Oakland Athletics center fielder Nick Swisher appeared at Saturday evening's pregame event wearing three ponytails. Prepared to donate his locks to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths non-profit campaign, Swisher said just before his ponytails were snipped, "I feel like Pippi Longstocking. I look so goofy right now. But if I can make a difference in one or two women's lives, it's worth it."Swisher's father -- major league baseball player Steve Swisher -- did the cutting honors. And it was fitting the two men were in on this endeavor together because Swisher's grandmother -- his dad's mother -- died from brain cancer two years ago.
"The initial idea was out of respect for my mom -- but the second thing is: It's time for a haircut,'' Steve Swisher said. "I'm so proud of Nick. He's bringing attention to a good cause and that's what it's all about.''
Pantene creates free wigs for women dealing with hair loss from cancer treatment.
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Famed California marijuana
cultivator Ed Rosenthal's conviction has been overturned due to jury misconduct. Three years ago Rosenthal was
originally sentenced to just one day in prison when it was discovered that he was growing hundreds of marijuana plants
for the City of Oakland's medical marijuana program. Rosenthal claimed innocence on the grounds that he was immune to
prosecution because the plants were for medical use only. Believing the sentence was far too lenient, the federal
government sought a two year prison term for Rosenthal. His victory is a boon for the medical marijuana growing
community. The government's beliefs that it is an illegal substance, that it has no positive value for treating cancer
patients and that California's voters wishes do not affect the federal laws have been severely underscored by
Rosenthal's brief sentence.
