Why in the world is Sammy Sosa undergoing a process that makes his skin color lighter?

Photos of Sosa at the Latin Grammy Awards last week in Las Vegas show his skin much lighter than it was when he was belting home runs for the Chicago Cubs.

The reason?

"He's not trying to be Michael Jackson," former Cubs employee Rebecca Polihronis told the Chicago Tribune. "He is going through a rejuvenation process for his skin. Women have it all of the time. He was surprised he came out looking so white. I thought it was a body double. Part of [the photo appearance] is just the lighting.

"He was doing a dermatological skin process after years and years [of playing baseball] in the sun. It did come out looking weird [in the picture].

"The picture is deceiving. He [Sosa] said, 'If you saw me in person, you would be surprised. When you see me in person, it is not going to seem like the picture.' People who saw him in person did not react the same way. He can't believe it is such a big deal."

Maybe not, but if he starts moonwalking, or gets a strong desire to set up a zoo in his backyard . . .

Putting things in perspective

Forty soldiers from Fort Hood displayed the American flag during the national anthem. Forty-five were supposed to take part, but five were among the 31 wounded during the shooting spree by an Army psychiatrist that killed 13 at the base on Thursday.

The message "God Bless Our Fort Hood Troops" was painted on the infield grass for yesterday's race.

- Tom Mahon

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