NEW YORK -- Facebook friends. Transcripts of BlackBerry instant messages. Records of texts. Major League Baseballs investigators used an arsenal of high-tech tools to collect the evidence that persuaded a dozen players to accept 50-game suspensions this week for their ties to the Biogenesis clinic. And when it came time to meet with the players association, they flashed some of their documentary proof. While there was not enough time for the union to thoroughly examine what baseball had collected, there was little doubt there was an electronic trail, one of the people familiar with the meetings said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no public statements were authorized. "It both complicates things and adds a layer of proof that certainly wasnt available many years ago," union general counsel David Prouty said Tuesday. Alex Rodriguez, the lone holdout against a suspension, faces an arbitration hearing in coming months that likely will include such evidence. The New York Yankees third baseman was suspended for 211 games from Thursday through the 2014 season, though he is allowed to play until a decision is issued by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, which is not expected until at least November. Until now, nearly all suspensions under MLBs drug program resulted from positive drug tests. The Biogenesis probe revealed players were using PEDs without detection. "To catch the most sophisticated intentional fraudsters, you have to use non-analytical means, which is another reason why baseballs effort here is such a pivotal moment for the anti-doping fight," said Travis Tygart, chief executive office of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. MLB officials would not speak for attribution about its investigation. The league used about 30 people full time in its fact-gathering, another person familiar with the process said Tuesday, also on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized. The probe was sparked in January when the Miami New Times published documents linking players to the clinic and accused it of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs. Technology has evolved since 2003, when federal agents raided the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative in Burlingame, Calif., sparking an investigation that eventually led to criminal convictions of Barry Bonds, track star Marion Jones, cyclist Tammy Thomas and NFL lineman Dana Stubblefield. And when former Sen. George Mitchell issued his report on drugs in baseball four years later, he recommended baseball start an investigations department. Dan Mullin, a former New York City Police Officer, was hired as the units head in 2008. Former U.S. Secret Service director Mark Sullivan was brought in to assist in the Biogenesis probe. After the Miami New Times report, baseball investigators examined the Facebook pages of Bosch and Porter Fisher, the former Biogenesis associate who gave documents to the newspaper. They began to sketch out which people they were friends with, and which of those friends posted photos of athletes or mentioned athletes. Each link led to new loops that provided leads. MLB filed a lawsuit in March against Biogenesis of America, company founder Anthony Bosch and others, complaining they interfered with the contracts between MLB and the union. The suit was unusual and may never reach trial, but it did give MLB the ability to file civil subpoenas. Records from Floridas Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County that were examined by the AP showed subpoenas were issued to Federal Express, AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA, UPS and Metro PCS. At least some of those companies complied and turned over data to the probe, one of the people said. By June, Bosch agreed to co-operate with the investigation. The person said MLB hired a data recovery company to obtain records from his mobile telephone. When baseball officials met with the union, evidence included the BlackBerry instant message transcripts and records of text messages. Lawyers for players believed some emails also had been recovered. "Its like traditional law enforcement methods," Tygart said. "Even without the powers of law enforcement -- wiretaps, search warrants -- you can still have success in obtaining these documents." Custom New Orleans Pelicans Jerseys . You can watch the game live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Flyers had won seven of eight before dropping their last two outings on consecutive days over the weekend. Philadelphia was handed a 6-3 loss by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Rangers the following night in New York City. 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George Washington University says it is bringing in outside counsel as part of an investigation into allegations against mens basketball coach Mike Lonergan.In a statement released by a spokesman Thursday night, the school said that it is undertaking a Title IX review but that some of the reported allegations go beyond the scope of Title IX.The statement comes in response to a story posted earlier Thursday by The Washington Post?that reported Lonergan routinely abused his players verbally and emotionally, creating an offensive environment and causing many of them to leave the program as a result.The university expects full cooperation and will not tolerate retaliation during the course of the investigation, the school said in a statement. We will also continue to inform the student-athletes on our mens basketball team of the universitys support and of the resources available to them.Citing interviews with multiple former players and staff members, the