Well, according to Newsday, Rodriguez will not only be taking in Monday’s Red Sox-Yankees season-opener in person, but he’ll also be participating in pregame ceremonies. Aside from the usual Opening Day festivities, the teams have planned a tribute to the Newtown school-shooting tragedy.

Monday will mark the first time Rodriguez has been with his teammates since Game 4 of the 2012 ALCS, when the Yankees were swept by the Tigers and Rodriguez went 1-for-9 with no RBIs. Much of the A-Rod news since that time has been related to his connection to the Miami-based Biogenesis clinic, which allegedly doled out performance-enhancing drugs to a myriad of Major League Baseball players.

“I wouldn’t see why he wouldn’t do it,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Rodriguez’s participation on Monday. “I don’t know what the expectation is, but he’s a part of our team and I’m looking forward to seeing him.”

Well, not so fast, according to a lengthy ESPN Outside the Lines report, which finds that the charities of many athletes have been neglected or mismanaged, including unaccounted-for donations. Among the findings are that many such charities are lagging on filing their taxes and seem to have only been created for tax purposes, the misuse of “nonprofit” funds and the plain disappearance of large sums of money.

According to Ken Berger of Charity Manager, a group that “monitors and grades” charities, the overall effectiveness of athletes’ charities is about on par with the national average. However, Berger says that, given the public nature of these athletes, they ought to be held to a higher standard.

Among the individual findings were that Alex Rodriguez had one of his two charities’ tax-exempt status revoked by the IRS in 2011, and that one of the charities received $300,000 in donations that appears to have never been used. Likewise, during his time with the Patriots, Randy Moss also set up two charities — the Foundation for Children and Links for Learning — one of which has since been terminated. The other, meanwhile, is presumably still active, but a phone listing for it goes to a private residence in Manitoba, Canada.

The Miami New Times reported late last month that the three-time AL MVP bought human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing substances in recent years from Biogenesis of America LLC, a now-closed clinic in Coral Cables, near Rodriguez’s offseason home.

Speaking on Friday at the Yankees’ minor league complex, Steinbrenner said the situation is “a concern, but it’s out of our hands.”

“We will cooperate with MLB in any way we can, any way we’re asked to,” he said. “But other than that, there’s not much to say. I don’t know any more than you do.”

Rodriguez has denied the allegations. He admitted four years ago that he used PEDs from 2001-03.

The Yankees signed one-time Boston Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis to fill in for Rodriguez, who is sidelined for at least the first half of the season after hip surgery Jan. 16.

“I’ve always liked Kevin,” Steinbrenner said. “He always seemed like a good leader, a hard worker and a very enthusiastic — loves the game — kind of guy. And that’s the kind of guy we want.”

Steinbrenner addressed a number of other topics, including the contract status of second baseman Robinson Cano, a potential free agent after the upcoming season.

“There’s been a conversation or two,” Steinbrenner said. “We’ll get into that, and we’ll talk about that at a later date. But he’s obviously been a great Yankee, and hope he’s here his entire career.”

Steinbrenner feels the Yankees have a “championship-caliber team” this season. He acknowledged the club is sometimes criticized for fielding an older roster, but he likes its experience, “assuming we can stay away from injuries.”

“We’ve got a lot of good veterans on the team, and we’ve got some good young players as well,” Steinbrenner said. “That’s always the mix that I want to shoot for. I like our team, but where we end up in October, anybody’s guess.”

The Yankees are still looking to reduce the 2014 payroll to the $189 million luxury tax threshold.

“All I can assure the fans is, we’re always going to field a championship-caliber team every single year,” Steinbrenner said. “Is that our goal next year? Yes, to be at that number, that’s our goal. But as I’ve said from the beginning, it depends on some of our young players stepping up and getting the job done. That has to happen, or it’s going to be difficult.”

The Yankees re-signed a number of their own free agents, including pitchers Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Hiroki Kuroda, but were less active than many previous years for outside free agents.

“I think we have some good signings, and I think we did our fair share in the offseason,” Steinbrenner said. “Similar payroll to last year. Shows we want to win.”

Editor's note: Didier Morais will review each position in the AL East every day through Feb. 20. This edition highlights the third basemen.

