While there are plenty of legal performance-enhancers such asvitamins and herbal supplements that deliver spotty results,Gatorade's quest to quench the thirst while boosting the performanceof athletes has made an unquantifiable impact simply by keepingathletes well-hydrated.
No other company has poured as much effort, time and money intoresearching what athletes do most -- sweat -- as Gatorade. And itcontinues to scrutinize that as it designs the sports drink oftomorrow.
'Gatorade is an oral IV now,' said Dr. Bob Murray, the directorof the Barrington-based Gatorade Sports Science Institute. 'In thelast 50 years, we've absolutely optimized the carbohydrate andelectrolyte content. We're 90 percent of the way to the bestformulation.
'In 50 years, it will undoubtedly contain the same ingredients,but it will be formulated in maybe a sports-specific way. A footballplayer may be drinking a different type than a marathon runner.
'Or maybe there'll be different types of Gatorade for individualswith different genetic make-ups. For instance, you could havedifferent formulations for players on the same team.'
Even now, across the sports world, some pros pour their own high-performance cocktails. They use the liters you'd usually find in thebaby aisle of your local grocery store to soothe an upset tummy.
'We use Pedialyte all summer long,' White Sox trainer HermSchneider said. 'Some guys really like the effect of the Pedialyte.Some mix it together with Gatorade to help the taste.'
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Talking Trash
'All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position tocontend with us.'
Ken Williams, White Sox GM, who raised eyebrows with this commentafter Detroit landed Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis
'People say that in a million years [this wouldn't happen]. Amillion years came this year. It's over.'
Alex Brown, Bears defensive end, talking about being so bad afterplaying in the Super Bowl last season
