More Congressional Hearings, Daytona 500, and Baseball Sounds (2/16/2008)

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This week on "Only A Game," we review the myriad sounds of baseball...from the congressional hearing room to audibly distinct ballparks across the country. We'll talk NASCAR at Daytona, too, which will probably be much louder.

Congress Takes On Steroids
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Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee appeared before Congress earlier this week to answer questions about performance enhancing drugs in baseball. Bill Littlefield examines what was said and then talks to Princeton history professor Julian Zelizer about what place Congress has in investigating sports.

The Big Aristotle Goes to the Desert
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As the NBA trade deadline approaches, some Western Conference forces have already made impact moves, with the Los Angeles Lakers trading for Pau Gasol, and the Dallas Mavericks trying to snag Jason Kidd. But perhaps the most surprising move so far was the up-tempo Phoenix Suns' acquistion of Shaquille O'Neal. Steve Goldstein of KJZZ Phoenix reports.

NASCAR's Big Weekend
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On the eve of the Daytona 500, Bill Littlefield talks NASCAR with Matt Crossman of The Sporting News. Among the hot topics are a convuluted qualifying system, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s switch to Hendrick Motorsports and flaring tensions between some of the sports' top drivers.

The Other Junior Hockey Leagues
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Canada's Junior Hockey Leagues have been a long-time breeding ground for NHL prospects. However, junior hockey in this country is much less established. Ron Schachter visited the Central States Hockey League, and has this report on Ohio's share of the junior hockey market.

Dave Silk on Bringing Back the NHL
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Former NHL Pro and 1980 Olympic Gold Medalist Dave Silk comments on the NHL, and what it needs to do to climb back into prominence in North America. As Silk says, it all starts with the nickname.

 Congress Investigates Steroids...Again and More With Charlie Pierce
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Bill Littlefield and Only A Game analyst Charlie Pierce discuss: Roger Clemens on Capitol Hill, scandal in Bloomington, and Westminster's numero Uno.

 The Sweet Sounds of Baseball
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Tom Porcello, an anthropology professor at Vassar Collge, discusses the distinctive sounds of Major League Baseball ballparks with Bill Littlefield. From the traditional organ to the rifts of Van Morrison, Porcello tells us that each venue creates its own atmosphere through sound.