Enjoyable Stupidity

The Boston Globe featured a wide variety of fun stupidity today. They ran a blurb about a Survivor million-dollar winner who, in a regrettable oversight, forgot to mention his prize to the IRS. Oh, and over 300,000 bucks he got from a radio station. Obviously, he was going to mention it - after all, who would be stupid enough to think the IRS wouldn't check a million dollar prize - but it slipped his mind. And in the stupid and greedy category the Globe described how Roger Clemens is seeking a record $22 million in arbitration, never mind that no pitcher has ever earned more than $17.5 million, and that Roger is 157 years old. The writer doesn't come right out and say that Roger is one greedy asshole, but does offer this paragraph for our elucidation:

The $8.5 million spread between his figure and the Astros' was exactly double the previous high in salary arbitration -- the Yankees filed at $14.25 million with Jeter in 2001. The midpoint of $17.75 million is just above the highest listed salary for a pitcher this season -- Randy Johnson's salary with the New York Yankees is calculated at $16.5 million, including a prorated share of the $1 million personal-services contract he agreed to with the Arizona Diamondbacks before he was traded.

Another story explained that sales of androstenedione have skyrocketed because the body building supplement is about to be pulled from the market. Researchers say the drug, which the body converts to testorone, can cause a host of problems including liver damage and increased risk of kidney and heart failure. This reminds me of my old roommate who got a year's supply of Phen-Fen when she found out it could kill her. This gorgeous girl went on to marry an asshole who wouldn't let her get a small shake while he gorged himself on a Rallyburger meal, but that is a different story. The article goes on to say, "Online sales have been equally brisk, fueled in part by warnings from the supplement's retailers. HouseofMuscle.com, founded by Minnesota weight-lifter Joel Sward, urges customers to "buy 12 or 24 bottles" of andro, representing a one- to two-year supply. Otherwise, Sward writes, "you will be forced to break the law and buy them on the black market" when the ban takes effect Thursday." The best quote is at the end when a "nutrition" store owner claims he has found a replacement in the drug Testrol, but worries the FDA will ban it. He says, "Anything that works these days, they seem to keep jamming." Well, duh, I think we have figured out that messing with hormones and causing oneself to grow artificially is a really bad idea. Does it really matter how we go about it? You really do have to wonder which comes first: steroid-induced stupidity or a mindset that makes one think bodybuilding is a worthwhile pursuit.