Champion Sports Youth Baseball/Softball Uniform Belt

This Champion Sports youth uniform belt for baseball offers a comfortable elastic construction with durable, full-grain leather tabs. It measures 1.25-in wide and is sized 18 in - 32 in.

Certification marks are required on all non-wood bats used in high school baseball play. This certification mark called a BESR-Ball Exit Speed Ratio requirement applies to all high schools which belong to the National Federation High School Association.

There seems to be something strange about the Certification rule. Is this BESR certification requirement based on a guarantee that the bat is safe for use?

Does the rule accomplish a specific intent? Correct the misapplication if the reading of the BESR certification does not state the certification ensures the bats maximum of 97 miles per hour BESR. Is this to be interpreted to mean that the bat is certified tested to stay intact up to the maximum of a BESR of 97 miles per hour. All bets are off if the ball exit speed ratio reaches 98 miles per hour?

In essence the bottom line might be for what purpose does this BESR certification marking on every non-wood bat do for the bat the player or the game of baseball?

The manufacturer of non-wood bats does this certification testing for every bat and placing the certification mark tested to a maximum BESR of 97 miles per hour ensure the bat is safe?.

Do the bat production standards being utilized by the manufacturer dictate that such certification is required?

The average pricing structure for new non-wood bats is at a significant level in comparison to used bats. Is it prudent to assume the certification markings on used bats are as valid as the BESR certification on the original new bat?

Does the National Federation High School Association have any statistics which they could share that supports the real and true value of the BESR certification rule? Based on casual observation with no statistical backup data from the outside simply surmising the value of this BESR rule it appears to be an added cost with no return value.

Disregard my thought process if for some reason such an observation concerning BESR certification requirement is off base and the rule serves a fortunate and common need.

The subject of BESR certification it appears is not something for which the general public and even the baseball fans, parents or players even have an inkling.

BaseballFarming is for real so an Introduction to the concept of baseball farming which includes ideas on strategies, training, and winning! by Major Wiley B. Channell USMC (ret) is available at: http://www.baseballfarming.com

Baseball Lingo is real baseball talk by the baseball world. You can become fully up to speed walk the walk and talk the talk by visiting us at: http://www.baseballfarming.com/BaseballLingo.html

A special invitation for you from Major Wiley B. Channell USMC (ret) to come visit and read the five pages which is my take on the five essential elements of hitting a baseball at: http://www.baseballfarming.com/BaseballHitting.html

If you enjoy your visit with us at baseballfarming then tell a friend and you too come back to visit often.

SNK Arcade Classics Vol 1

Celebrate the history of SNK with the ultimate collection of arcade classic hits. 16 NEOGEO games on one UMD for your Sony PSP. It's a comprehensive stack of popular SNK games. It's a must-have addition to any arcade fan's collection! Re-Live the classics of gaming in these amazing titles from SNK. The list of classics are Art of Fighting, Baseball Stars 2, Burning Fight, Fatal Fury, KOF94, King of the Monsters, Last Resort, Magician Lord, Metal Slug, Neo Turf Masters, Samurai Shodown, Sengoku, Shock Troopers, Super SIdekicks3, Top Hunter, and World Heroes.And you don't even need a roll of quarters!

Metal Slug View larger.

KING OF FIGHTERS '94 View larger.

SNK ARCADE CLASSICS: VOLUME 1 will include the following SNK games:

