It always sucks when this kind of thing happens and this has got to cut like a knife through those who have been out of their mind with giggle-ridden, giddy lust for the handsome man with the powerful stroke. (Damn, that's a gay sentence.)

There are reports out there now that Cards phenom Rick Ankiel ordered and received a twelve-month supply of the banned substance, Human Growth Hormone (HGH) back in 2004. To be fair, HGH was not outlawed by Major League Baseball at that point and that should not be ignored. If it turns out that Rick used HGH back when it wasn't against MLB rules (and, for that matter, when he wasn't even in the majors) and we all still crucify him, that'd be like coming down on someone who drove a motor vehicle at the age of 16 in a state when that was the law but that state now requires you to be 17. The rules were different and you weren't breaking them at the time. Simple as that. Or is it?

It bothers me a little bit that Cards GM Walt Jocketty was quoted as saying: "This is the first I've heard of this. If it's true, obviously it would be very tragic, along with everything else we've had happen to us this year."

Really, Walt? He hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing. And you'd equate it with one of your young pitchers having a fatal car crash while drunk? Be careful there.

Anyway, the problem with all this is that we are slipping even further down the slope where no matter how pure and good and full of fortitude an athlete seems, we're just one news cycle away from hearing it might have been chemically-enhanced fortitude.

Oh well.