A hip injury and sports hernia limited Kevin Youkilis to 120 games last season. In 2010, a thumb injury restricted the Red Sox third baseman to 102 games, well short of the full 162-game schedule.

As Youkilis turns 33 in March, his durability remains in question. When healthy, Youkilis is an integral piece of the Red Sox offense's production as witnessed by his three All-Star nods. He still tallied 80 RBIs in 2011 despite a shortened season.

But Rays third baseman Evan Longoria and Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez have also proven their worth as elite players. As a rookie last season, Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie showed promise too.

1. Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays
2011: 31 homers, 99 RBIs, .244 average, .495 slugging and .850 OPS (133 games)
Since entering the majors in 2008, Longoria hasn't stopped slugging. While he didn't top his 2009 numbers –– when he hit a career-high 33 homers and 113 RBIs –– he was still in the upper-echelon of hitters in the league. If Longoria can avoid the muscle injuries that plagued him in the last two years, another career year could be in store.

2. Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees
2011: 16 homers, 62 RBIs, .276 average, .461 slugging and .823 OPS (99 games)
Despite playing 99 games after battling a right knee injury, Rodriguez still posted solid numbers. Keep in mind the Yankees slugger went to Germany for the knee-spinning procedure, a practice that seemingly rejuvenated Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. It could have a similar effect on Rodriguez and vault him back into 30-homer range. 

3. Kevin Youkilis, 3B, Red Sox
2011: 17 homers, 80 RBIs, .258 average, .459 slugging and .833 OPS (120 games)
He's slimmed down this offseason, but the question with Youkilis always revolves around his injuries. A thumb injury, hip bursitis and a sports hernia robbed the All-Star of games over the last two seasons. Youkilis will look to raise his batting average after 2011 snapped his three-year streak with at least a .300 average.

4. Brett Lawrie, 3B, Blue Jays
2011: 9 homers, 25 RBIs, .293 average, .580 slugging and .953 OPS (43 games)
With only 150 at-bats in 2011, Lawrie made quite the debut in the AL East last season. Toronto should be salivating over the 22-year-old's potential over the course of a 162-game season if he maintains that momentum. Lawrie also emerged as a formidable defender, amassing a .963 fielding percentage last season.

5. Mark Reynolds, 3B, Orioles
2011: 37 homers, 86 RBIs, .221 average, .483 slugging and .806 OPS (155 games)
Reynolds is a free swinger. On one hand, he'll always wind up as one of the league leaders in home runs. On the other hand, he'll always wind up as one of the leaders in strikeouts. Reynolds' 26 fielding errors offset his offensive production also, and that's reflected in his 0.3 Wins Above Replacement. His batting average was paltry again –– an improvement over his .198 in 2010 –– and it knocks him down the list.

AL East position breakdowns: Catchers | First Baseman | Second Basemen

Have a question for Didier Morais? Send it to him via Twitter at @DidierMorais or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

"I think the vision for us as a team is now … you want the DH spot to be one that's kind of a revolving door," Rodriguez informed ESPN Deportes about the situation. "I think a lot of us at some point or another, in such a long season, are going to occupy that spot. But for me, I'm really excited about playing third base."

A-Rod is starting to get up there in age at 36 years old. He will turn 37 in July and had career lows in RBIs (62) and home runs (16) for a full season in 2011. He hit just five homers back in 1995, but played only 48 games for the Seattle Mariners that season.

His health is the biggest concern as he only played in 99 games in 2011, and his bat remains a big part of the Yankees future.

Is Rocky Marciano‘s undefeated record bigger than Ty Law‘s pick-six in Super Bowl XXXVI? That may depend on whether you were alive to see the Brockton Blockbuster at his best.

Doug Flutie‘s Hail Mary pass to Gerard Phelan didn’t lead to a Stanley Cup title as Michael Ryder‘s save did, but if you can remember watching Flutie jump for joy, that may sway your vote. And though Jason Varitek may have sparked the Red Sox’ run to the 2004 World Series when he put his mitt in Alex Rodriguez‘s face, Celtics fans rejoiced in 1965 when Johnny Most yelled “Havlicek stole the ball!”