• ART OF FIGHTING - The first game in SNK's second fighting-game franchise, set in the same universe as FATAL FURY. It was the first fighting game by SNK to feature the character designs of former SNK illustrator Shinkiro, who would go on to do the character designs for the later Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters games.
• BASEBALL STARS 2 - The sequel to SNK's popular baseball arcade game. Players can create leagues of up to 125 games (6 teams playing each other 25 times) and view statistics such as League Standings, Average, Home Runs, Runs Batted In, Earned Run Average, Wins and Saves. Players can fire players and upgrade them using the same 15-point system introduced in the original Baseball Stars.
• BURNING FIGHT - New York detectives battle organized crime in this fighter. Duke and Billy, two popular and renowned New York City Police detectives, are hot on the trail of a dangerous Japanese crime syndicate. Their investigation has led them to the mean streets of Japan where they meet a police officer and martial arts expert named Ryu. Ryu agrees to join the NYPD detectives as they track down the crime syndicate bosses and end their reign of terror once and for all.
• FATAL FURY - First released in 1991, FATAL FURY introduced the two-plane fighting system. The main fighting game feature that the original Fatal Fury was known for was the two-plane system. Characters would fight from two different planes, and by stepping between the planes, attacks could be dodged with ease.
• KING OF FIGHTERS '94 - The first game in the popular KING OF FIGHTERS series. King of Fighters '94 introduces the series' signature 3-man team system. Instead of a simple one-on-one, two round fight system, a player chooses a team of three characters, then determines the order to play them in. Each fight consists of up to 5 rounds, and each round ends when one of the two fighters is knocked out; the remaining fighter stays and faces the opponent's next character. A fight is won when one of the two players loses the last of their three fighters.
• KING OF THE MONSTERS - In KING OF THE MONSTERS, giant monsters fight for power in epic battles. Players get to choose any one of six monsters (four in the ports) for battle, and two players can join forces to fight the monsters together. Battles end when one of the monsters is pinned for a three count or if time expires (in which case the player loses)
• LAST RESORT - A challenging futuristic shooter. The gameplay was heavily inspired by R-Type and its system of pod attached to the player's ship. Its first level remained memorable for its homage to the futuristic Neo-Tokyo depicted in the anime Akira.
• MAGICIAN LORD - Players help the wizard Elta save his homeworld in this platformer. The player controls the wizard Elta, the last magician lord, on his quest to save his homeland from the evil Gul-Agieze who plans to resurrect the god of destruction using eight tomes of mystical power. As Elta the player must battle through eight levels to find each of the tomes before he can reach the final battle and seal away the evil god once again.
• METAL SLUG - This run-and-gun side-scroller was the first in the popular series. It's widely known for its sense of humor, extremely fluid hand-drawn animation, and fast paced two-player action.
• NEO TURF MASTERS - A golf game which debuted on the Neo Geo Pocket Color in 1999. The game included a VS mode and three single player modes, as well as having six players to choose from. You played in one of three countries, USA, Japan and Germany.
• SAMURAI SHODOWN - Set in the 18th century, SAMURAI SHODOWN features bladed-weapon combat and an international cast of characters.
• SENGOKU - In SENGOKU, players face off against undead feudal Japanese armies.
• SHOCK TROOPERS - In this run-and-gun adventure, players save a scientist and his granddaughter from the Bloody Scorpions.
• SUPER SIDEKICKS 3 - A soccer game featuring teams from all over the world.
• TOP HUNTER - Bounty hunters protect colonists from space pirates in this futuristic action game.
• WORLD HEROES - This classic fighter pits players against historical figures in a tournament enabled by time travel.

"With 16 of our most beloved games, SNK ARCADE CLASSICS: VOLUME 1 is a must-have addition to any arcade fan's collection," said Ben Herman, president of SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION. "It's the most comprehensive SNK compilation to date."

Customer Review: Great Collection - Eagerly Awaiting Vol. 2
While the goal here seemed to be to represent SNK's past hits, rather than those that have aged well, this is a nice compilation. The graphics are good, everything controls well (unless you have an original model PSP, as the d-pad inability to perform the complex movements for special moves holds true here, and, while initial load times are quite lengthy, once a game is loaded, it rarely needs to access the disc again, except for some of the newer, more complex titles, like Metal Slug and Shock Troopers. Basically, they are the arcade games, for better or worse, which means there aren't any enhancements (aside from viewing options and the ability to save checkpoints). So the collection will live or die based on the games themselves. Some highlights: Art of Fighting / Fatal Fury / Samurai Showdown / World Heroes / King of Fighters '94 - all are the first entries into SNK's multiple fighting series. Still good games today, but their sequels generally superior. King of Monsters - Wrestling game with giant monsters fighting in Japan's major cities. Trashing the cities during your attempts to take down your rival is fun, but the gameplay is pretty shallow, and huge sections of the city are out of bounds, so the intact buildings sit there and taunt you. Magician Lord - Fun, fantasy-themed platformer, which time has been surprisingly kind to. Metal Slug - Humorous, side-scrolling shooter, inspired by Contra. Best game on the disc; a classic, though nothing has changed from the previously released Metal Slug Anthology version. Shock Troopers - Commando rip-off. Fun, and has a nice level branching system, but not as polished as Metal Slug. Baseball Stars 2 - The many baseball games released after this makes the flaws stand out more than ever, but considering the varying quality of many of those baseball franchises, you could do a lot worse. Last Resort - Total rip-off of R-Type (even has similar looking enemies) down to the high difficulty, but still fun if you liked that series. Overall, a good compilation. Many notable games were missing, such as Nam-75, Crossed Swords, Ninja Combat, Robo Army, Cyber Lip, Mutation Nation, and Super 8 Man. Also, many of these games, such as Art of Fighting, Fatal Fury, Samurai Showdown, King of Fighters, and World Heroes, have sequels that essentially add content and tweak the gameplay, rather than revamping everything, so these are already obsolete. Still, a good value, and a quality collection.

