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GRID IRON..the San Diego Chargers have made a deal with the devil. By signing Norv Turner to a three year contract extension, the Bolts have ensured they will remain a solid, respectable squad. But they will never reach a Superbowl. Turner, an exceptional offensive coordinator, has been promoted beyond his skill level when employed as a head coach. His decision to try an onside kick in the dwindling moments of Sunday’s game against the New York Jets constituted a move of utter stupidity, one which tilted the balance in what was still a very winnable game. Expect more of the same anytime the Bolts hit the postseason, the Norv Choke is nothing if not expected…Buffalo fans must be aglow with the word their new head coach is Chain Gailey. The game passed Gailey by about a decade ago. I didn’t think the Bills could ever be subjected to a worse coach than Dick Jauron, but I may well have been wrong…Wade Phillips should be fired, no question. The talented Cowboys dismal performance against the Vikings was indicative of poor preparation and a reminder of Phillips inability to consistently extract the best from his players. Enough is enough…the Denver Bronco’s move forward by axing defensive coordinator Mike Nolan? Sorry, Josh McDaniel, if anyone was deserving of the push off the Rocky Mountains, it was you. The thought of Nolan joining the Miami Dolphin staff is very enticing indeed…the Kansas City Chiefs, like the Dolphins, are another team making quiet moves to ensure the improvement of their team. Nope, not kidding on that one, Charlie Weiss is going to move Matt Cassells forward by a country mile…

ICE..slumping; Martin Brodeur has lost three in a row and was replaced in the New Jersey Devil net Monday night by Yann Denis. Brodeur has plenty of time to find his game before the commencement of the Feb 13^th Olympic break…at the other end of the ice (Isles 4-0 over Devils); Rick DiPietro was busy recording his first shutout since Feb 2008. The oft injured left hander has played three games and boasts a sparkling .926 save percentage and a 1.96 GAA. The question will always concern his ability to remain healthy…

PUG LIFE..in a mesmerizing rumination on steroids and boxing, Thomas Hauser confirms that Roy Jones did fail a drug test after a May 13^th, 2000 fight in Indianapolis with Richard Hall. Jones was a long rumoured abuser who eventually won a fabricated heavyweight belt from John Ruiz. The porky Ruiz is quoted as saying a baseball player “juicing” will not kill anyone, but a hepped up fighter just might. After failing his test, Jones received an “educational” letter in the mail from the IBF, noting the positive test. No other action was taken. None. Other confirmed users include high profile fighters like James Toney and Fernando Vargas. Damning evidence is produced showing long term abuse by fighters like Evander Holyfield, Jameel McLine and Shane Mosley.

In a chilling introduction to the essay, available on the Seconds Out site, Hauser relays a 2008 conversation he had with Alex Ariza, Manny Pacquiao’s fitness trainer. Hauser is careful and non-judgemental, and his findings can be read in one of two dramatically different manners. Ariza notes a stunning improvement in Pacquiao as he gains weight, despite his relatively advanced age of 30. He then bemoans the fact that Pacquiao refuses to comply with his requests for sophisticated, invasive testing of his body. Pac Man fans will say this is proof the fighter is just a naïve, superstitious individual. Others will perceive mendacity in the reasons Pacquiao keeps tests at a distance.

Only Nevada, New York and California test for steroids (Pacquiao has agreed to fight Joshua Clottey in Texas). EPO can wash from a human body within 24 hours. No state commission tests for Human Growth Hormones. This is crazy, frightening information.

Solutions include requiring a fighter agree to be tested for Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) at anytime as a condition of receiving a boxing license. “Unannounced and spot testing” constitutes the only way to deal with the sophistication of the modern user.

Hauser writes a blistering conclusion to his piece, noting the Mayweather accusations against Pacquiao were based on not a shred of evidence and were intended to embarrass and antagonize the Filipino icon. Hauser notes Mayweather has been careful to avoid the best fighters in his weight class, Paul Williams, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, and, by implication, appears to be determined to avoid Manny Pacquiao.

Hauser saves his best for the final paragraphs. Since Golden Boy is so concerned about the possible drug usage of Manny Pacquiao, he suggests they commence rigid testing with their own stable of fighters, including 45 year old miracle worker Bernard Hopkins, cruiserweight-to-heavyweight overnight David Hayes and, of course, Mosley.

Then, in a bombshell, Hauser implies that Oscar De La Hoya was a juicer and, moreover, had a failed test covered up by the Nevada Boxing Commission. He pleads with De La Hoya to agree to a release of his own Nevada records, a broadside Hauser would not deliver unless he was sure of his info. It’s a dark, sordid tale, and Golden Boy Promotions come off as villains. Any suspicion they have about Pacquiao likely derives from their own stables active and persistent usage.

ADDENDUM..I’ve steadfastly held that Shane Mosley was “juiced” when he took apart Antonio Margarito in 2008. He had looked utterly washed up against Ricardo Mayorga a year earlier and Hauser implicitly agrees and suggests Mosley should be regularly tested for PED’s…amidst all these accusations, it was suddenly announced that the Jan 30th Shane Mosley - Andre Berto fight had been cancelled. The purported reason was the Haitians inability to focus after the devastation that has wrecked his homeland. No one could begrudge the man the time to regroup. It’s just that fighters have historically used outside events to furnish and bolster their concentration and motivation. Is it possible that the now clear understanding that Mosley is an out-and-out cheater and “juicer” caused Berto’s camp to rethink the fight? Not probable, but just maybe possible…and aren’t talks of a Mayweather - Mosley fight on May 1^st or 8^th just rich? Pacquiao was too suspicious for “Money”, but Mosley is not? Another fight that I’ll believe when I see…how would other sports bear up under scrutiny?  Does the modern fan really understand what is on display? How far has the “juicing” culture infiltrated modern sports? Globe and Mail doyen Stephen Brunt recently wrote modern testers are looking for a horse and buggy while the current crop of athletes are driving Ferrari’s.  Brunt, clearly, was not limiting his comments to simply boxers, or even Olympic athletes…

PONIES..in a victory for both historical literacy and common sense, Rachel Alexandra was recognized as the North American Horse of the Year at last night’s Eclipse awards. The lunatic fringe that has loudly and boldly championed Zenyatta as deserving the award found their shrill admonitions staunched by the virtues of intelligence and reason. That’s step one. Step two will occur when the two hit the track together. Zenyatta fans, step two is going to be allot more painful than step one, I promise…