Report: Giambi testified he used steroids, human growth hormone

Snowball

Report: Giambi testified he used steroids, human growth hormone

highend

not a suprise, i still rue the day he donned pinstripes...

MRyanF

Not a suprise either.

Many people here collect cards of elite atheletes, others actually know a few. I fall in the later category. An the use of performance enhancing drugs is not only common, but extremely widespread.

But is this as bad as everyone says? For example, Deca which Giambi was on in 2001 can decrease joint pain. Doctors are learning every day of the many health benefits that HGH can have on people from restoring vision to reversing gum disease, etc. The truth is that there are many average Joe's out there that could benefit from the use of anabolics too, but as long as they are vilified in the media, most MD's wont prescribe them.

The other side of the coin is that what anabolics can treat many of the ailments people have and acquire as they age, the drug companies make more money by selling other drugs that can be more dangerous, just to treat the symptoms.

Now I am not saying that overdosing on anything is good, but if a small portion of the population wants to take these drugs, why do we want to get so concerned.

Who knows what the cost of the whole BALCO mess will be when its all said and done, but it will be in the millions for sure. Now ask yourself what that same money could have done for the educational system or in helping the needy. Going on a witch hunt for performance enhancing atheletes just doesnt make much sense.

Now these arguments wont appeal to the "purity of the game folks" fine, I realize that. But at the point where we currently are, there is no going back. People who have a shot a millions of dollars if they can just play a little bit better will keep taking that shot. Its just time that the rest of us quit fooling ourselves. There is no testing program that can stop their use either. There is stuff right now that you can take one day, pass the test the next and then take it again. The people who stand to profit from it will find a way. And then there is always new stuff being developed all the time. Trying to control this is a losing battle and one that its just not worth pursuing anymore.

Skinpinch

This is the tip of the iceberg! The interesting thing is how he asked Barry Bonds trainer "What are you doing to Barry to keep him at such a high level...I want to be able to do that....." Then those two got together, and voila, undectable steroids! Bonds's trainer was said to never talk about what exactly he was doing for other players and he never gave names.

Looking at that study on Bonds's career path, and looking at everything our eyes have told us, and the concrete evidence that is starting to come out, Barry's reputation and his accomplishments will certainly be tarnished(though I don't believe astericks should apply).

It is looking like Ken Caminiti was telling the truth when he said half the players were on steroids.

I will say that Bonds will NEVER admit to what Giambi did. I actually have to give Giambi credit for coming clean. Yeah he was a money hungry SOB and he cheated, and denied it initially. But, he has come clean. Good for him. Bonds will never come clean, even if somebody implicated him. So if all of the trainers' clients come clean, and Bonds denies it......

dude

Yeap, no surprise at all. The guy must have put on 40 lbs in 2 years.

julen23

True dat.

The most gruesome, disturbing story I can recall from streroid abuse and professional athletes has to be Ken Caminiti. He had to have testicular surgery to get his testacles to re-descend.

Yikes

helionaut

What's interesting is that he allegedly says he started using in 2001, after he won the MVP and bulked up.

On a side note, how is still more sealed federal grand jury testimony getting to the press? The reporter was on NPR this morning and the first question asked was that one, and the reporter declined, as is his right, but something is seriously wrong here.

On another side note, I wonder how easy it is to get this stuff . I've started going to a gym and want to get huge, too. When I worked out in the past, I got big, but like an Olympic weightlifter, not a bodybuilder. I want to be chiseled. I want that vein running down my bicep. I guess the I'll have to trade in the Ben & Jerry's for The Cream.

Dallas88

I have to admit, that this comes as no shock to me.

I felt bad for Caminiti when he was blasted by MLB and the fans. But I believed him.

I believe most people have had their head in the proverbial sand on this topic (esp. MLB) for quite some time.

I also feel that, like Caminiti, the numbers of atheletes using performance enhancing chemicals is over the 50% mark.

Baseball needs to do something fast - this latest news, along with the economic inequities of the teams is turning my beloved sport into a friggin joke.

OUT WITH SELIG!

Dal

koby

I applaud Giambi for this. It seems as though his admission is being taken more seriously than Caminiti a few years ago. Steroids sure took a toll on Giambi and Caminiti;s bodies. Hopefully this will discourage young athletes in high school and college from taking steroids.

aconte

Q]Hopefully this will discourage young athletes in high school and college from taking steroids. >>



Doesn't Giambi still have a contract left for 3 years at $80 million? This after hitting .204 when he was a little slimmer. Also, didn't he get the big contract from the Yankees after his juicing years? Wasn't has MVP year and best years in the Majors while he was roiding up? Health issues aside, but if I was a decent major league prospect over the last few years I have not seen much to deter me from shooting for the big payday. In fact I'd be ready to drop my drawers and have someone stick me in the butt with some quality stuff for a $100 mil contract. Afterall I would just say it is part of my super duper nutritional + weight-lifting + vitamin program.

aconte

Love of the Game

An old friend of mine was a middle linebacker with a small Division II school in the midwest. When he was a freshman, he showed up at camp weighing 185 pounds. His coach told him in no uncertain terms that he needed to get MUCH bigger, MUCH stronger, and MUCH faster - quickly - if he wanted to play. It was a clear insinuation that he was being asked to go on steroids. At the end of each of his four years there, the coach told him the same thing.

