Against 'roids, it's only Round 1

When they got Sylvester Stallone last week -- Rocky, for Pete's sake -- I thought that was it. The last straw.

Rocky busted for steroids, or human growth hormone. Allegedly. Rocky, champion of the little guy. Makes the most of himself by digging into his heart. Drinks raw eggs. Was Mickey giving him the juice?

We can't even have a pretend sports hero anymore.

But I was wrong. There is no last straw for steroids. A raid Tuesday in Orlando, Fla., uncovered what is apparently a major pipeline for people buying illegal steroids online.

Apparently, a lot of big names are about to come out, and the list allegedly includes ex-Cub Gary Matthews Jr., Evander Holyfield, a Pittsburgh Steelers doctor and -- who else? -- Jose Canseco. According to the (Albany, N.Y.) Times Union, which broke the story, others connected included former baseball players, NFL players, college athletes and high school kids.

''I understand that the involvement of athletes and celebrities makes this a sexy story, but I assure you we are not, at this point, concerned with the celebrity factor,'' Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares said. ''Our focus here is to shut down distribution channels.''

I'm loving this. And hating it.

Loving it because this signals the start of a real fight against these steroid users and pushers. Are you listening, users? The police might be coming. Think about that next time your phone or doorbell rings.

Hating it because of who is involved. Take a look again: Pro athletes, college athletes, high school athletes. Do you see how it funnels down?

''Not concerned with the celebrity factor.'' Why not? Shut down the pipeline, sure, but nail the celebrities, too. That means actors and athletes. Steroids are mainstream now in both groups.

And both aren't just hurting themselves, but others, too, all the way down the funnel.

For some reason, we don't think of steroids as drugs, but they are. Illegal drugs.

They are dangerous. Kids are watching. Kids are following.

Is your phone ringing, Barry Bonds? Gary Sheffield? Who might be calling?

Their lawyers explained the other day that they wouldn't be able to help out with Major League Baseball's investigation.

You can look at this online bust and say that's it. Game over. The users win. It's too easy to get the stuff online, privately, then to pass the tests.

Maybe you can't catch up to all these cheaters, but the fight is worth it. It's just starting now, as law enforcement takes over for the phony policies in baseball and football.

A year ago, I was in Italy for the Olympics, and the Italian police raided the housing of 10 Austrian athletes. The Austrians said they were outraged, just moments after throwing bags of syringes out the window. Two Austrians fled for the border, and the guy who allegedly provided the stuff fled to Austria, where he was caught and put in a mental hospital.

''You cannot announce [a raid] in advance,'' Turin prosecutor Marcello Maddalena said at the time, ''nor can you put on your velvet gloves.''

What a thrill that moment was, as supposed cheaters were fleeing what is supposed to be the ideal of sport.

It didn't stop all cheating, but it made others think, squirm.

These celebrities have a responsibility to the bottom of the funnel, which keeps getting lower.

Does it bother them to be in the same funnel with kids? Steroids are getting into the mainstream for them, too, as states across the country are now testing high school kids. At that level, it's not about fairness; it's a health issue.

Celebrities are role models.

Many of them don't like to hear that. They like to collect those millions for being in front of people's eyes, but then don't want the responsibility that goes with it.

I know. Parents should be responsible for their kids, not athletes.

That's such a cop-out. Parents are the biggest influence, but not the only one. You teach your kids to do the right things, maximize your influence.

But then you send them off.

They read magazines, watch sports, listen to music, talk to friends. If high school kids are busted in this raid, then parents have failed.

But these kids also are lied to about what's normal appearance and pressured into ideals about body image from actors, models, athletes.

Want to be a football player, son? See what successful NFL players look like?

There is only one way there.

Truth is, when I started lifting weights in college, I held Holyfield as the ideal physique. Somehow, the goal never was reached.

''I have never used steroids,'' he said in a statement. ''I resent that my name has been linked to known steroid users by sources who refuse to be identified in order to generate publicity for their investigation.''

Maybe some of these people were buying legal stuff. We'll see. Certainly, the confiscated records will show what was bought and where it was delivered.

How many dads took their sons to that original ''Rocky'' movie in the 1970s because of its message?

From sylvesterstallone.com:

''Today, Sylvester Stallone is an inspiration to many who strive to improve their physical prowess, willpower and determination. For an example of his physique at its best, take a look at films like 'Rocky III' or 'IV,' 'Rambo II' or 'Rambo III' and be amazed at what can be accomplished with sheer determination.''

Let's hope that's all it was.

He's a symbol of what sport is all about.

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