The 2008 Major League Baseball season is officially underway, and it is ironic that an obscure statistician from Kansas is making the news, one who was ridiculed for many years. Today he is a chief decision-maker for the world champion Boston Red Sox, having gaining notoriety throughout professional sports - and acceptance to his metrics continues to grow.

On CBS 60 Minutes, Morley Safer interviewed Bill James, a baseball writer and historian who has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball statistics, highlighting his unique approach - known as Sabermetrics: the science of why teams win or lose games.

A fair comparison can be made to the retail auto sales and service industry: It's the numbers, stupid.

Bill James helps the Boston Red Sox decide which players to keep, who and whey they play and who gets traded-away in the off-season, in order to improve the team's statistical chances of having a winning year. He also helps them grow champions. But it wasn't always that way.

Working as a night security guard in Kansas during the late 1970's, James began studying box scores (arguably similar to an RO Analysis). He soon published "The Bill James Baseball Abstract" in 1977, by challenging baseball's typical metrics of what determined a great player. He argued that it was not wins or losses (for a pitcher), nor hits, home runs nor batting average.

Instead, he created statistical innovations (the new metrics) such as:

• Runs Created: Put simply, hits and walks divided by plate appearances.
• Range Factor: The defensive contribution of a player, assists and putouts divided by games played.
• Defensive Efficiency Record: The percentage of balls in play that a defense turns into an out.
• Win Shares: A comparison of players at different positions.
• Pythagorean Winning Percentage: The relationship of wins and losses to runs scored and allowed.
• Major League Equivalency - A metric that uses minor league statistics to determine how a player is likely to perform in the majors.

For most of his career, Bill James ideas were either been ignored or rejected by major league baseball teams. Most teams preferred to follow the maxims that were created decades ago, as well as their gut instincts.

The Red Sox hired James in 2004. Using his ideas, they have won two World Championships. In our constantly changing industry of customer counts and sales and dollars made, perhaps we need to take a step back and look at new and innovative ways to measure our success, and that of our people.

In these challenging times, it requires different thinking along with different processes, to become a world champion.

Think about it.

http://www.autouniversity.com

http://www.autouniversity.com/scn/sales_process

http://www.autouniversity.com/scn/service_process

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Boston Red Sox Official MLB Dog Collar w/ Collar Charm - Size M/L 16-26

Show support of your favorite team with this collar made with woven ribbon sewn on high-tensile webbing and quick-release buckle. ID tag made with engraved team logo, hand polished with silver-tone finish. Your dog's name can be engraved on back of tag. Small - 5/8" width - Fits 10"-14" Med/Lg - 1" width - Fits 16"-26"Matching leash available in our Amazon Store!
Customer Review: total satisfaction
I had a great experience with this order. It arrived before I thought it would. Good item. Looks great on my dog and now just need one for my girlfriend! lol Would highly recommend

This is an exceptional true book that John Grisham has given to his readers. The Innocent Man causes the readers to place themselves in the position of a prisoner when they are not guilty but have been charged as guilty and sentenced to death or life without parole. It is not a place anyone would want to be in but rather be FAR from it. The story occurs mostly in Oklahoma in and near the city of Ada. Peggy Stilwell's beautiful daughter, Debbie Carter, was one that liked to live by herself and do things that she wanted to do without her mother or anyone interfering. She wanted to be independent. Some of the places at which she worked or hung out were not the best places in town but as I said, Debbie was a free spirit.

