Steroid Charges Reach the Sidelines

Jonathan S. Belkowitz, a 5-foot-6, 190-pound cheerleader at the Air Force Academy, has been charged with three other cadets, including two football players and one non-athlete, with steroid violations, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette’s Stephen A. Norris.

Norris wrote that although cheerleading coach Capt. Chris Backus “said he was shocked to hear of the charges against Belkowitz, he said he was not surprised to hear of a cheerleader using performance-enhancing drugs.

“ ‘Just like anyone else, they would use it for strength building or muscle building,’ Backus said. ‘There’s a desire to build up that strength at a faster-than-normal pace. Guys are throwing girls anywhere from 100 to 130 pounds five to 7 1/2 feet in the air, straight up.’ ”

Trivia time: Who is the only player to win the British Open at five golf courses?

Double loss: Not only was Arizona State senior defensive end Connor Banks suspended from the football team indefinitely after his June arrest for drunk driving in Scottsdale, Banks also lost the right to wear No. 42 for the Sun Devils if he is reinstated.

Rather, according to the East Valley Tribune, ASU will retire the number in honor of former Sun Devil standout Pat Tillman, who was killed earlier this year in Afghanistan as a member of the U.S. Army Rangers.

How the West is won? Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune writes that the National League West winner could be determined by trade activity before the July 31 deadline: “You would figure [Barry Bonds’] presence would carry San Francisco past San Diego and Los Angeles, but the Giants have been wildly inconsistent. Run differential points slightly toward the Padres, who could get a big lift if Kevin Towers is able to pull off a trade for Steve Finley.”

It’s in the air: Writes Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post, “When it’s all said and done, Todd Helton is going to win his second National League batting title. That’s not so much a bold prediction as it is a slice of common sense. The Rockies claimed five batting titles in their first 11 seasons -- three by Larry Walker and one apiece by Helton and Andres Galarraga.”

Looking back: On this date in 1970, San Francisco’s Willie Mays got his 3,000th hit, in his 2,639th game, with a single off the Montreal Expos’ Mike Wegener in the second inning of a 10-1 Giant win.

Like pigs in slop: From the Caught on the Fly column in the Sporting News: “Whispers from the D.C. area say that in an effort to transition the Redskins from the finesse, fun ‘n’ gun passing style of Steve Spurrier to the mauling, hog-loving, pile-pushing ways of Joe Gibbs, all restrictor plates will be removed from the team’s dining hall during training camp.”

Trivia answer: Tom Watson.

And finally: On his way to the ring for his World Boxing Organization 130-pound championship fight on Thursday night, Mike Anchondo of La Puente had a moment of honesty, and much-needed levity, telling HBO Latino in Spanish, “I want to win this title for my people ... and for the money.”