No matter what year you were born, cast your votes for who you think should move on to the third round in the Boston’s Greatest Sports Moment bracket.

View the matchups below.

Southie
1. Red Sox snap curse in 2004 vs. 8. Russell’s 40 rebounds in Game 7 of 1962 NBA Finals

2. Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary vs. 10. Michael Ryder’s save in 2011 playoffs

4. Rocky Marciano goes 49-0 vs. Ty Law’s pick-six in Super Bowl XXXVI

6. Ray Bourque gives No. 7 to Espo vs. 14. Jim Rice saves 4-year-old’s life

Beacon Hill
1. Bobby Orr’s Goal vs. 9. Nathan Horton’s Game 7 winner against Lightning

2. Carlton Fisk waves home run fair vs. 7. Johnny Damon’s 2004 ALCS grand slam

4. Bill Russell leads Celtics to 1969 title vs. 5. Curt Schilling’s bloody sock performance

6. Ted Williams honored at 1999 All-Star Game vs. 14. Cam Neely’s 50 goals in 44 games

Back Bay
1. Patriots final drive in Super Bowl XXXVI vs. Bobby Orr’s No. 4 jersey retired

2. Bruins win 2011 Stanley Cup vs. 7. Larry Bird’s steal against Pistons

3. Tuck rule play vs. 6. Impossible Dream

4. David Ortiz’s Game 4 walk-off vs. 12. ‘The Save’

North End
2. Dave Roberts’ steal vs. 10 J.D. Drew’s 2007 grand slam

3. Havlicek steals the ball vs. 6. Varitek and A-Rod brawl

4. Pedro pitches in relief in 1999 ALDS vs. 12. Patriots’ Super Bowl introduction as team

9. Adam Vinatieri’s game-tying ‘Snow Bowl’ kick vs. 16. Mike Milbury beats fan with shoe

Cast your votes before second-round polls close Monday, Aug. 29, at 12 p.m. ET.

Share your thoughts about Boston’s Greatest Sports Moment on Twitter at @NESN. Include #BGSM in your tweet.

The Yankees third baseman hit several home runs among 43 swings Saturday during his first BP session since having right knee surgery July 14. A-Rod also took about 30 swings off the tee and 66 swings from soft toss on the main field at the team's minor league complex in Tampa.

Rodriguez called Saturday's session "another good day."

Rodriguez again took grounders and increased his running program during the 70-minute onfield workout.

Rodriguez signed autographs for about 60 fans who were waiting outside the facility before he left.

The Yankees expect Rodriguez to rejoin the team in mid-August.

Alex Rodriguez

The third baseman has two options — undergo the surgery now and likely miss a month, or try to play through it at the risk of injuring it even more and undergo surgery after the season.

Rodriguez is hitting .333 in his last 22 games, but more notably hasn't homered in that time frame, a span of 85 at-bats — the longest home run drought of his career.

“I just don’t think he has the drive in his back side that he needs to have to be the power hitter he’s capable of being,” Girardi told the NY Times. “I still think he can be productive and get his base hits, but I don’t think you’re seeing him necessarily drive the ball as much.”

Rodriguez, who had a magnetic resonance imaging exam on Friday, according to the Times, was replaced in the lineup Friday by utility infielder Eduardo Nunez.

If A-Rod undergoes the surgery, it would, quite obviously, be a big blow to the powerful New York offense. Nunez would likely get a majority of the playing time at the hot corner if Rodriguez opts for surgery. He's hitting .278 with three home runs on the season.

Doesn’t mean they don’t laugh about it, though.

Diaz discussed her relationship with Rodriguez as well as the incident with CBS’ David Letterman on his late night TV show.

“We were watching the game and I was eating and I was getting down to the last couple pieces of popcorn and all of the sudden, I see a hand coming in,” Diaz said. “Anybody who knows me knows that you do not put your hand in my food.

“I said what are you doing — that’s mine. And then I went, ‘you know what, I love you too much. I’m going to give it to you — you deserve it.’ And it was the only piece of popcorn that I even put near his face and they happened to have the camera on [us] right when I did it.

“And 10 minutes later we started blowing up on our BlackBerrys,” she continued. “We started laughing so hard like, ‘Are you kidding me?’”