When Peggy Stilwell found her daughter nude, bloodied, raped, and dead on the floor in her own apartment, she was horrified. The investigation began by tracing her activities from the time she got off work early to when her body was found. In 1982 many of the present day tools for tracing clues were not available but the shoddy work done by the inexperienced police force in Ada did not help the situation at all. Many possible suspects were interviewed, many of which were let go without close investigation. After several months the trail finally got to Ron Williamson. Ron had been a baseball nut, playing for his schools wherever he went and being quite successful until alcohol started dimming his ability to play. He would not accept that his career was over no matter how old he got. His mind always retained that he was a great baseball player and still could play with the best.

As time went on, his drinking and drug use became a huge detriment to his living and his ability to keep friends. His short-term marriage ended. He went from one rehab center to another. Eventually Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz were arrested and charged with the murder of Debbie Carter and the police suspected they were also involved in some other rapes and murders. Dennis Fritz was not nearly suspected as much as Ron so most of the attention and investigation and some very shoddy police work was done against Ron Williamson.

Ron was out of prison at times but he was repeatedly rearrested, again because of the uncertain evidence gathered by the police. Eventually Ron Williamson settled into his prison life while getting more and more mentally unstable as every week passed. He was sent to various psychiatric hospitals and was interviewed by many shrinks all of who thought he was very unstable. Life in prison was a nightmare for any inmate but especially worse for someone in Ron's condition. He aged very fast even though he wasn't an old man.

This true story will guide you though Ron Williamson's life from youth to his final days and all he endured in and out of prison. Another book that is hard to put down. Knowing it is a true story makes it even harder to absorb and makes one wonder about our justice system. Please read this great story by a terrific author.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman.

Reviewer of many types of books.

Baseball - Rawlings Unfinished Inseam Baseball Pants

Rawlings Unhemmed Ankle Baseball Pants Custom Fit! This pant comes with an unhemmed 37" inseam so you can tailor to your exact length. Features include a zip fly front with belt and tunnel loop - Softball Pants

In many ways, we can read the history of America on its ball fields, written in the dust of the infield or the chalk of the baselines. Well-suited to lazy summer days by virtue of its leisurely pace, and providing a wealth of statistics to keep its fans amused during the off-season, baseball is a uniquely American blend of action, reflection, and squabbles (called rhubarbs in the vernacular). And in this, the game oddly reflects the culture that gave it birth.

For those whose appreciation of sports extends no further than the city limits of New York or Boston, a book about a team of mere provincials may prove as alluring to east coast sophisticates as a trip to WalMart to mingle with the riffraff. But for those with a love of the traditions and lore of the Great American Pastime, Tales from the Detroit Tigers Dugout offers a welcome and tantalizing glimpse into one of the oldest and most successful baseball teams in history. Fast-paced and tightly written, the book will delight Tiger fans, and enlighten fans everywhere.

As the author recounts, in recent years the team from Motown had fallen on hard times. Tiger fans had begun to measure the time between winning teams in decades, rather than seasons, capped by a team-record 119 losses in 2003. Yet in those dark years, careful behind-the-scenes planning was already laying the foundation for the teams 2006 re-emergence into the upper tier of major league baseball. And the book is filled with past legends and hints of future glory that offer fans the promise of baseball glory in the years to come.

Though often ignored by sportswriters from bigger cities, Tiger legends are among the most gifted and venerated names in the history of the sport. Ty Cobb, for instance, was probably the best player ever to walk onto a baseball fieldand arguably the nastiest and most contemptible human being ever to don a baseball uniform. But other Tigers were almost as skilled, yet often labored in the shadows of their better-publicized counterparts from the coast. Hank Greenburg, Charlie Gehringer, Al Kaline, and other Hall-of-Famers brought off-field class as well as on-field brilliance to the game. As the author notes, their contribution to franchise history is not lost on students or true fans of the game. Though like other stars of Cooperstown, their timeless talents are often obscured by the large salaries and larger egos of todays lesser stars, fans of all ages and eras will enjoy the stories of how and why baseball in Detroit has grown along with the game that is among the treasures of American culture.

