Back Porch Featured Stories

So it turns out Sammy Sosa was a steroid freak.

Who'da thunk it?

When it comes to surprises, last week's revelation was like finding out Iran's elections were juiced for the incumbent. If you want shocking news, however, you've come to the right place.

We are ready to reveal all the players who failed baseball's 2003 drug test. The results were supposed to be kept confidential, but Alex Rodriguez's name was leaked to Sports Illustrated and Sosa was outed last week in the New York Times.

There are 102 names to go. This drip-drip-drip could go on for years, but we're not going to let it.

The truth can't be avoided any longer. It would be like denying Tim Floyd is a crook, Adam Lambert is gay or Brett Favre is going to be a Viking.

It was the Week of Pittsburgh and will inevitably be the Year of the Steel City .

First the Steelers, now the Penguins and Ben "Hogan" Roethlisberger. Soon the Lakers, eventually the Pirates.

All have or will win world championships, making Pittsburgh the only city in history to hold titles in the five major sports all in the same year.

Can you name a better sports town?

We would like to congratulate LeBron James on winning Sports Personality of the Week. We'd like to, but LeBron doesn't believe in congratulations.

His stalk-off after Orlando eliminated Cleveland was the week's hottest story. Critics pounced, accusing James of being a poor sport, bad role model and all-around jerk.

It turned out LeBron had a good reason for acting like Sean Penn. I'd tell you but I'd rather you have to plow through a few more paragraphs to find out. That way you'll also read about arguably the most amazing performance ever recorded by a college athlete.

It was a bad week if you believe that UFOs exist, the mob killed JFK and the NBA banished Michael Jordan to Area 51 to cure his gambling addiction.

LeBron James did not make the NBA Finals. If that doesn't shoot down the whole notion of conspiracy theories, nothing will.

On behalf of David Feherty, I'd like to apologize for the following column. It again takes shots at House Mis-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, not to mention her fellow victims of CIA subterfuge, Roger Clemens, Tim Floyd and Mine That Bird.

Who knew the CIA was plotting to overthrow the Preakness? You will after reading the latest installment of Week in Review.

What a crazy week. I'd say it was a news week on steroids, but that would just prompt the week to blame everything on its doctor who prescribed the drugs.

From Manny Ramirez's departure to A-Rod's return, the news spun like a roulette wheel. That made it just like most weeks in this 24-7 news era, which is why we here at FanHouse decided a Week in Review column was needed.

The clock is ticking.

There's only a few more hours to vote for the best-run franchise in the history of American sports. As of this writing, over 7,500 people have weighed in, and the polls close Wednesday at midnight on the East coast.

Right now, the Steelers are still comfortably leading, but if you've voted for another team and are hoping to see them climb the list, don't give up on the audacity of hope -- not only has the Pittsburgh Steelers' lead diminished drastically, the New Jersey Devils are making a late run up the charts. So cast a ballot after the jump, it's the American thing to do.

Yesterday, 10 of our writers made a case for the team they feel is the best-run franchise in the history of American sports, and solicited your vote to crown a winner.

A little more than 24 hours later, almost 3,500 of you have weighed in. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a comfortable lead, which can probably be partially attributed to the fact that we've heard nothing but Steeltown love from the media over the last month or so. Brainwash.

But voting lasts all the way through Wednesday, February 11, so there's still time to make your voice heard and get another team on top of the pack.

In case you missed yesterday's breakdown of the finalists, check here for the compelling testimonies from our writers and the merits of each team.

We'll be announcing the winner on Friday in an illustrious ceremony that will include ... um ... a headline, a photo or two, and some words. Be there!

The Steelers' Super Bowl victory sparked a vigorous debate between our writers -- which is the best-run franchise in the history of American team sports?

Note that best-run doesn't necessarily mean most successful; while success is obviously critical in this discussion, what each team has accomplished is only as important as how they've accomplished it. In other words, there has to be a method to the madness, longevity and creativity. There has to be a pattern of aptitude, a culture of excellence in the ownership and front office that transcends sport.

With that in mind, we've narrowed our debate to 10 teams. It's up to you to pick one. After the jump, one of our writers makes a case for each franchise, and you can vote for your choice. We'll keep voting open through Wednesday, February 11th, and announce a winner on Friday the 13th. Rock n' roll.

If you are reading this right now, a few things are probably true.

You're probably a sports nut, the kind of person who is just as pumped for the football on Thanksgiving as you are for the turkey. And you probably follow these games more closely than any of your friends; you're the go-to guy/girl for sports info. Luckily for people like you and I, sports is our getaway, and what a fine place it is to escape to.

With that said, we at the 'House (and one guest appearance) compiled a list of the "Things to Be Thankful for in the Sports World". This is obviously highly personal and subjective territory, but if you're a true fan, how can you view it any other way?