« Carl Edwards vs. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | Main | Headhunter Hit in Head »
October 31, 2004
Postive Steroids Test for Giambi?
Balco VP Claims Giambi Tested Positive for Steroids
In the midst of this article about documents being released that say that a Balco VP claims that Bonds took steroids, it's also mentioned that Jason Giambi tested positive for steroids. For some odd reason Balco ran urine tests on both Jason and his brother Jeremy, and they both came back positive.
If this is true, I am not surprised in the least. It's not just that Giambi was named previously in connection with Balco and had to testify before a grand jury. It's because I wouldn't be surprised by any positive drug test for performance enhancers for any baseball player. Many seem to think that the only players who have used steroids and other performance enhancers might only be those that have been named in conjuntion with Balco. But I believe that there are countless players, including plenty of Yankees, who did or are using performance enhancers. Not just steroids but also human growth hormone, which is almost impossible to detect and also stimulants like adderall. And until MLB and the player's union come up with a policy that has teeth this will probably continue to be the case.
As for Giambi specifically he has always been one of my favorite players dating back to when he was with the A's. I am disappointed that he most likely used steroids and I don't like it at all but I'm not going to stop being a fan of his. I don't think there is a single player or driver that I like who doesn't have faults or don't do things that I sometimes disagree with. Some even have some pretty big skeletons in the closet - David Cone is a good example of someone like that.
There are some fans who put these players on such a high pedestal that they can't accept when they make mistakes or do something wrong and stop being a fan of that person. And I do understand in Giambi's case those people who can't continue to be a fan of his because steroid use is serious business. But for me while there are some things that do put me off of certain players or drivers, I am also very accepting that they are human beings and they will do things wrong from time to time. It's harder in the case of Giambi because I have more of a problem with criminal behavior than with other things but thus far I just don't feel too much of a difference in my attitude towards him. Perhaps it's because I accepted so long ago that he had mostly likely used steroids at some point. Right now I'm just hoping that he shows up to Spring Training healthy and ready to produce for the Yankees. Given that steroids can't make a lousy player into a great one, they just give them an (unfair) advantage, I think Giambi can still be of value to the Yankees.
Posted by silverdsl at October 31, 2004 08:26 PM