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Thursday, December 02, 2004 |
And They Call It "News": Giambi Cops To Using Steroids
Jason Giambi admitted using steroids, according to this AP story. The usual tongues will be a-cluck, but the last sentence in this piece is what the majority will miss:
Giambi's younger brother, Jeremy, who last played in the majors with Boston in 2003, also testified that he used performance-enhancing drugs given to him by Anderson, according to the [San Francisco Chronicle].Next time somebody tells you steroids should give Barry or whomsoever an asterisk next to their performance numbers, remind them of this: Jeremy Giambi also used 'roids.
Comments:
I just don’t understand your position on steroids at all. Just because a bunch of players use them, and they don’t all hit 70 homeruns, means they don’t have an effect? Is that what you’re saying?
Steroids can be helpful but they will not turn a mediocrity into Barry Bonds. Hand-eye coordination is at least as important.
There should not be an asterisk as steroids were not illegal at the time. However, it should still be eliminated...and not just because it helps people unfairly, but because it gives the perception of cheating (who knows who is doing it), and that is as potentially damaging to the game as the Black Sox scandal was.
The problem with putting asterisks on players is when do you start? I mean, is it fair to put an asterisk next to a 1990's player for steroids, but not to a 1920's player for corking? If you read Bill James' book it's easy to get the impression Babe Ruth regularly corked bats. Does he get an asterisk, too?
Fact is, some players will take any advantage they can, and that's been true throughout baseball history. Putting an asterisk next to their name in the record books won't be enough incentive to change the behavior of those types of men.
Stopping steroids is important more because of the potential damage to the players (and possibly their children.) It's dangerous, and sets a very bad example to youngsters. But the achievements of some of these players still requires skills beyond those which cheating can get you. I don't like Bonds, but I admire his playing ability, and will say that I think he'd have hit a gazillion home runs even without steriods.
Fact is, some players will take any advantage they can, and that's been true throughout baseball history. Putting an asterisk next to their name in the record books won't be enough incentive to change the behavior of those types of men.
Stopping steroids is important more because of the potential damage to the players (and possibly their children.) It's dangerous, and sets a very bad example to youngsters. But the achievements of some of these players still requires skills beyond those which cheating can get you. I don't like Bonds, but I admire his playing ability, and will say that I think he'd have hit a gazillion home runs even without steriods.
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