At the end of her story, Letterman pulled out a bucket of popcorn and leaned in as Diaz was eating it. The actress promptly fed Letterman — just like she did A-Rod.

"Winning a championship is not an easy thing to do regardless of talent," Rodriguez said. "LeBron is a once-in-a-lifetime player, especially the last year."

LeBron has received the bulk of the criticism in the aftermath of Miami's 4-2 series loss to Dallas in the NBA Finals. Despite averaging 17.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists in six games against the Mavs, James' struggles in crunch time — most notably in the fourth quarter — was a constant headline during the Heat's championship collapse.

Like LeBron, Rodriguez understands what it's like to have high expectations placed on him at a very young age. A-Rod made his major league debut with the Seattle Mariners as an 18-year old in 1994, but it took him until he was 34 to finally got his first ring with the Yankees.

He insists, therefore, that people need to show patience before being overly critical of LeBron.

"We need to remember this kid is 26 years old, and celebrate his talent," Rodriguez said, according to the Post. "Let's not take the Mavericks as an afterthought. They did everything they had to do to raise a championship."

When A-Rod landed on the DL on Aug. 21, it was described as a cautionary break, to ensure the third baseman would be fully healthy come September. Now that it's September, Rodriguez isn't so sure he'll return to the field as quickly as he originally thought.

On Thursday, Rodriguez did not give reporters the news they were expecting to hear. Instead of a solid return date, the third baseman said he was still unsure and that he was waiting on a full recovery.

"I just have to make sure I keep healing. I don't want to get overly confident and try to push more than I have to," Rodriguez said. "The most important stretch of our season is coming up right in front of us the next two months. If it takes an extra day or two, that's whatever it takes."

In other Yankees injury news, starting pitcher Andy Pettitte threw an intense 55-pitch simulated session on Wednesday and felt no pain in his groin. Pettitte followed a normal pitching routine, where he threw 30 pitches and rested, followed by the remaining 25 at a high intensity.

"It was another good day," Pettitte said. "I threw 30 pitches like my warmup, then I sat down for five or six minutes. Then I threw a good, hard simulated inning. I felt good. I had no discomfort in there at all."

Should all continue to go well for Pettitte, the starter could return to the Yankees' rotation by mid-September.

The Yankees suffered a minor setback during Thursday's day game against the Athletics. Outfielder Nick Swisher left the game in the first inning with knee stiffness and was replaced by Curtis Granderson in the lineup. The injury didn't stop the Yankees from sweeping the A's in the series, however, as they won 5-0 on the day with C.C. Sabathia on the mound.

Swisher is reported as day-to-day with his latest injury.

Alex Rodriguez

The sports industry has been pretty busy lately, what with the World Cup, LeBron James' decision, Brett Favre's decision … heck even hockey is getting more press than A-Rod, thanks to Ilya Kovalchuk's contract drama. Rodriguez's name is about to be linked with such baseball greats as Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Babe Ruth, so where is the hype?

Many critics have cited that though this milestone is impressive — as A-Rod may become the youngest player in MLB to reach 600 homers — it has a certain shadow cast over it. The Yankees' third baseman is an admitted steroid user, so it seems that the media is sweeping this accomplishment under the rug. Sure, he's going down in the MLB record books, but it will always be a number with an asterisk next to it.

However, there is a definite buzz around Yankee Stadium this week. As Rodriguez belted his 598th long ball on Sunday against Tampa Bay, fans have been clamoring for tickets in the bleachers for the Yanks' four-game home stand against Kansas City starting Thursday at 7:05 p.m.

According to The New York Times, ticket sales and prices are increasing for any seat in the bleachers, where the ball representing a league milestone could land. The Times claims that sections 135 and 136 in the left field bleachers are the most likely to catch an A-Rod homer.

These are tickets that normally cost $45. Now, they're selling for upwards of $150 online. 

A-Rod claims he's not too worried about the milestone, and that it hasn't even crossed his mind much.

"I'm looking at 600 as a springboard to help my team keep winning," Rodriguez said. "I really haven't thought about it too much."