All Americans love an underdog, one who can rise from nothing and soldier on through adversity. Win or lose, there is something about the struggles of the common man that speaks to the American heart, giving us hope for ourselves and our future. A book about baseball will not solve the problems of world hunger or global terrorism, but the magic of sports consists of bringing people together through shared adventures in a sheltered world where conflicts are solved through teamwork and effort. And by sharing some of the hopes and dreams of a long-suffering and newly emerging sports team, Tales from the Detroit Tigers Dugout reminds us that miracles are everywhere around us. We only need to open our eyes and hearts to the magic, and sports can bring smiles to our souls, no matter what is happening in the rest of the world.

Jeffrey Caminsky, a veteran public prosecutor in Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. Both his science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the first volume in the Guardians of Peace (tm) science fiction adventure series, and The Referees Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating, are published by New Alexandria Press, http://www.newalexandriapress.com.

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Chicago White Sox Franchise Fitted Baseball Cap

Founded in 1946, Twins Enterprise is the creator of The Franchise, their signature cap that is always the perfect fit. Twins has the exclusive rights to create fitted, relaxed caps for Major League Baseball. Several top universities (including Alabama, Texas, Notre Dame, and North Carolina) look exclusively to Twins to create the Franchise cap for their students and fans. When Major League Baseball players celebrate winning their Division or the Wild Card they proudly wear caps manufactured and created by Twins Enterprise. Available in just about every major sport, as well as many impressive companies and brands, Twins Caps are everywhere. You may even be wearing one right now.

MLB has only three captains in uniform on MLB rosters. Two of those three captains square off this year in the Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees rivalry, in Derek Jeter and Jason Varitek (Paul Konerko-Chicago White Sox is the other). No surprise that these two old-school MLB's lead their teams, for the two grand franchises of the game.

Derek Jeter and Jason Varitek - you will not find two more different players in MLB. Derek Jeter, the smooth, above-the-action player that transcends the sport courtesy of playoff glory past. Jason Varitek, the get-down in the dirt Catcher of the Boston Red Sox, whose team goes South every time he is not in the lineup.

Both lead with authority, by example, every day. Both have multiple rings to show for their labor, and both Jeter and Varitek play for cities that expect to win the World Series every year, with hordes of media to back up that challenge.

I was surprised that only three teams in MLB have captains, but it is not surprising that Derek Jeter and Jason Varitek are among them. The title of Captain is a serious one in MLB. As good a player as Alex Rodriguez is for example, and his statistics dwarf Derek Jeter's, A-Rod is just not the type of player that fits as a Captain...too much "me" instead of "we."

The title means a lot to both Jeter and Varitek, and it is one that both men have worn very well in leading their teams, especially in pressure spots.

http://www.fastbreakblog.com

cf baseball card center

Hit-A-Way Baseball - Jeter Series

Endorsed by All-Star Derek Jeter! A player can use Hit-A-Way to warm-up or practice most anywhere, even in limited space. Simulates pitches without chasing balls. Develops hand eye coordination and is the perfect tool when learning to switch hit. New materials in cord produce better timing to develop stance and swing mechanics. Hit-A-Way is very easy to carry, weighing less than two pounds. Can be stored in bat bags, back packs or carry- alls. "The hottest new batting aid on the market today." Amazing results in ball players of all ages. New sleeve design improves visibility as well as contact feel and sound. (Post not included).

Do you want to play fantasy football? Indeed, this game is gaining popularity among males and females of all ages. It's no longer a fight for the brawns but of the brains. The better you are with your knowledge of football leagues and the different strategies on how to win the game the higher your chance to become the ultimate champion in no time. There isn't too much pressure and yet you can play along with your favorite teams and even team players.

The ultimate question, however, is this: are there costs involved? It all depends on where and what team you are playing. Let us analyze the top-notches in fantasy football league.

Football League Manager

This league knows what the word custom means. You can set your own rules for the league and even categories of your scores. The administrators will be the ones that handle the scoring system. You can also choose among their comprehensive ways of stat categories. You can also enjoy live scoring, online drafts, and trades. You can pick the defensive players or go for waiver claims. But because it is your own league, you are responsible for the prizes that will be given away. The cost starts at a very small price of $69 though it can get higher as more extras are added.

