Who knows, perhaps the Texans did another background check on Cushing, and he came back clean. That would explain Uncle Bob going all in and putting his reputation on the line, because that's what he's done, whether he realizes it or not. And now the media will be scrutinizing everything Cushing does both on and off the field, but that's the price he pays for upping the ante with his bizarre excuses for testing positive.
You know...if there WAS something to this overtrained athlete syndrome. And I'm not saying I believe there is because it sounds preposterous to me (meaning as an excuse for the failed test)...but if he WERE telling the truth all along. Well, that would really, really suck. Because then he and McNair would know that there is a very real possibility that this could happen again, which means more and longer suspensions when he has done nothing wrong. So what he and the owner are doing would make perfect sense, in that case. Because if they didn't try to put this idea into Goodell's head that maybe this is a medical rarity and not cheating then Cush's career could conceivably be over. Not saying I believe the guy...but think of how much it would suck if it were TRUE. We'd be robbed of seeing a bonafied game changer on our team for years simply because he had some bizarre sounding syndrome that no one has ever heard of until now.
Why doesn't he take a polygraph? Some would say they're not 100% reliable and not admissible in court, but crap, pretty much every government agency in the world uses them.
As far as additional evidence, I heard the owner hired someone who specializes in a very specific type of security...
Two things: 1. How is this supposed to affect Goodell? Let's say they have their conversation and then Cushing fails a drug test this year. Is Goodell supposed to just assume it was that? That's like a free "get out of jail" card for any athlete going forward. Just claim OAS. 2. It's easy to fix. Just don't overtrain! No one's going to be robbed of anything. OAS has *negative* effects on performance. It makes you fatigued. It takes away drive and motivation. If he really thinks this was the cause, there is an extremely easy solution that would also improve his training.
Major, I don't think "over training" means "training to the point where it hurts your performance", I think it means "training to the point where it makes you test positive". And if this turns out to be true, then yes, it would throw the NFL testing policy on its head. And you know what? I'm fine with that. You can't just go suspending and fining everybody who fails a test that has been shown to produce false positives. The NFL will have to adjust its testing to accommodate this new science if it does in fact turn out to be true. And one other thing... as ridiculous as this whole premise sounds (not going to assume anything since I don't know crap about the science of it), if anybody could "overtrain", it's Cushing. His workouts are the stuff of legend, and he goes year round.
But they really go together. OAS is a specific condition - it's not just "training really hard raises your hormones": http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/overtraining.html If Cushing claims he has OAS, then it comes with the other symptoms. It's already a fairly ridiculous assertion, but it would be more ridiculous if he claims he only has the one effect on his hormones but none of the other key things that OAS is all about.
He took growth hormone. Period. was I there? no, do I have evidence? yes. 1.he says he didnt take hcg,or steriods, fine. I will for the sake of argument,say Cushing is telling the truth 2.Im not sure if hgh(growth hormone) is on the banned list,its immpossible to test for ,so I assume its not on the list considering cushing could take it every night before he goes to bed,and still pass a test the next day 3.so why do i know cushing took hgh? simple......Taking growth hormone automatically enlarges the pituitary gland. I know this from being a body builder.If you take alot(and im sure cush took HUGE amounts) then he got a temporary enlarged gland, which produces excess levels of hcg. Since the excretion is like a roller coaster, that would explain why he tested low in 1 test,then high in the other,then normal in the others. Ive read his results have been all over the place. Thats why. So, if HGH is not on the banned list, then cushing is INNOCENT and should be not banned, however, Im damn sure this is what caused his high level. He does not have a tumor,and he hasnt admitted to sex right before the test. So the only conclusion is either enlarged gland or steriod cycle completion hcg. Dude is guilty imo. And you guys need to prepare yourselves that he will get busted at some point again, and be banned for 1 year. And oh, he has lost a TON of weight and this has been verified. He even admits it, and this has been verified. Scale weight can be fluid. He has a much smaller physique now,and I expect worse on field performance also. So not only is he a high risk for being busted, he now will lose on field performance since he no longer can either riod up or hgh to grow. He probably wants to continue the hgh,and he knows this leads to enlarge gland which will fail a test, so he is trying to make it look like he is some genetic freak that is gets an enlarged gland from training. What a crock that is.
(on ESPN) Mark Schlereth just went off on the media as a whole. Saying the media has done a disservice with Cushing. The misinformation out there is making the whole situation looks stupid, and Cushing looking like an idiot trying to show reasons why it might have shown up.
Cushing should have just shut up and eaten the suspension. Now this story will follow him the rest of his career.
I don't think this will affect anything. The story is the suspension, not whether he fought it or not. When he retires from football, people may remember he was suspended for part of his sophomore year but they probably won't remember the appeals for reinstatement. Not unless it turns into a Bond or Clemens situation which is unlikely. I can't even tell you if Shawne Merriman denied using roids or what his excuse was. And that was only a couple of years ago.
If he stops soon enough, you will be right. But some of these stories are become nearly Clemens-esque, and it *will* be hard for him to live down that memory if he continues. And, the story most certainly *is* the lameness of this excuse. The whole "overtrained athlete syndrome" thing has gotten *far* more attention this week than the suspension.
I expect this will be the last we'll hear of it. This is their last chance to appeal and if Goodell isn't buying it, Cushing and McNair will be forced to let it die because Cush will have no choice but to serve the suspension. The appeal might be the story right now because it's current but in the large scheme of things the real story is still the suspension. Nobody will remember this appeal a year or two from now. I have my TV on ESPN most of the day, though it's in the background. I really haven't a ton about the McNair meeting/Cushing excuse, not that it hasn't been mentioned. I've heard far more about Haynesworth, Tiger Woods, Revis, and Van Gundy/Heat.
Vaguely related, but I just saw pictures of Clay Matthews Jr as a 160 lb freshman and then as a huge inflated 230 lb behemoth and his massively distended jaw. How has this guy not been busted yet?
Why would they be forced to let it die? They can proceed to take legal action, because if this really is natural for Cushing, then what happens if it goes up again?
Actually, it was the whole "I trained so hard my body began to emit female hormones" angle that got the most yuck-yucks up here. Gotta admit it though: Some of the insults I heard were actually pretty funny. Like I posted before: at some point Cushing should just STFU. I'm sure that nobody here will hold what he did against him because at least Cushing was doing it to push the envelope in an effort to win. Shows he cares which is a pleasant change from what I saw under Capers & Co..