His manager, Joe Girardi, is hoping that it will all be over soon, and that A-Rod won't be hung up on No. 599 like when he was on the brink of 500 homers. It took Rodriguez 29 at-bats to reach 500 once he hit 499 back in 2007.

"Hopefully it gets out of the way quickly and it doesn't become a long, drawn-out pursuit," Girardi told reporters.

Though the media is far from hyping up this milestone moment for A-Rod, Yankees fans are flexing their wallets and testing fate to catch a piece of history.

Tainted or not, that ball could go for thousands on eBay.

After Mariners' starters Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez pitched back-to-back complete games against the Yanks on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Bronx Bombers' offense fought back this afternoon and pulled out a 4-2 victory to prevent a Seattle sweep. A-Rod led the offensive burst for New York, as he broke the 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with a two-run homer off David Aardsma. Yankees' second baseman, Robinson Cano, also tallied a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth.

A-Rod's tie-breaking home run was the 595th of his career and he's now just 14 homers shy of Sammy Sosa, who currently places sixth among MLB's all-time home run leaders with 609. A-Rod's blast also saved starting pitcher CC Sabathia, who gave up two runs to the Mariners in the top of the eighth. Sabathia came away with his 10th win of the season while closer Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth to earn his 18th save of 2010.

Perhaps it was karma that gave Rodriguez his offensive spark. On Wednesday, the third baseman attended a ceremony put on by the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, to which he donated $250,000 in opening a new children's outpatient facility named in his honor.

"I am proud to support the children's outpatient facility and Bronx-Lebanon's efforts to care for the children of the Bronx community," Rodriguez said in a release posted on the Yankees' website.

So while he may be a beast on the field and an enemy to his opposition, A-Rod proved that under all his competitive armor, there's a kind humanitarian underneath — a benefactor who can also hit the hide off a baseball.

Not too many people expect them to win the Stanley Cup this season, but not too many people expected a bunch of American college kids to beat the Russians in the 1980 Olympics either.

Anything is possible. All it takes is a team catching fire at the right time.

If Tuukka Rask stands on his head and plays like Gerry Cheevers, the Bruins have a shot.

If special teams can kill penalties the way they did against the Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon at the Garden, when they scored three shorthanded goals in 64 seconds, the Bruins have a shot.

If every player approaches every shift like it’s his last and the team battles for 60 minutes (or as long as it takes) every game, the Bruins have a shot.

If Dennis Wideman keeps using all those boos as motivation and makes positive contributions, the Bruins have a shot.

If Shawn Thornton, Daniel Paille and Steve Begin continue to do the little things that don't show up in box scores, the Bruins have a shot.

If Marco Sturm, Patrice Bergeron, Mark Recchi, David Krejci, Blake Wheeler and Michael Ryder find the back of the net with regularity, the Bruins have a shot.

If Zdeno Chara, Matt Hunwick and Johnny Boychuk lead the blue-line charge and shut down opposing snipers, the Bruins have a shot.

If Claude Julien channels Cy Denneny, Art Ross and Cooney Weiland behind the bench, the Bruins have a shot.

It won’t be easy without Marc Savard, Mark Stuart, Andrew Ference and Dennis Seidenberg, but don’t underestimate the heart of champions.

Remember the words of Herb Brooks, via Kurt Russell, via Josh Sacco.

Great moments are born from great opportunity. That's what you have here this postseason, boys. That's what you earned here. One postseason. If we play our opponents 10 times, they might win nine. But not now. Not this postseason. This postseason, we skate with 'em. This postseason, we stay with 'em, and we shut them down because we can. This postseason, we are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players, every one of ya. And you were meant to be here this postseason. This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team everyone else has. Screw 'em! This is your time. Now go out there and take it.

Bring on the Sabres or Devils or Capitals or Penguins. Let the rest of the NHL overlook the Black and Gold.

Very little has gone right for the Bruins this year. Adversity has attacked them like a rabid dog. A lesser group would have packed it in a long time ago and started planning Caribbean cruises and tee times, but this team dug deep and persevered. They have shown grit and determination.

Now, it’s a new a season on Causeway Street.

The Bruins haven’t won a Cup since 1972. This year is as good as any to end that streak and make Bobby Orr, Johnny Bucyk and Phil Esposito proud.

