Largest Online Debate Over Drugs in Sports Debuts with Statements from Over 200 Celebrity Athletes and Doping Experts
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ProCon.org, a nonpartisan 501c3 nonprofit research organization, created a new website, http://sports.procon.org/, to explore the question “Should performance enhancing drugs (such as steroids) be accepted in sports?”
The online project contains nearly 30 questions about drugs in sports with over 250 sourced responses from more than 200 sports experts. Those experts include professional athletes (from Lance Armstrong to Gene Upshaw), doping authorities (from Dr. Don Catlin to Dr. Gary Wadler), sports writers, academics, physicians, league commissioners, politicians, and many other knowledgeable sports fans.
Some subjects of discussion include whether or not:
- Tiger Woods’ alleged LASIK surgery to improve his vision to 20/15 is ethically different than an athlete taking a banned substance
- there is a correlation between the 5% (approximate) of middle schoolers who take anabolic steroids and the use of such substances by their athlete role models
- the testing labs, such as the one that found cyclist Floyd Landis guilty of using banned drugs, are credible and reliable
- the teammates of sprinter Marion Jones should return their Olympic gold medals. None of them tested positive for banned drugs although Jones confessed to having used them.
Some of the interesting facts presented on the site include:
- The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has banned 192 performance enhancing substances and methods including alcohol, marijuana, testosterone, insulin, blood transfusions, and gene manipulation.
- Of the 21,579 drug tests conducted at the Summer Olympics from 1968-2008, there were 59 cases (0.27%) of doping violations. There have been 13 positive results (0.25%) from 5,264 tests conducted at the Winter Olympics between 1968 and 2006.
Today ProCon.org made its sports research publicly available for free and without advertising on the website http://sports.procon.org/. The project will continue indefinitely. It was developed to advance the organization’s goals of promoting critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship. http://bigthreeauto.procon.org/
Source: ProCon.org
Smucker’s Presents Winter Figure Skating Specials
Families Can See Their Favorite Skating Superstars on Television or In-Person This Winter
For the seventh consecutive winter, Smucker’s(R) is presenting its figure skating series including two television performances and a nationwide tour. In the year leading up to the 2010 Winter Games, skating fans will not find a better preview of America’s favorite Olympic sport
Beginning with two national TV specials featuring a star-studded cast of figure skating champions and well-known musical guests, families will have the opportunity to watch stars, such as Sasha Cohen, Todd Eldredge and Michael Weiss, perform on the small-screen:
- Smucker’s(R) presents Hot Ice, Cool Sounds. — December 25, 2008 from 3 – 5 p.m. EST on NBC and
- Smucker’s(R) Stars on Ice(R) — January 4, 2009, from 4 – 6 p.m. EST on NBC.
On Christmas Day, Olympic, World and National champions will perform in Smucker’s presents Hot Ice, Cool Sounds show. This exciting show also features musical performances by singing legend Peter Cetera as well as the world-renowned Cleveland Pops Orchestra. In addition, viewers can visit www.smuckers.com the day following the TV special to enter a contest to win a range of Hot Ice, Cool Sounds merchandise.
In its 23rd season, Smucker’s Stars on Ice continues to bring quality family entertainment to 40 U.S. cities throughout the country. Founded by Scott Hamilton, this year’s Smucker’s Stars on Ice tour, “On the Edge,” kicks off with a national TV special on January 4, 2009, that will excite and entertain audiences as skaters showcase their immense skills and high-intensity routines while performing in an Emmy Award-winning production.
The Smucker’s Stars on Ice national tour begins on Jan. 23, 2009 in Spokane, WA, and concludes on Apr. 11, 2009 in Portland, ME. A portion of the proceeds from each tour ticket sold will be donated by Smucker’s Stars on Ice to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. For more information on tour dates and cities, guest skaters and show times for Smucker’s Stars on Ice please visit www.starsonice.com.
“The J.M. Smucker Company is proud to provide wholesome, family entertainment,” said Maribeth Badertscher, Director, Corporate Communications, The J.M. Smucker Company. “We invite families to spend the holidays celebrating old traditions and creating new memories with their favorite figure skaters.”
Visit www.Smuckers.com for more information on Smucker’s products and recipes. Consumers can also receive discounts on tickets and enter to win a VIP trip for six people to see Smucker’s Stars on Ice in a city of their choice.
Smucker’s Stars on Ice
Founded in 1986 by skating icon Scott Hamilton, the Smucker’s Stars on Ice tour has played more than 1,000 shows over the past 23 years. Past tour performers include Olympic Gold Medalists Kristi Yamaguchi, Katarina Witt, Dorothy Hamill and Torvill & Dean. The Tour has won three Emmy Awards, one ACE Cable Award (Best Sports Special), and is recognized as the finest ice production in the world. In its 23rd season, the 2008-09 Smucker’s Stars on Ice Tour will bring quality family entertainment to 40 major U.S. markets this winter. Smucker’s Stars on Ice is produced by IMG, the world’s premier Sports, Entertainment and Media Company. For more information about the tour, visit www.starsonice.com.