CDM Fantasy Football

They can give you a complete point-style football game. There is moderate risk involved and rewards are given by the administrators. Scoring systems are simple. You can choose your own team of 22 players as well as manage each of them. There is a maximum value capital of $60 million. For the winners, there are cash prizes given, including $20,000.

Fees involved are usually entry as well as transaction fees. You can play the game either through phone, e-mail, fax, or the World Wide Web.

High Roller Fantasy Football

There is definitely large cash involved in here. In fact, it has one of the highest stakes in fantasy football. You can choose your own team composed of 20 fantasy football players. Scoring is rotisserie style. There is no cost for every transaction. You only have to pay the entry fee, and you can enjoy the game either online or through fax and mail.

Playoff Football Challenge

This is considered to be CDM Football Challenge's post-season version. There isn't an salary cap involved. You can create your own league that will play through the entire playoffs. Cash is given for leagues as well as overall matches. The ultimate winner can get $5,000. You only have to pay the transaction fees and, of course, entry fees to enjoy the game.

Fantasy Playoff Football

There are no fantasy values in Fantasy Playoff Football. This is the post-season version for the Budget Football. There are a total of 33 players involved. Twenty-two of them shall be active players while 11 are players on the bench. Grand prize for the winner will be $3,000. There are no transaction fees only entry fees. The method of playing is through the Internet. If you want to play the game in other forms such as voicemail, fax, phone, or mail, you need to pay a minimal surcharge for the transactions made.

Mid-Season Fantasy Football Challenge at Fan ball

You can choose your own football team and manage them, but you will be constrained to a salary cap of $55 million. Cash will be given during the weekly, league, and overall competition. The overall winner shall be rewarded with a grand prize worth $5,000. Cost involved is only for your entry fee. There is additional charges, however, if you decide to play the game other than through the World Wide Web.

Draft and Play Fantasy Football

You can participate in real-time online drafts as well as head-to-head matches every week. There will be 2 divisions composed of 4 teams each. These teams, made up of 10 players, meet during the playoffs. There is a cash prize for every winner of the league. You can play the game through the Internet after you have paid the entry fee.

The energy is surely mounting even in fantasy football. That's why even if there are costs involved, many are still more than willing to pay the price.

Regine Hehn owns and operates http://www.fun-fantasy-football.com - Fun With Fantasy Football.

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Logitech USB Desktop Microphone

Move up to true digital quality audio--without drivers to install or download. Includes noise-cancellation technology for better voice recognition and superior speech recording.
Customer Review: Drivers missing
Do not purchase this microphone unless you want a hassle installing it. As yet, I have not been able to get it to install with Windows XP including Service Pack II. I finally located the number of the microphone and see that installation problems date back a few years. A CD with the appropriate driver should come with this microphone. It did not. Look elsewhere. LHerr
Customer Review: Works FINE under Vista (and Linux too)
Contrary to what some reviewers have said, this microphone works just fine under Vista. If you have kept your Vista current with Service Pack 1 (SP1) and subsequent updates, you should have no problem. For the record, I am using Vista Home Premium with SP1 and all updates through June 5, 2008. And a note for Linux users: My preferred operating system is Ubuntu, version 8.04. I can report that the Logitech USB mic works perfectly with this OS too. I have used Audacity under both Vista and Ubuntu to make excellent recordings with this mic.

Spring Training has just started for professional baseball, while college baseball teams have been at work since January. It is time to get in shape for the 2008 baseball season.

I love baseball - always have. I was an "All Conference" pitcher and Captain of my college baseball team. I coached at a University for four years and have coached at the High School level for four more. I was a "bird-dog" scout for the Cleveland Indians and the Texas Rangers for a few years, and I have coached Little League teams forever. My nephew is a pitcher in the Detroit Tigers organization, and a legitimate prospect. Really, I love baseball.

But there is a strange and perhaps disappointing story about ADHD and MLB that has come out since the release of the Mitchell Report.

It seems that in 2006 there were 28 major league players who had diagnoses for ADHD, and were receiving treatment with stimulant medication during the season. They were permitted to receive such treatment with stimulants through MLB's "Therapeutic Use Exemption" program. Now, there is no story here - at least not yet. There was no story until MLB placed the use of amphetamines on their "banned substances" list. Then things changed.