The hockey gods already delivered some justice to Matt Cooke, courtesy of a one-punch knockout by Atlanta’s Evander Kane. Don’t be surprised if those same gods are smiling on Boston through June. 

Do you believe in miracles?

The 2009-10 Bruins are ready to produce one.

“I feel very blessed, and I feel like I had a great journey here the last 24 months,” Rodriguez told Gammons.

Two years ago, Rodriguez was considered a choke artist in October. Last spring, he admitted to the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Since then, he has rehabilitated his reputation and won a World Series ring.

“I am going to be very happy,” Rodriguez said about receiving his ring during the Yankees’ home opener April 13.

“A lot of guys say never wear [the ring] because it’s not cool,” Rodriguez joked. “But I am one guy that is going to be very uncool and wear it for at least 30, 40 days.”

Click on the video to see the rest of Gammons’ interview with Rodriguez.

The meeting is scheduled to take place
in Buffalo and likely will include FBI agents and members of other
federal agencies, the person said Monday, speaking on condition of
anonymity because no public statements were authorized.

The scheduling of the meeting was
first reported by The New York Times.

Rodriguez said March 1 he had been
contacted by investigators and intended to cooperate. He was told from
the outset that federal investigators view him as a witness in the case,
the person said.

Dr. Anthony Galea said during a March 8
interview with The Associated Press that he treated the New York
Yankees third baseman last year and prescribed anti-inflammatories but
never gave him or any other athlete human growth hormone.

Other major leaguers, including the
Mets' Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran, have been contacted by federal
investigators about Galea. Colorado closer Huston Street has said
investigators might want to talk to him about the case. Reyes and
Beltran have said they did not receive HGH from Galea.

Galea, who also has treated golfer
Tiger Woods, was charged by Canadian authorities in December with
selling an unapproved drug known as Actovegin. He also was charged with
conspiracy to import an unapproved drug, conspiracy to export a drug and
smuggling goods into Canada by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Galea was arrested Oct. 15 after a
search warrant was executed at the Institute of Sports Medicine Health
and Wellness Centre near Toronto.

Vials and ampules containing HGH and
Actovegin, a drug extracted from calf's blood, were found in a car
driven by Mary Anne Catalano, according to the RCMP and U.S. federal
court documents. Catalano told American authorities at the border in
Buffalo that she knew the drugs were illegal and that she was
transporting them for her employer.

Galea told the AP during the March 8
interview that Catalano was carrying only a minuscule amount of HGH and
that it was for his own use.

Speaking a day after Dr. Anthony Galea told The Associated Press he treated Rodriguez last year and prescribed anti-inflammatories but never gave him or any other athlete HGH. Rodriguez said he still doesn't know when he will be interviewed by federal agents.

"I'm at ease no matter what," Rodriguez said when asked how he felt about Galea's comments.

Rodriguez sat in front of his locker at New York's spring training complex Tuesday and spoke to reporters for about 3 1/2 minutes about the situation. He seemed calm and even laughed at times.

"I got nothing new to report," he said several times.

Galea was arrested in Canada last October on four charges relating to an unapproved substance used in healing therapy called Actovegin. He is known for using a technique, called platelet-rich plasma therapy, designed to speed recovery from injuries.

Rodriguez said he feels "no pressure, not at all," even after Galea spoke about their relationship.

Rodriguez and other baseball players, including Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran, have been contacted by U.S. federal investigators regarding Galea. The Denver Post reported Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street said he was on a list of players federal investigators wanted to interview.

The Yankees third baseman said he didn't know where his interview would take place.

"I'm not sure. Maybe here. I don't know. I'm not sure," Rodriguez said. "I'm not sure where Reyes and Beltran did it. I'm not sure."

When asked if he is choosing not to talk or has been told not to speak, Rodriguez laughed and said he "thinks the latter."

Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said the team would talk to Rodriguez after federal agents do.

Galea, who recently resigned as the team doctor for the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts, became the focus of authorities' attention last September when his assistant, Mary Anne Catalano, was stopped at the U.S. border in Buffalo, N.Y.