Disson Skating
Comcast-Spectator entered into a partnership with Disson Skating in January of 2006. They have taken figure skating to a new level and have quickly become the leading producers of televised ice skating shows in the United States and Canada. A major component of this partnership is the production of 10 two-hour original ice skating specials on NBC, including Smucker’s Hot Ice, Cool Sounds. For more information, go to www.dissonskating.com
Source: The J.M. Smucker Company
SIRIUS XM Radio Announces Extensive Coverage of 2008-09 College Football Post-Season
SIRIUS XM will broadcast 25 bowl games including Bowl Championship Series
SIRIUS XM’s holiday sports schedule includes college football and basketball, NFL post-season games, NBA, NHL and World Cup skiing
SIRIUS XM Radio announced that it will offer listeners nationwide extensive coverage of college football’s post-season, with live play-by-play of 25 bowl games including the Bowl Championship Series, the Rose Bowl and the FedEx BCS National Championship game.
SIRIUS XM’s coverage will begin Saturday, December 20, when Navy plays Wake Forest in the EagleBank Bowl (11:00am ET on SIRIUS channel 122 and XM channel 144) and continues through Thursday, January 8, when the nation’s #1 team, the Oklahoma Sooners led by Heisman Trophy-winner Sam Bradford, face off against the #2 Florida Gators and 2007 Heisman-winner Tim Tebow in the FedEx BCS National Championship Game in Miami, FL (8:00pm ET on SIRIUS channel 120 and XM channel 140). A complete schedule of games and channels appears below.
Leading up to the national title game, SIRIUS XM personality Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo will host his daily show, Mad Dog Unleashed, live from Miami on Wednesday, January 7 (2:00-7:00pm ET) and Thursday, January 8 (2:00-7:00pm ET) on SIRIUS channel 123 and XM channel 144.
Additionally, every weekday morning (7:00-10:00am ET) throughout the college post-season, SIRIUS XM’s college sports talk show, Rivals Radio, hosted by Bill King, will air live on SIRIUS channel 122 and XM channel 144, covering all the latest news and results and previewing every bowl match-up.
Every Wednesday (10:00am-12:00pm ET) on SIRIUS channel 122 and XM channel 144, Jack Arute and Gary Danielson host The SIRIUS XM College Football Coaches Show, covering the world of college football and interviewing head coaches and players from around the nation.
SIRIUS XM’s College Bowl Game schedule: (All times ET)
EagleBank Bowl, Washington, DC – Navy vs. Wake Forest
December 20, 11:00 am, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (Navy feed)
New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque, NM – Colorado St. vs. Fresno St.
December 20, 2:30pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
St. Petersburg Bowl, St. Petersburg, FL – South Florida vs. Memphis
December 20, 4:30pm, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (ESPN Radio feed)
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, New Orleans, LA – Troy vs. Southern Mississippi
December 21, 8:15pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, San Diego, CA – Boise St. vs. TCU
December 23, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 144 (ESPN Radio feed)
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, Honolulu, HI – Notre Dame vs. Hawaii
December 24, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
Motor City Bowl, Detroit, MI – Florida Atlantic vs. Central Michigan
December 26, 7:30pm, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (TBC Sports feed)
Meineke Car Care Bowl, Charlotte, NC – North Carolina vs. West Virginia
December 27, 1:00pm, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (ISP feed)
Champs Sports Bowl, Orlando, FL – Wisconsin vs. Florida St.
December 27, 4:30pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
Emerald Bowl, San Francisco, CA – California vs. Miami
December 27, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
PapaJohns.com Bowl, Birmingham, AL – Rutgers vs. NC State
December 29, 3:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
Valero Alamo Bowl, San Antonio, TX – Missouri vs. Northwestern
December 29, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, San Diego, CA – Oklahoma St. vs. Oregon
December 30, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, Fort Worth, TX – Air Force vs. Houston
December 31, 12:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
Chick-fil-A Bowl, Atlanta, GA – LSU vs. Georgia Tech
December 31, 7:30pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
Outback Bowl, Tampa, FL – Iowa vs. South Carolina
January 1, 11:00am, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
Konica Minolta Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, FL – Clemson vs. Nebraska
January 1, 1:00pm, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (TD Radio/Sports Byline feed)
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA – Penn State vs. USC
January 1, 4:30pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
FedEx Orange Bowl, Miami, FL – Virginia Tech. vs. Cincinnati
January 1, 8:30pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
AT&T Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX – Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss
January 2, 2:00pm, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (Texas tech feed)
AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN – Kentucky vs. E. Carolina
January 2, 5:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
Allstate Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, LA – Utah vs. Alabama
January 2, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
International Bowl, Toronto, Canada – Buffalo vs. Connecticut
January 3, 12:00pm, SIRIUS channel 122 / XM channel 144 (TBC Sports feed)
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, AZ – Texas vs. Ohio St.
January 5, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
FedEx BCS National Championship Game, Miami, FL – Oklahoma vs. Florida
January 8, 8:00pm, SIRIUS channel 120 / XM channel 140 (ESPN Radio feed)
XM acquired the rights to broadcast the FedEx BCS National Championship Game, the FedEx Orange Bowl, the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in a multi-year agreement with FOX Sports.
Throughout the holiday season, SIRIUS XM offers sports fans more coverage than any other radio outlet. SIRIUS XM listeners can tune in to every live NFL post-season game, plus NBA and NHL games, college football and basketball games and World Cup alpine skiing events from around the globe. In addition to play-by-play, listeners can hear engaging sports talk on several exclusive channels including SIRIUS NFL Radio, MLB Home Plate, SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, NHL Home Ice, Mad Dog Radio, The PGA Tour Network and more.
For game schedules and channel listings, please visit www.sirius.com or www.xmradio.com.