To stay with the sports theme for a first post this am, Jeremy Giambi has admitted that he used steroids. Lots of them.
New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi injected himself with human growth hormone in 2003 and also used steroids for at least three seasons, according to his grand jury testimony reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The testimony given in December 2003 to the federal grand jury investigating BALCO contradicts Giambi’s public proclamations that he never used performance-enhancing drugs.
Giambi described how he injected human growth hormone in his stomach, testosterone into his buttocks, rubbed an undetectable steroid knows as "the cream" on his body and placed drops of another, called "the clear," under his tongue, the Chronicle reported on its Web site Wednesday night.
Yowza. This should cause a furor in the NY media for the next couple of days, as well as sports websites. It will certainly bring about the speculation by media, bloggers, and fans about some of the others that may be implicated, such as Bonds, Sheffield, and Sosa. Will this effect the game? Depends how many players are implicated as having taken steroids. Do they asterick Bonds’ home run record? They should if he was taking them.
From ESPN:
With the San Francisco Chronicle report of Jason Giambi‘s grand jury testimony, he becomes the face of baseball’s steroid trouble. Giambi, who won the American League Most Valuable Player award in 2000, is the biggest star to date who has acknowledged injecting himself with human growth hormone and steroids.
CBS.Sportsline has a little blurb at this time of posting. Same with CNN/SI. Not even worth linkin the same story, no analysis. This quote from ESPN is interesting, and sums up my feelings:
Chris (San Antonio): I have loved the Yankees since Donnie Baseball. Even so, I think Giambi and anyone else who is found to have used steriods, should be banned from baseball. Pete Rose just gambled with money, these guys gambled with the game I love.
And a few more:
Jeff (Goshen, Ohio): Good. Not that it wasn’t obvious. Now maybe they will nail Barry Bonds before he further taints and discredits the accomplishments of Aaron, Ruth, and Mays.
Sam (Santa Barbara): I feel like I was made an idiot out of watching, admiring, and praising these "professional" athletes. It takes the competitiveness out of the games for me knowing that some athletes are using steriods and other enhancers while others are playing within the rules and are all natural. Much respect to them. To Jason, Barry, Brett, whoever else, you’re ruining baseball for us.
Jeff (Goshen, Ohio): Good. Not that it wasn’t obvious. Now maybe they will nail Barry Bonds before he further taints and discredits the accomplishments of Aaron, Ruth, and Mays.
There are a few dissenting views. And, sure, bulking up will not help one hit a 94 MPH fastball. It will help one hit the ball harder and faster. It will allow one to swing just a wee bit later, and, instead of a weak shot the other way, you can get a liner or a tater to the opposite field or get the bat around for a shot to center or even a pull. Plus, run a bit faster, leading to more singles and doubles. You do not let everyone take them. First, they are illegal, both in baseball and by US law. Second, there is a difference between working out, even with high tech machines, because that is increasing strength, flexability, endurance, and ability naturally. Yes, naturally. You are working your body out, not letting muscle builders do it for you.
Update: More Galleons with gems:
Giambi Admitted Steroid Use
N.Y. Daily News via Pirate’s Cove New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi injected himself with human growth hormone in 2003 and also used steroids for at least three seasons, according to his grand jury testimony reviewed by the San Francisco…
Ok, so if it was legal, would it be OK? Look at weightlifting — everyone who wins the big competitions has used steriods. It made them bigger and made them win. So did the athletes of baseball.
My problem is that baseball was supposed to be a GAME. It was supposed to prepare you for life, not BE life. Oh, and then there’s the whole lying and illegal part of steroids and baseball. Can it be stopped? No. Designer steroids can and are being developed repeatedly that will avoid all testing. Testing will have little to no effect.
Jason Giambi Admits to Steroid Use
Last night on ESPN, I watched a report on Jason Giambi admitting in his Grand Jury Testimony concerning the Balco scandal that he had indeed used performance-enhancing drugs, but here is the AP story:
New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi injected him…
A couple comments at ESPN basically said it was ok, which is absurd. What those folks do not get is that there is a reason they are illegal, much less “bad for the game.” MLB and the other leagues need to have either a 1 chance then out policy, or a zero tolerance policy.
Or, they can limit the size of their uniforms to only match known human proportions. If the guys can’t fit their steroid-bloated biceps into the uniform, they have to sit out.