FanHouse UsaToday

The name Eklund has been well-known to the online hockey fan community since the lockout, when the "anonymous hockey blogger" burst onto the scene with a site that became a clearinghouse of hot stove innuendo and power-circle whispers. Now the lead blogger and man-without-a-face for HockeyBuzz.com, Eklund did something last month that he has not done since the early days of his extremely popular blog: He inserted himself into a major story. Eklund took up the fight for Nashville Predators fans in their staggering battle against relocation; flying in to attend a fan rally and getting up in front of the crowd -- in disguise, naturally -- to offer words of encouragement.

"I did it for a very specific reason, for the same reason I managed to get this thing going during the lockout," he told me in a phone interview on Monday. "I saw hockey being taken away from people who love it, and that's crossing the line. All the rumors in the world don't matter in comparison to those kids who go with their dad every Thursday night [to a game], and then it's gone."

This passionate show of partisan advocacy isn't something you'd expect to see from a professional hockey writer, and that's because Eklund isn't one. But he wants to be, according to Kevin Allen, USA TODAY hockey writer and president of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, who said Eklund has "made it clear he would like to be included" in the organization. The question is whether the PHWA is willing to overlook serious questions about his ethics, tactics and candor in accepting him; and whether Eklund is ready, for the first time in his blogging career, for a little transparency.

Because as Eklund's popularity and influence have grown -- with surging Web traffic, high-profile radio gigs and an on-air role during an NHL trade deadline television special -- so have serious charges about a fraudulent biography, his lack of journalistic ethics and some online behavior that historically has gotten professional reporters fired. During our hour-long conversation, the "anonymous hockey blogger" finally began to answer to them -- with some startling revelations.

There's an interesting story in this weekend's edition of the USA Today, one well worth a full read. Barry Bonds, everyone's favorite soon-to-be Home Run King, has three incredibly rich friends (combined worth: $750 million) who he has revealed tiny bits and pieces of his famously enigmatic private life to. For example:

•Want to see Bonds on skis at his Aspen home?

Peek at the photos, but because skiing is a violation of his baseball contract, please don't tell. ("It's OK," Bonds says. "I ski. The Giants know it. If I break a leg, I break it.")

•Want to learn the secret club Bonds nearly signed with during the winter before recommitting to the San Francisco Giants?

Psst: the Texas Rangers.

•Want to know just how close Bonds was to retiring last winter?

If he didn't get a contract of at least $10 million, he was calling it quits.

These friends, all presidents or CEO's of their various companies, appear to be fiercely loyal to Bonds. But I also sense a bit of admittance in the way they talk about Barry's steroids rumors:

We just posted about Ichiro Suzuki's quotes from Jon Saraceno's USA Today piece on the Seattle outfielder that ran today. For the most part, they were rather odd, as has sort of been Ichiro's calling card since he entered into our consciousness.

But while all the attention seems to be placed squarely on his statements about both Tiger Woods and performance-enhancing drugs, I found this quote to be the most fascinating:

"Once I turn 40," he says, "I can become a pitcher. I'm kind of serious about it. But I'll have to learn to throw a knuckleball. Right now, I could be a 'normal' pitcher," who can top out at 95 mph with a fastball.

I'm not exactly sure why the copy editors at USA Today left "who can top out at 95 mph with a fastball" outside of the quote. Maybe it's an error, or maybe the man who penned this piece, Jon Saraceno, added in those words knowing Ichiro can in fact throw 95 mph. Or maybe I'm just interpreting that wrong. (That's probably what it is.) In any event, let's just pretend Ichiro can throw 95.

I have difficulty believing that a 40-year-old Ichiro could transition from the outfield to the pitcher's mound. Although, if he can indeed pitch with any effectiveness, this would be a great move for a National League team. He'd very likely be the best hitting pitcher in the NL -- even at 40-years-old.

Still, I need to see this before I believe it. However, if there's anyone who could pull a stunt like this off, it's Ichiro. That's for sure.

Previously At FanHouse:
Ichiro Says Funny Things

With leaks swirling and accusations that MLB isn't doing everything it can to stymie steroid users, USA Today's Hal Bodley caught the wrath of commissioner Bud Selig yesterday. Mr. Selig, it seems, is none too happy about the situation ... or the thought (humbly shared by this writer, might I add) that Selig and Mitchell aren't all that excited about finding out much about performance enhancing drugs. Bodley writes:

Selig's demeanor on this subject reinforces my belief Major League Baseball wants to keep everything about steroids hush-hush. After all, the game has never been more prosperous, and Selig is doing everything in his power to keep the focus on the field.

