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Athletes were involved as customers in an illicit steroid distribution network that led authorities to raid two Orlando pharmacies and arrest four company officials, a New York prosecutor said.

Customers include Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr., according to the Times Union of Albany, which first disclosed the investigation, citing unidentified sources. Matthews would not answer specific questions about the story Wednesday. Matthews said he didn't know why is name was reportedly on the client list, adding, "That's what we're working on, trying to find out. I will address it at appropriate time."

The Times Union said investigators found evidence that testosterone and other performance-enhancing drugs may have been fraudulently prescribed over the Internet to current and former Major League Baseball and NFL players, college athletes, high school coaches, a former Mr. Olympia champion and another top contender in the bodybuilding competition.

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Two good friends who happen to be NFL coaches are already front-and-center in this Super Bowl, and kickoff hasn���t even taken place yet.

Lovie Smith became the first black head coach to make it all the way to the NFL's marquee game when his Chicago Bears won the NFC championship on Sunday. About four hours later, his pal and mentor, Tony Dungy, joined him there when his Indianapolis Colts took the AFC title. For the first time in the big game's 41-year history, not one but two black head coaches will be on the sidelines.

"It means a lot," Dungy said after a 38-34 victory over the New England Patriots. "I'm very proud to represent African-American coaches."

Smith was one of Dungy's assistants when the two were with Tampa Bay from 1996-2000, and they established a friendship that has grown in the years since. Now, the two buddies will go to the Super Bowl -- with the chance to win a championship.

Smith and Dungy already have sealed a huge victory for minority coaches, regardless of who brings home a championship.

Perhaps Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney said it best, "I'm happy for both coaches. I hope we get to the point we don't have to hear about it."

(Photo provided by Getty Images, taken by Scott Halleran)

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http://active.typepad.com/teamsports/images/1496819.jpg! I can't remember a more exhilarating start to a game than when Ted Ginn Jr. returned a 93-yard kickoff return on the opening play of the BCS title game. And then disaster struck.

Though reports differ, early word Monday evening was that while celebrating the dazzling touchdown score, the Buckeyes' most explosive offensive weapon tweaked his ankle. He spent the rest of the game on the sidelines, hobbling on a crutch.

Injuring yourself celebrating a touchdown is a pretty embarrassing sports injury. But he wouldn't be the first athlete to injure himself in such a fashion. There's a long tradition of celebration-related injuries in the world of sports.

Here are five other notable celebration-related sports injuries, as highlighted by Peter Schrager of Fox Sports that serve as a reminder to athletes not to celebrate too hard:

1. Bill Gramatica: Following a 42-yard field goal kicked into stiff winds in 2001, Bill Gramatica jumped for joy in celebration. As his teammates joined him, Gramatica abruptly fell to the ground, clutching the back of his right leg. Gramatica hyperextended his right knee, ultimately missing the rest of the 2001 season as a result

2. Gus Frerotte: In a tight NFC East Sunday night battle vs. the Giants televised nationally in 1997, Frerotte celebrated a Redskins score in arguably the worst way possible - by head-butting a padded cement wall behind the Washington end zone.

Frerotte, a Pro Bowl quarterback that year, spiked the ball after a touchdown run, and ran toward a pack of fans in the crowd. Caught up in the moment, he slammed his head against the padded wall. Seconds later, he recoiled in pain. Frerotte sprained his neck, missed the rest of the game, and went to the hospital for the entire second half.

3. Jake Peavy: Following the Padres National League West-clinching victory in October, San Diego players mobbed each other on the mound. Peavy broke his ribs in the process. The Cy Young candidate tried toughing it out for Game 1 of the Padres' NLDS matchup vs. the Cardinals. He had his worst outing of the year, allowing eight runs in just 4 1/3 innings. The Padres lost the game 8-5, and were swept 3-0 a few days later.

4. Dustin Mohr: During an early April game with the Padres in 2005, Colorado Rockies' outfielder Dustin Mohr jumped out of the dugout to celebrate a late-inning home run hit by a teammate. He hobbled back to the bench in pain. Sure enough, he strained his left calf popping out of his seat. He ended up on the 15-day disabled list later that week.