U.S. federal court documents say "20 vials and 76 ampoules of unknown misbranded drugs including Nutropin (Human Growth Hormone — HGH) and foreign homeopathic drugs" were found in a car Catalano was driving.

But Galea said Catalano only could have had a tiny, half-empty bottle or one ampoule of HGH because she was bringing the drug across the border for his own use. An ampoule is a small sealed vial which is used to contain and preserve a sample.

The 51-year-old Galea says he's taken HGH, which is banned by the major sports, for a decade because it can improve the quality of life for people over 40.

Galea was arrested Oct. 15 after a search warrant was executed at the Institute of Sports Medicine Health and Wellness Centre in Toronto. He is charged with selling Actovegin, conspiracy to import an unapproved drug, conspiracy to export a drug and smuggling goods into Canada.

Rodriguez had hip surgery a year ago and Galea said he aided with the star's rehab. Dr. Marc Philippon performed the surgery, and chiropractor Mark Lindsay — who has a history of close ties to Galea — helped monitor Rodriguez's recovery.

Even if he's cleared in the investigation, Rodriguez could be in violation of his record $275 million, 10-year contract because a team has the right to approve doctors that aren't on its medical staff.

If Rodriguez was treated without club consent, any attempt to determine whether he violated the contract's guarantee language or baseball's collective bargaining agreement likely would hinge on whether treatment was elective or necessary.

Rodriguez and other high profile baseball players have been contacted by U.S. federal investigators regarding Dr. Anthony Galea. Rodriguez said last week he was "aware" of the investigation and plans to cooperate with the government.

Galea faces drug charges in Canada and his assistant was stopped last year trying to bring human growth hormone over the border into New York state.

Galea told The Associated Press on Monday that he treated the Yankees star for his hip, which was "inflamed." But Galea says he has never given HGH to any athlete and Rodriguez was given anti-inflammatories.

Alex Rodriguez

After winning the first World Series championship of his career last year, the third baseman has set his sights on being king of the jungle again in 2010.

Photo of the day

What should be the caption for this photo? Leave your suggestion in the comments section below.

Quote of the day

“I couldn’t give him any landscape-architecture ideas or anything of that nature.”
–Vikings head coach Brad Childress, to The Associated Press, regarding the team’s decision to wait on Brett Favre‘s decision to retire or play in 2010

Comment of the day

The Vancouver Games could be the last time fans get to see NHL players in Olympic competition. Bruins players want to see NHL players in the Winter Olympics, and one fan takes it a step further, comparing NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to a certain Paul Reubens fictional character.

“Bettman is an idiot and I have no idea why they don’t just toss him out or fire him the pee wee Herman look alike!!!!!!!”
–bruinsrule

Video of the day

The Canadian women’s hockey team knows how to party, celebrating their victory over the U.S. Classy ladies indeed.

Got a suggestion? Send it to the Daily Blend mailbag.

After news broke that he had taken performance-enhancing drugs, his career was tarnished for the moment. A 35-minute sit-down interview with Peter Gammons did little to dissuade skeptics. However,  his response to the scandal served as a valuable lesson to fellow PED users: Tell the world about your sins while you're still playing, and you can always reshape your image.

Rodriguez came clean in 2009 and is much more relaxed at the start of spring training this year, according to the New York Post. He arrived early at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday and got in some extra practice with Robinson Cano before Yankees manager Joe Girardi began full-team activities.

"It will be a lot different," Girardi told the Post. "Obviously, he went through a lot last year. He has to feel a little bit different coming into this spring training than last spring training. He seems pretty much in the same spot. He is at peace like he was last fall. He is happy, great shape and energy. It seemed like he had a lot of fun being back on the field."

While other abusers from the steroid era chose the path of denial — only to have their reputations sullied after retirement — A-Rod  managed to reinvent himself by admitting guilt. When the Yankees walked off the field as World Series champs in 2009, many people had forgotten the drama of eight months prior.

In the process, A-Rod shook the stigma of being a choke artist and became the Yankees' most menacing hitter in the playoffs, batting .365 with six homers and 18 RBIs.

A-Rod has always been a scary proposition for opposing pitchers, but if he's really figured out his clutch-time demons, he could be even more frightening this season.