By the time my friend was a senior, he was the only person on his team that was not on steroids.

After hearing that story, I always assumed that if every player on a Division II NCAA football team was on steroids, then it was fairly safe to say that most pro athletes were as well.

I still admire the skill of Barry Bonds - steroids don't turn strikeouts or walks into hits, they turn doubles or flyouts into home runs. So while Bonds' HR total might be inflated, he still has to hit a Randy Johnson slider, and all the juice in the world can't help him do that. He still has to stay healthy for a lengthy career, and steroids won't help him do that. Steroids won't help him win nine Gold Gloves. Steroids can't help him identify the spin of a pitch the second it leaves the pitcher's hand. I still consider him to be one of the top 3 or 4 players of all-time.

Could steroids have helped Mario Mendoza hit .300? Doubtful. Don't get me wrong, I'm VERY against them, but mostly because it gets very difficult to compare players across different eras when you have to factor chemicals into the equation.

As a side note, though, my friend started all four years at his little college, and set the school record for tackles without taking any form of performance-enhancing drug. So I suppose it's possible to compete, at least at THAT level, against guys who are juiced.

-Al

Dallas88

Koby

I understnad where you're going, but I have to disagree. I am not "applauding" Giambi for telling the truth, in a court of law. You may as well applaud someone for not robbing a bank.

Remember, Giambi has, several times, tols the public that he "has never" used any substances. Basically, he has lied to everyone for who knows how long. This is not behavior I applaud.

He didn't say this to "come clean" or because he couldn't live with himself. He did this because he sees the writing on the wall. "Da Feds" have documentation on him and all his buddies who are doping up. He did this because he had to.

I do respect your opinion Koby, but only telling the truth when you are cornered, or your options of "sneakiness" have expired, is not behavior I applaud.

Allen

And then you would likely die like Lyle Alzado did.
I hope Bonds gets busted, I hope they don't just astrick the records, but take them away completely. Bobby is probably rolling over in his grave. over the shame Bonds has brought them. Even if Barry dosn't get caught he will always know those records are not his. He will be taking Hank Aaron's record that he worked so hard for and endured so much hatred over.

Cubfan

The question about how the sealed information became public has to be raised again.

Also, I would bet the farm that if there HAD been positive incriminating evidence in the report that had anything to do with Bonds, the Giambi story wouldnt have even made the papers.

How much did they see and how did they get it and it is reliable?

DeutscherGeist

HGH has been used by the rich in the early 1980's to retard the aging process. It has been helpful to some people in varying degrees to increase vitality, vision, work output and make people feel good about themselves that they can contribute once again. Some TV infomercials may advertise it as a fountain of youth, but it really is not that effective---that's exaggerating it. It will help some people with age related problems if taken in appropriate doses, but in high doses, I think its only a short term benefit. I don't think its an illegal substance, it has its mainstream use. The media is going to vilify this now?

Recent breakthrough has made it possible that HGH injections are no longer necessary with the advent of HGH stimulator. The substance stimulates your very own pituitary gland to produce more HGH. So, it is your own body's natural hormone. This hormone is responsible for increasing the healing process of the body, immune system, muscle mass, eye sight, energy level, skin rejuvenation., etc. Again, I want to stress that this is not the fountain of youth and it can do little to correct diabetes or Alzheimer's. It is only for age related problems not full blown disease. It really helps some for others, it may not. Its worth a try. If HGH stimulator is vilified, this is blowing things out of proportion. One really needs to be educated on these matters. The media likes shock value. Let's not be duped, that's all I am saying.

You can over do anything. Excess of anything is bound to be a rose with thorns.

phreakydancin

<< <i>The most gruesome, disturbing story I can recall from streroid abuse and professional athletes has to be Ken Caminiti. He had to have testicular surgery to get his testacles to re-descend. >>

Jeez, I'm never going to watch the ball drop in Times Square on New Years Eve in quite the same light again.

gradeddream

<< <i>I applaud Giambi for this. >>



applaud??? he had no choice. if he would of lied he could of been charged with perjury & went to jail. get your facts straight!

koby

<< <i>

<< <i>I applaud Giambi for this. >>



applaud??? he had no choice. if he would of lied he could of been charged with perjury & went to jail. get your facts straight! >>




dallas and gradeddream,

You guys are right. I just read the headlines and thought he was coming clean voluntarilly. Since he was compelled by the grand jury, the is no reason to applaud the cheater.

koby

ctsoxfan

How about this - Giambi, who now admits he was aided by steroids, doesn't hit those home runs last year in the ALCS Game 7, and the Yankees would more than likely lose that game. Red Sox go on to the World Series in 2003 also. That is how far reaching this confession by Giambi can go.

DrNguyenVanFalk

<< <i>Yeap, no surprise at all. The guy must have put on 40 lbs in 2 years. >>



Does that mean that Rick Reuschel took steroids? How about Rich Garces or Bartolo Colon?

Dallas88

Does that mean that Rick Reuschel took steroids? How about Rich Garces or Bartolo Colon?

LOL - I think the muscle Dude was referring to was not TABLE MUSCLE or BUFFET MUSCLE!

DeutscherGeist

The Yankees might cancel his contract now. I think they legally can. That would save the Yankees a lot of money plus rid them of a player who cannot produce anymore anyway. Good deal for them. Now they have the DH spot open for Williams and Sierra like it should be, with Olerud on first.