5. Terry Harper: While playing for the Atlanta Braves in the early 1980s, Terry Harper made a name for himself as a reliable pinch hitter off the bench. Yet, Harper is best remembered for his work outside of the batter's box. Standing in the on-deck circle, Harper once dislocated his shoulder wildly waving in a runner from third base.

(Photo provided by Getty Images, taken by Jamie Squire)

[http://active.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/72061418.jpg]According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, football, long considered to be the ultimate guy sport, appears to be getting a gender infusion. The National Football League has compiled some notable

facts about women and football:

1) In 1996, a girls-only division was made available for participants in the Gatorade Punt, Pass & Kick competition. About 125,000 of the 500,000 participants that year were girls. By 2000, the number of girls participating in the contest had risen to more than 1 million. The NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick program creates lively and engaging competition for boys and girls ages 8 -15 to compete separately against their peers in punting, passing and place kicking skills.

2) More than 30 million women watch football on televisions on an average weekend.

3) Game-day attendance is 40 percent female, with more than 375,000 women attending games on an average weekend.

4) Over 100,000 girls participate in local flag football leagues sponsored by the NFL.

Perhaps the phrase "football widow" is on the way out as more and more females are becoming interested and knowledgable in the sport of football.

(Photo provided by Getty Images, taken by Jonathan Daniel)

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Perhaps it's time to revisit this topic in light of one of the most exciting bowl games I've ever seen.

In overtime, Boise State decided to go for a two point conversion, and beat the Oklahoma Sooners 43-42. The Boise State Broncos did for college football what the Utah Utes did a couple years ago. They reminded the BCS that the little guy deserves a chance at the big boys. I understand the strength of schedule argument, but shouldn't they at least get a shot at the National Title?...Have a chance to earn the right to play in the national title game? If they really don���t deserve a shot at the national title (because they play in a smaller conference than Ohio State or Florida), they would probably get eliminated in the first round by the playoff system anyway.

Historically, sports have shown us that the best team the entire season through doesn���t always have what it takes to win when it counts. It just doesn���t seem to be a fair assessment, especially when people use the argument that a playoff system will never be implemented because of all the revenue that would be lost on bowl games. The thought of compromising crowning an NCAA football champion that is truly the best because of moneythat shifting the game around for the sake of entertainment instead of in an effort to uphold the integrity of the game and collegiate sports is even an optionmakes me sick. Especially from a former student-athlete���s perspective.

What about a four team playoff that includes teams like Boise State if they finish undefeated? One thing is for sure, Boise State made a lot of people think twice. Congrats to them on their great season.

What do you think?

(Photo provided by Getty Images, taken by Jeff Gross)

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The Marshall Heights Bisons from Washington DC won the 50th Pop Warner Super Bowl this past weekend. This victory was especially meaningful, as the Bisons had come up short in the championship game four times prior to taking the 2006 title.

This season's road to the super bowl was different in another big way. The Fannie Mae Foundation placed a call to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and gave $30,000 to the Bisons, after hearing on a local television show that the undefeated team made up of youths aged 13 to 15 was in need of the funds to go to the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

The Bisons' Head Coach, Jay Ford, told the Florida Trend, "We are so appreciative of the Fannie Mae Foundation for stepping up to the plate to help our kids get what they deserve. Going to the Pop Warner Super Bowl is a real honor for our kids. They have worked hard. Not only has the team practiced in 100-degree heat and played in mud up to their ankles, but each team member had to maintain at least a C average in school to play on the team. They deserve this opportunity to go."

(Photo provided by Getty Images, taken by Scott Halleran)

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In Ottawa, Kansas there is a running back who has rushed for 1,000 yards on the football field this season.  That's impressive. But wait, there's more -- he's also legally blind and has a debilitating disease known as sickle cell anemia.

Darius Johnson's uncle, Darnell, told The Kansas City Channel, "He can only see clearly two feet in front of his face.  Everything else, he makes up for in some kind of way." Despite all that, Johnson has become a star football player for his Kansas high school team and was recently awarded a trophy and personalized jersey by the Derrick Johnson Third and Long Foundation. 

Do you know of any special athletes who overcame great odds to excel? If so, in what way did they overcome their unique situation?

(Photo provided by Getty Images, taken by Andy Lyons)