Giambi Admits Steroid Use

[sportsradiotn]

The sports news is buzzing today about Jason Giambi's supposed testimony in the BALCO trial about being sent steroids by Barry Bond's trainer and using them.

[coach15]

It's a shame. But could this have something to do with his health problems this season???? It is time for MLB to do something about it. Most of the players are for testing but its the players association that wont let them.

[sportsradiotn]

It's funny to me...

I saw supposed baseball expert Tim Kurchen on ESPN this morning spouting that taking steroids isn't as bad as betting on baseball. WHAT!!! Taking an illegal drug isn't as bad as doing something that is legal in parts of our country. If anything, they are both equally offensive!

I'm so sick of these people wanting to crucify Bonds and other steroid users, but they do it out of the corner of their mouth.

In order for someone to be an expert, I think you need to have played and or coached the game. A reporter can only go so far if he or she hasn't played at a competitive level.

Yes, if Bonds is telling the truth, he was the victim of trusting a friend. But, tell me if you would trust your friend with your future health. Maybe I'm sadistic, but I do not have a friend that I would trust that well. I don't even trust myself that well as evident by all the stuff I did when I was younger. I would trust a friend to say that "it's untracable and you won't get caught!" That's what I think happened.

Sosa, Bonds, McGwire and many others used to be relatively thinner players when they came into the league. I know age adds a few pounds, but it doesn't add that much. They were all aided by something - illegal or legal. Baseball needs to get very strict with their rules and outlaw everything like the Olympics. Talent and talent alone should be the determining factor to whether you make it in the game.

[RHSBASEBALL99]

I agree with the point about needing to have coached or played to be considered an expert. I play and I'm definately not an expert, but I think MLB needs to stept up and do something. Selig is hated by so many, will this be the straw that breaks the camel's back? Somebody needs to take his place and get things right again. Yes, homeruns are fun to watch, but I would rather see baseball played the way it used to be played by Pete Rose, all out all the time. If the game went back in that direction, less people would be enticed, IMO, to use steroids.

MLB is sending a message to amateur (and minor league) players that it is okay to risk your health as long as you put on a show and hit homeruns. I'm in college and I don't want to use any performance enhancing drugs, but with as many people are using now, it is an uneven playing field. That is where the temptation begins to use substances. I know players that I have played with and against that have used 'roids before, many of them regret it afterwards, but they felt they needed to do it to keep up with everybody else who had an unfair advantage. Baseball needs to do something about its policy to send a message to all players that this will not be tolerated!

[Opperman]

It's funny to me...

I saw supposed baseball expert Tim Kurchen on ESPN this morning spouting that taking steroids isn't as bad as betting on baseball.  WHAT!!!  Taking an illegal drug isn't as bad as doing something that is legal in parts of our country.  If anything, they are both equally offensive! 

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You're kidding, right?

 

Nobody cares if you bet on baseball games. Let me ask you a question, though. I serve as the official scorer occasionally for Memphis Redbirds games. Would it be kosher for me to bet on how many errors there would be in a given game?

 

Or to apply it to the Rose situation, he bet on his own team but not in every game. Why should we believe he actually tried as hard in the games he didn't bet on his team (considering he was placing them illegally and owed thousands of dollars to mob types who would take his non-bet as a sign he didn't think his team would win)? If I'm not betting tonight and I am betting tomorrow, will I use my worn-out closer with a 2-run lead in the 9th? If I *AM* betting tonight and I am not betting tomorrow, will that answer be the same?

 

The bottom line...it's not that he bet on games. It's that he bet on games when he was a part of them, an offense that carries an automatic lifetime ban. Period.

 

Bonds was at least cheating to win. Why is what Bonds did any worse than, say, Joe Niekro with the emery board or Gaylord Perry throwing a spitball?

Edited December 4, 2004 by Opperman

[wingman10]

I read where McGwire is having health problems.

[goldenboy]

I read where Big Mac is trying out for the PGA tour.

[sportsradiotn]

Opperman, what I'm saying is that both are equally wrong in my opinion. Illegal drugs are something that can destroy a life (more important than baseball) and what Rose did destroyed his career and his reputation in life. The message sent to the kids is that if you can't be successful with hard work and talent, boost it up with illegal drugs. To me, that deserves a lifetime ban as well. But, I'm not the one that makes that decision.

And no don't bet on anything you're doing with the Redbirds - Molly Darnofall won't like that.

[Opperman]

Opperman, what I'm saying is that both are equally wrong in my opinion.  Illegal drugs are something that can destroy a life (more important than baseball) and what Rose did destroyed his career and his reputation in life.  The message sent to the kids is that if you can't be successful with hard work and talent, boost it up with illegal drugs.  To me, that deserves a lifetime ban as well.  But, I'm not the one that makes that decision.

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Should they ban athletes for life for using marijuana? Cocaine? etc? That precedent isn't there.

 

And no don't bet on anything you're doing with the Redbirds - Molly Darnofall won't like that.

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haha...I doubt she'd be the one bringing me down if I did that (which, obviously, I won't). That'd go to the top of the PCL. She would have a fun time putting a positive spin on it, though.

[DeepBall]

They should be banned for taking steroids because they are PERFORMANCE INHANCING drugs. Cocaine and weed do not help you cheat at your profession.

 

I wish I remembered they guy I got into an arguement last year about if Bonds was on roids and if they actaully help anything.

 

I hear that over 70% of the league are on them. Anyone else hear that? And if youre woundering not all roids make you huge.

[Opperman]

They should be banned for taking steroids because they are PERFORMANCE INHANCING drugs.  Cocaine and weed do not help you cheat at your profession.

 

I wish I remembered they guy I got into an arguement last year about if Bonds was on roids and if they actaully help anything.

 

I hear that over 70% of the league are on them.  Anyone else hear that? And if youre woundering not all roids make you huge.

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What about Creatine? What about Viagra? Heck, what about cold medicine? Those are performance-enhancing in at least a few ways.

[DeepBall]

When you can go to jail for taking Vigra then we can talk.

 

Roids=cheating=llegal