In 2007 the number of TUEs requested by major league players jumped from 28 to 103 for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This increase was so startling that even some sleeping Congressmen woke up and decided to make it an issue for the media as a part of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearings on the abuse of performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball.

Other "experts" jumped into the media conversation as well. "This demands an explanation. There's something fundamentally wrong them going from 28 to 103," said Dr. Gary Wadler, chairman of committee that determines the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned-substances list. "If we had this percentage increase in the general population, it would be on the evening news as a national epidemic. It's an outrageous number." Wadler said the ban on amphetamines in 2006 appears to be tied to the increase. No kidding. "I can't prove anything. Certainly you put all the facts together, I think that's a reasonable explanation," he said. "Might there be others? I guess so. It could be an anomaly year of some sort."

Even ADHD guru Russell Barkley, a well-known ADHD expert, was interviewed on the topic. He said that while children with ADHD are often drawn to sports, which could explain the relatively high number, the sharp increase in one year is more difficult to explain.

Note to Dr. Barkley: In the average baseball game there will be less then 18 minutes of "action" per 150 game. Baseball does not draw ADHD kids to it, except perhaps for pitchers and catchers. Most ADHD kids who play the outfield will quit by the age of 12. Try martial arts, swimming, tennis, soccer, basketball, or hockey instead.

There are 30 Major League teams. They each have a 40 man major league roster, and a 25 man roster for "active players" during most of the season. As players came and went off of major league rosters there were 1,354 athletes who were subject to random drug testing during the course of the 2007 major league baseball season. That means 8.2 percent received permission from their team physician and Dr. Bryan Smith, baseball's independent program administrator, to use Ritalin and Adderall, stimulants better known as treatments for hyperactive kids.

Baseball already has made changes in the TUE process for 2008. Before a player will be allowed to use a drug, the team physician must send the prescription to the independent administrator for approval before the player uses the substance.

So should Ritalin, Adderall, or other stimulants be viewed as "performance enhancing drugs" as steroids and HGH now are?

No. Ritalin, Adderall, and other stimulants are treatments for a real medical condition called ADHD. If the condition exists with a player, and he has been diagnosed by a real medical doctor, and that player goes through the MLB exemption process, then he should be allowed to receive his prescribed treatment.

This is not to be compared to an athlete taking illegal or controlled substances, without a doctor's prescription, to make that athlete bigger, stronger, faster, and more competitive.

I have seen Ritalin improve reaction time in subjects, improve time on task, and improve focus. During the course of a long season these would be valuable to any professional athlete. But Ritalin and other stimulants also decrease appetite and may cause difficulty sleeping, two problems for any athlete. But the way, I have seen Attend improve reaction time in college athletes whose baseline reaction times were much better than the "middle of the bell curve" too. Perhaps these MLB players ought to look into Attend instead.

I have also seen major league players who certainly had ADHD. One player that I am thinking of pitched for me at the University that I coached at, and went on to play in the majors for several years. He was clearly ADHD, and I knew it before I ever heard of ADHD. Easily distracted, he couldn't focus for more than five innings without some kind of stimulation, like being yelled at. One baseball writer describes him this way, "(He) soon learned to harness his fastball, completing his array of pitches, but became known as somewhat of an underachiever. Despite winning 15 games for (his first team), just a year and a half after his debut, he never really achieved his full potential... He was also suspended for ten days in 1987 when he was caught using sandpaper to scuff the ball on the mound. Though the incident cost (him) some respect, it ended humorously three years later, when he called the commissioner's office to ask for his glove back."

If this player had known about ADHD, and legitimate treatment available for it, he would have been really good - perhaps even great. But instead he is described as an "under-achiever."

So, for what it is worth, let the players who have legitimate medical diagnoses for ADHD use whatever treatment they feel will benefit them the most during the course of their season and their career. Isn't that what any adult with ADHD wants? Doesn't every adult with ADHD want to be able to choose the best treatment intervention for their particular type of ADHD?

But for the players who want to "get an edge" by using stimulants without legitimate medical reasons, let me suggest that you just use our ADHD eating program plus a cup of coffee before the game. You will get much the same benefit, but without giving a bad name to the players who actually need the treatment.

Learn more about ADHD and treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at http://NewIdeas.net - the ADHD Information Library. This information is not to be considered medical advice, but is for information only. Consult your physician.