the first when he was hit in the back of the leg with a Byfuglien slap shot. He played one shift after getting hit and then left for the night. Little and Jim Slater are the Jets best face off tandem and with one being a left handed shot and the other a right, it gave Coach Noel a great one/two face-off punch. With Little gone, that all fell onto the shoulders of Slater. He ended up taking 30 faceoffs. Coach Noel had praise for this goaltender. "He has always been a battler," said the coach, who had Mason with the two were in the Nashville organization. "He made key saves at key times. There is not margin of error for him. He has to be sharp right off the get go." The cheering for Selanne, booing for other Ducks made for a different night. "There were mixed emotions coming from the crowd. Looked like we were confused." added Coach Noel. Toby Enstrom returned after missing 20 games and picked up a power play assist. "It was a tough game for him to play. They went after him physically." As for the game, "There was very little comfort, even when it was 5-2. They had the puck a lot of the time. But it wasnt the prettiest win, but its a win. With players returning the lineup, we need some together practice time." Not in the lineup was Antti Miettinen, as Coach Noel feels he needs a few more days to get ready to give himself the opportunity to succeed in front of the home town crowd. Jets play host to the New York Islanders Tuesday (TSN Jets, TSN 1290). So from a Jets fan perspective, a good night. The team wins and a two points for Selanne. It may have been his last game at the MTS Centre, as many feel he will retire at the end of the season. The man can still play as he continues to lead the Ducks in scoring. With Enstrom back, the game marked the first time since game four of the regular schedule that the Jets had their top six "D" in the linuep. cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys cheapjerseyswholesale wholesale jerseys ' ' '