"Your perception is totally wrong," Selig snaps. "When I called George Mitchell last March (2006), I told him he could go anywhere, look at anything, examine whatever he wanted to. I think we've done everything we can now, but we need to look back on what happened, to learn."

Fine, but why then the current gag order?

"If I really didn't want that stuff to come out, I wouldn't have gone to George Mitchell," Selig says. "He's a man of impeccable credentials, who's very aggressive. This notion that we really don't want things to come out is wrong. I want whatever he finds to come out."

Suuuuure you do, Bud. Sure you do.

Excuse my cynicism, but the onus is on Selig now. If, when Mitchell's investigation is complete, Major League Baseball doesn't live up to the promise and release his findings -- or, even worse, the findings are reported against Selig's wishes via an anonymous leak -- we'll know just what Selig was hoping for all along: blind ignorance, or perhaps willful stupidity, regarding the issue of PED's in baseball. Unfortunately, that helps Selig and the owners and cheaters, and hurts everyone else.

Previously on the FanHouse:
Guess What: Union Won't Give Up Medical Records
If Sammy Sosa Pees In a Cup, George Mitchell Wants to Know About It

From WithLeather, origin of all that is right in the world, comes this story of the quirky (OK, downright weird) Giles brothers, both of whom now play in San Diego.

As Matt over at WithLeather says, it's hard not to blockquote the entire USA Today story, because every sentence has something weird happening ... but here's a selection of the best in abridged blockquote form:

1. "You get nervous when you see those guys come into the shower," says [Chris] Young, a Princeton graduate. "Let's put it this way: You definitely don't close your eyes in there, even when you're shampooing."

So just what happened in there to make Young flee as if one of the Giles boys pulled a fire alarm?

"Ah, we just like to shave in there," Brian says, referring to their body hair, not their faces. "Chris, for some reason, thinks it's gross."

2. Ask him what their father does for a living, Brian deadpans: "He's a pimp." And their mother? "She's a stripper."

3. They filmed a series of commercials Monday night that was supposed to last no more than 30 minutes. It took nearly two hours. It began with Marcus, a second baseman, saying it was cool having makeup applied to their faces. ("I haven't done this since I was 5," Marcus says, "back when I wanted to be a girl.") It ended with Brian dropping his pants and jumping on Marcus, with the two giggling uncontrollably until the cameras stopped.

4. "I'd be in (former manager Bruce) Bochy's office having a serious meeting and Brian would come in there fully naked, showing his batting stance," the GM says. "He's normal except for the tanning booths, shaving his body and walking around with no clothes. One Giles is enough. I'm not sure if I can handle two of them."

There's tons more, some of which may or may not be appropriate for the family-friendly atmosphere here at AOL. In any case, read the whole thing. You might be disgusted, or you might laugh uncontrollably ... either way, plan on spitting up some of your morning bagel.

Yesterday, I wrote quickly about Barry Bonds' inability - and definite unwillingness - to work with steroid investigation leader George Mitchell. Unsatisfied by early cooperation and results, Mitchell is taking his probe to spring training to because he WANTS THE TRUTH! (He can't ... handle ... the truth.)

Well, Bonds' old friend Gary Sheffield is taking a similar stance to Bonds, only Sheff seems to lack Bonds' viable legal excuse. Rather, he just prefers not to participate.

"The (players) association told us this is just a witch hunt," Sheffield told USA TODAY. "They don't want us to talk to them. This is all about getting (Bonds).

"If this was legitimate and they did it the right way, it would be different. But this a witch hunt. They're just trying to collect a lot of stuff that doesn't make any sense and throw the s-- against the wall."

...

"Come on, it's baseball season," Sheffield said. "Nobody's got time for this stuff now."

Riiiiight. That's why you're not talking, Sheff. Because a.) You care so much about Barry's well being and b.) Hey, it's baseball season, baby! Come on, sugar - it's baseball! Do you want the terrifying truth, or do you want to watch me smack some dingers?!

Dingers! Dingers!