Bob Ryan and the S-Word

Bob Ryan, the elder statesman of Boston Sports, finally says what's been on the mind of anyone who used to root for Nomar.

Money Quote

"But he did go from, like, standard athlete issue normal to ultra-buffed in one winter, and he has been -- there is no other way to say it -- systematically breaking down for the past six years, so you can't help wondering just what he's been putting into his body other than Wheaties and sirloin steaks. If we're going to assume that Mark McGwire's physical breakdown was because of a reliance on steroids, then it would be quite logical to adopt the same line of thinking about Nomar. It's a legitimate question."

Pandora's Box has been opened, and it would be futile to think Nomar will be the last Superstar to fall under the cloud of the S-Word.

- BL