Half a Confession
February 10, 2009Here we go again. Everybody’s curious to get my take on the steroid issue. Thankfully, I already put it down in writing…see my September 17th, 2008 blog titled “Steroids/HGH/Sports Enhancing Drugs” for all I have to say on the subject.
OK, good, A-Rod confessed. He took the only road he could have taken…..almost. The thing is, he only half confessed. Do you mean to tell me that he ONLY took steroids for those three years? Wait a second, maybe he is telling the truth. Those three years may very well have been the only three that he used STEROIDS. Trust me though, he didn’t quit all performance enhancing drugs at that point. What exactly is the “clear” and the “cream” anyway?
The proof is in the pudding folks. The guy’s body simply has not changed one iota from 2003. If anything, its gotten better! This is not what happens when you quit using. What happens when you quit using is what happened to Pudge Rodriguez. One year he’s Pudge and the next year he shows up and he’s just Ivan. He’s literally half the human body that he was the year before. Detroit had to be pissed. They paid for all of Pudge, but only got half-a-Pudge.
Which brings up a whole other subject. I’ve said this many times before, but once again for old times sake, this “problem” of performance enhancing drugs goes all the way to the very tippy top of baseball. I don’t mean Bud Selig is using (at least I don’t think he is) I mean he knows and knew. Same goes for the Union, same goes for the general managers, same goes for the managers. All of em. Nobody is above this mess except for the odd player who said no. At the very least, baseball’s upper office folks heard the rumors and turned a blind eye. The bottom line for them is not the integrity of the game or the health of the player or the well being of the youth of America. The bottom line is are people showing up to the games, flipping on the TV and wearing Yankee hats, and is the player producing. That’s all. They’re all guilty. Period.
“The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind.” ~ Gordon Gekko (From the movie “Wall St.”)
“It’s all about bucks, kid. The rest is conversation.” ~ Gordon Gekko
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Bret, with the state of Baseball today as we know it, do you think a average american born baseball player has a chance to make it in the big leagues with out performance enhancing drugs? Let’s through in a few variables. 6′ 1” tall, 190lbs, average speed?
What do you think?
First off, its Brent not Bret. Secondly, yes, I do think its possible. I did it and I was a less than average athlete. Totally do-able. Work hard, play with passion, have fun, and all the other cliches’.
I agree Brant. Don’t be disin’ my n. Sorry BrEnt.
Greed IS good if you’re a politician, or a Republican….I’m well aware the game has turned into a lucrative business, but it has stolen the passion of the game in turn. I used to root for a team, now it’s just jerseys with different guys names sewn on them. I used to go to about 45 games a year as a 15-16 year old, and stopped completely when they gave Brett a million a year. Clearly, of the people receiving that money, he deserved it. I also give him and the likes of a Ripkin and Gwynn credit for staying in one city for their entire career. They could’ve gotten more elsewhere. I’d probably socialize sports if I was in the position to do it. Give the players a million, and earn the rest, like the rest of the people in this world. I wish it were that simple. Thanks Mr. Flood. Great work on this site B. I’m very impressed. Think about coming over here and teaching these guys who still want to learn to PLAY. MLB does some support work with the Khmers, maybe you could look into it, or if you’re interested I’ll do the leg work. Cheers