Often in my line of work we are asked to appear at various charitable functions. I will do just about anything to help children so when I was asked by fellow sportscaster Bruce Cooper to join him at Bethune Elementary School in South Phoenix to videotape a message of encouragement for the 3rd through 8th grade classes, who will soon take the AIMS test. That test is required in the state and greatly affects each school's funding and support. It is vital that every child be given every opportunity to pass this important test.

My message was simple at a school with over 60 per cent Hispanic students in a lower income area. You are entitled to a successful life and it starts with education. As a sportscaster and former athlete, I urged the kids to put as much effort into studying for the AIM's test as they do in athletics. If one parent reads this blog, pass the word along that your children and their friends who are going to be tested, need your help too. Your kids deserve it.

If Bruce and I influenced only one child who will put forth the effort to pass the AIM's test, then we all win. I'm greedy and I hope that we influenced many more than one.

My best wishes go out to the amazing staff and students of the Bethune school family who are educating over 600 students. I witnessed genuine caring and a desire to show their kids that there are some great things in life that will be accessible to them if they only try. gcruz@kpho.com

Gary Cruz
CBS 5 Sports Anchor

I've taken a couple of days to digest the more than four hours of listening to testimony by Roger Clemens, Brian McNamee and a lawyer representing former Senator George Mitchell, whose report prompted the congressional get together on Capitol Hill. Eveyone who was interested in baseball's latest performance enhancing drug scandal and subsequent hearing, will come away with an opinion on who is really telling the truth.

Here, in my opinion is why you should believe Clemens.

1. Proactive in his denials that he ever used steroids or human growth hormone.

(EXAMPLES) After several days of silence after his name was leaked by the Mitchell report, the Rocket took the offensive. He filed a defamation lawsuit against his former trainer Brian McNamee. He recorded a conversation with McNamee asking him why he implicated him. Clemens forced the Los Angeles Times newspaper to retrack a report that he used steroids, which they did. He, on many occasions, warned young people about the dangers of using performance enhancing drugs.

2. Family is devastated.

(EXAMPLE) Clemens, while continuing his denials, pointed out the emotional damage done to every member of his immedate family. No man would bring that kind of harm to his family.

3. Because he says so.

(EXAMPLE) Roger was adamant in the congressional hearings and in every public forum that he became one of the greatest pitchers of all time by hard work and hard work alone.

4. Picture evidence.

(EXAMPLE) A congress woman, who was obvious in her suppport for Clemens, produced four pictures of the Rocket at various times during his career. She, and Clemens agreed, pointed out he looked the same physically in all four pictures.

5. Teammate support.

(EXAMPLE) Longtime Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, who admitted he didn't listen to the hearings, said he believed Clemens was telling the truth because he quote: sounded real truthful to me".

6. Teammate misread.

(EXAMPLE) Whatever that means but what Clemens meant to say when confronted that good friend and teammate Andy Pettite said they talked about steroid use, Roger said he misunderstood him and was talking about HGH for his wife, who admitted getting a shot of HGH from trainer McNamee without Rogers knowledge.

7. Trainer lied.

(EXAMPLE) Brian McNamee was asked on several occasions if he lied. He said the truth is he did lie in 2000 about supplying steroids and HGH to baseball players, including Clemens.

8. Nannygate.

(EXAMPLE) Clemens nanny at the time, told investigators that she didn't see him at a party at Jose Canseco's Miami area home but did say Rogers family (wife and kids) spent the weekend at Jose's house. Clemens said he had a golf receipt showing he didn't have time to barbeque with Canseco.

Here, in my opinion, is why you should believe Brian McNamee.

1. Physical evidence.

(EXAMPLE) McNamee kept syringes, bloody gauze, steroid and HGH containers because of not totally trusting Clemens. To use them in a court case may not be admissable.

2. Trainer lied.

(EXAMPLE) McNamee said he lied in 2000 to protect the men he was alleged to have shot up with steroids and HGH including Clemens and Andy Pettite.

3. Andy Pettite's sworn testimony.

(EXAMPLE) Longtime friend and teammate Andy Pettite, in a sword deposition, said he and Clemens discussed the use of steroids and HGH, implicating the pitching great. Pettite also admitted to using HGH, provided by McNamee and he used it again in 2004, saying his Dad provided it.

4. Picture evidence.

(EXAMPLE) Those four pictures displayed by the congresswoman at the hearings showed an obviously much bigger man from the first picture to the last. Certainly not Barry Bonds type growth, but the change was obvious.

5. Nannygate.

(EXAMPLE) Why would Roger Clemens ask his former Nanny to come to his home before federal investigators talked to her? Why would Clemens entire family stay at Jose Canseco's house without him? Clemens never had a clear response to those questions only saying he thought he was doing the government a favor by locating the former nanny.

6. Taped phone call.

(EXAMPLE) Without his knowledge, a telephone conversation between McNamee and Clemens was taped. In the 17 minute version Clemens aired on national television, McNamee never admitted that he lied to federal authorities in this case. Clemens never said, why did you say I used steroids and HGH.

7. Perjury possibility.

(EXAMPLE) McNamee cut a deal with the Feds for his testimony. By lying, he faces prison for perjury. Clemens does too for that matter. Trading the truth for a prison sentence seems like a no brainer.

There are still so many questions that remain unanswered but I'll let you make up your own mind and I just wanted to give you a few things that may help you figure out, SOMEONE'S LYING and no less than two lives have been ruined.
gcruz@kpho.com

Gary Cruz
CBS 5 Sports Anchor

I can't lie. Boy, was I shocked when I first heard whispers of the Shaquille O'Neal trade to the Suns. My initial reaction, like many of you was, are you kidding me? What would the Suns want with an almost 36 year old injured center who's best years are clearly in the rear view mirror. As this story developed, I was even more amazed that head coach Mike D'Antoni and his entire roster (except for the stunned Shawn Marion, who found out watching TV) were 100 per cent behind the trade. I was also suprised that General Manager Steve Kerr wasn't thrilled with the idea when it was first presented to him. His head coach and his team convinced him it was the right move. I'm still not convinced 5 days later.

Shaq comes to the valley at 312 pounds with 11 or 12 per cent body fat. Still, that somewhat lean body has taken an unbelievable pounding over his 16 year career. I saw video of his first Suns practice and Shaq Daddy has a long ways to go with his conditioning. He was huffing and puffing long after the realitvely short one hour session. His cardio will definitely improve but his running and gunning days are all but over even though he promised to make people like me quote: "eat their words". I hope he proves me and thousands of others wrong. Unfortunately we won't get to see O'Neal anytime soon. It would be a miracle if he plays before the all star break.

If the "Diesel" eventually plays as well as he conducts news conferences, we could be in for a big treat. I'm just not sure he can walk the walk after talking the talk. Let's not even get into the potential salary cap implications (40 million over the next 2 years). It's a huge gamble for that elusive ring but in the words of Coach D'Antoni, you (fans and media) said we can't win without a big man and now we can't win with a big man. SHAQ ME! gcruz@kpho.com

Gary Cruz
CBS 5 Sports Anchor