Post painted a picture of a coach who regularly crossed the line in his assessments and critiques of his players. According to the newspaper, Lonergan told one athlete he belonged in a transgender league and suggested that anothers son would forever rely on public assistance.One former player, according to the Post, said he needed therapy to cope after his time playing for Lonergan.?Thirteen players have transferred from George Washington in Lonergans five-year tenure.I dont think the guy should be in sports, one former player told the Post. I dont think what he said should be tolerated. I would like to stay at GW. I will not play for Mike Lonergan.One former member of the George Washington basketball staff said, A lot of kids transfer because they have delusions of grandeur. Nobody transferred from GW with delusions of grandeur. They just transferred because they hated him. They couldnt stand another second of him.Lonergan, 50, led the program to the NCAA tournament in 2014 and the NIT championship last season.?Lonergans attorney, Scott Tompsett, provided this statement to ESPN on behalf of the coach on Thursday afternoon:The Washington Post article is full of lies and half-truths. For example, GWU administrators did not address concerns with Coach Lonergan last year. Rather, they looked into allegations and after a thorough investigation, concluded that Coach Lonergan had not violated University policy and that no further action would be taken.The fact of the matter is that the anonymous accusations are not new and they are not true.Coach Lonergan has a well-earned reputation in the college basketball world as a coach who runs his program with integrity and respect. He has always been a champion of diversity and inclusion. Coach Lonergan celebrates those values. Coach Lonergan is proud of his team and its accomplishments both on and off the court. He will aggressively defend himself and his program against false and defamatory accusations.Isaiah Armwood, who played for Lonergan at George Washington from 2012-14, defended the coach.?My time with Lonergan was great, Armwood told ESPN. He is an old-school coach who wants the best out of his players. Me and Lonergan bumped heads on different occasions for different reasons, but in my opinion he did not demean players using inappropriate language whatso ever. He was a very hard-nosed and straight forward coach. Someone who a good playyer would love to play for.dddddddddddd.Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said on ESPNs college basketball podcast on Wednesday that he has talked to Lonergan, who is a good friend of his.I grabbed him in Vegas and said how can I help you? Hes a teacher and educator and intense guy too, Brey said. He cant overreact. I said you cant get into a public contest of throwing barbs. But its my alma mater and Im disappointed in the administration that they could have handled this better. Im close to the place and love the place. The guy has done a good job. He works his butt off and represents the place well. I just hope it works out and Mike continues to stay at GW. As an alum were happy the way hes run the program.The Post reported that allegations of abuse against Lonergan during the 2014-15 season prompted a meeting between the coach and administrators, who requested practice film to examine Lonergans actions. After associate athletic director Ed Scott began to travel with George Washington last season, Lonergan began to target athletic director Patrick Nero, according to one former player who spoke to the Post and expanded on his comments to ESPN.The stuff [Lonergan] has said about the athletic director made everybody uncomfortable, the player told ESPN.The player said Lonergan routinely accused players of engaging in sexual relationships with Nero.It was very odd, the former player said. He had this weird obsession.In early April, the former player met with Nero to discuss a variety of concerns, including inappropriate comments Lonergan allegedly made on a recruits visit in October and during private conversations. He and other former players who spoke to the Post said Lonergan created an awkward and intimidating environment.That resulted in a Title IX investigation, since Title IX refers to sexual harassment of any kind.In an email the former player shared with ESPN, Nero said, I appreciate you stopping in today to let me know of your conversation with Coach Lonergan in the fall and your concerns with this conversation. Obviously, this was not something that was easy to share.According to the email, Nero told the former player he would confidentially share their exchange with Rory Muhammad, the schools Title IX coordinator. A week after his meeting with Nero, the former player emailed Muhammad afterward to express concerns that it seems as if nothing was taken seriously.This worries me because if I [and others] choose to leave the University, word of Coach Lonergans verbal and emotional abuse, as well as player mistreatment would eventually be known among the greater community, the former player wrote to Muhammad. But the former player said Muhammad ultimately told him the program had handled everything internally, which the former player viewed as a failure to take action against the coach, who signed an extension through the 2020-21 season after a successful 2013-14 campaign.The player then left the school.One day, I said I have to do something, the former player told ESPN of his decision to publicize the accusations against Lonergan. I dont think its fair that people have to leave the school they love. The Title IX coordinator didnt protect athletes.ESPN senior writer Andy Katz contributed to this report. ' ' '