Cameron in USA Today Today

Front page story in the USA Today today on Mike Cameron, Jay Gibbons and Jose Guillen - three players who are suspended (or fighting suspensions) for the beginning of the season.

A couple of interesting tidbits on Cameron:

On the reaction from opposing fans this spring:

The fan standing behind the dugout at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Ariz., was merciless, screaming obscenities, trying to provoke a fight.

I think HoHoKam is where the Cubs spend their spring. Heckling with swears in a Spring Training game? You stay classy, Chicago Cubs fans.

On Cameron's signing by the Brewers after the suspension was announced:

Cameron, also in negotiations with the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees, instead received a one-year, $7 million contract with Milwaukee with a $10 million club option in 2009. It easily was the best signing of the offseason, San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers says.

"We wanted to sign him, and we certainly would have signed him at that price," says Towers, who had Cameron the last two seasons. "You're talking about a guy who's not only extremely talented but one of the best clubhouse guys we've ever had in San Diego."

On Cameron's melon:

Cameron, after listening to pleadings from his wife, scheduled an appointment for Friday with a Phoenix neurologist. He will undergo a battery of tests, Cameron says, to make sure he still isn't suffering from the aftereffects of his violent 2005 outfield collision with former teammate Carlos Beltran of the New York Mets.

"I'm fine physically," Cameron says, "but mentally, I'm not so sure. It's just little things. Lapses here and there. I may be fine, but it can't hurt. I just want to find out for sure, and whether I need anything to help me."

Umm...great.