Does anybody else..

Boopotts · August 1, 2005 10:09AM

Find themselves quietly rooting for Jason Giambi? It's a puzzling emotional response for me, since I a) loathe the Yankees, and b) have no time for steroid use in baseball. So I should hate the guy. But the fact that he actually 'fessed up made we warm up to him, and now I'm genuinely pleased to see that he's performing well.

Am I the only one?

eyebone · August 1, 2005 10:30AM

Interesting that this should pop up today; I was speaking with a friend about this very issue this afternoon, and we both tend to agree with you Potts. His "honesty" was refreshing, especially when others just deny, deny, deny.......

Eyebone

ctsoxfan · August 1, 2005 12:13PM

No - and let me ask you, did he really "fess up"? I seem to recall him being very cowardly and vague when he addressed the fans on this matter - read this:

NEW YORK — Jason Giambi is sorry. He just wouldn't say for what. The All-Star first baseman twiddled his thumbs, crossed his legs and fidgeted in his chair when he came to Yankee Stadium on Thursday to make his first public comments since it was reported in December that he told a federal grand jury he took steroids for at least three seasons.

"When I went into that grand jury, I told the truth," he said.

He said he was sorry five times. He apologized three times.

To the New York Yankees. To his teammates. To the fans.

But he never said why. And he never talked about using steroids, never mentioned the word.

"I know the fans might want more, but at this present time because of all the legal matters, I can't get into specifics," he said. "Someday, hopefully, I will be able to."

(From FoxSports 2/11/2005)

He is a cheater, and a liar - I can't find myself rooting for someone like that no matter what team he plays for.

WinPitcher · August 1, 2005 12:18PM

that he told a federal grand jury he took steroids for at least three seasons.

I think this is where some are saying he told the truth. in public, by advice of counsel he was not as forthcoming.

so yeah i would say that of all the guys tainted thus far he is the only one that told the truth. (that we know of that is)

SD

and yes since he is a paisan<sp> Im rooting for him!

Boopotts · August 1, 2005 12:26PM

Hi ctsox-

You know more about this then I do. I was under the impression that he really came clean, whereas it looks like he only went about 50% of the way. Still, I kind of feel sorry for him. It seems like he's out of his element in a big city market like NY, and it's been difficult for him to make the adjustment.

I felt this same way about Manny when he first went to Boston, although he seems to have acclimated fairly well in the years since.

bobbybakeriv · August 1, 2005 12:28PM

I am sort of rooting for Giambi too. What he did was wrong but he deserves some credit as he was more forthcoming than any of the others in my opinion (e.g., Sosa, McGwire, Palmeiro, Bonds). There have been many many players who were/are on the juice and have flat out lied about it (and I hate it that Palmeiro was lying as I always thought he was an underrated player and a good guy for baseball). At least, Giambi admitted to his mistake (whether he was perfectly forthcoming or not). Bonds, McGwire, Sosa and the rest haven't even addressed the topic with the media. This whole deal is only going to get bigger...

zef204 · August 1, 2005 12:29PM

I agree Boo! Last night on SportsCenter when they said he hit 14 HR's in July I was happy for him. And I hate the Yankees.

I think he was as forthright as possible without being outright self incriminating.

<< <i>He is a cheater, and a liar - I can't find myself rooting for someone like that no matter what team he plays for >>

He is playing in an age of cheaters, if you will. And I look at them all now as guilty, of what? They will never say so we won't know for sure who and who not, but IMO the majority of the sluggers did it. Giambi therefore is more of a man than the rest of these guys, 3 of which have 500 HRs, but I won't name any names. If he is a liar and a cheat so are guys named (I will try to hide their identities) B Bonds, S Sosa, and R Palmiero No. Lets call them Barry B, Sammy S, and Rafael P., yeah that should hide their identities better.

That being said, the only true hitters of the 90's are Gwynn, Grace and Thomas because I don't think anyone would ever accuse those guys of using a needle, the cream or the clear.

Carew29 · August 1, 2005 12:33PM

Even though i don't have any respect for these guys that play this way, at least Jason didn't pull a McGwire.

jrdolan · August 1, 2005 1:39PM

The fact that a guy like Giambi shows he didn't really need steroids to jack a lot of HRs doesn't take away the fact that he DID use them. But it does give me a sense of relief in a way, to know he really was / is a great hitter who just went astray. I always liked Gumbi.

But now with the news about clean-cut Raffy Palmeiro ... I have to wonder if it became so widespread that pointing the finger at any one or five or ten players and saying "you cheated!" becomes almost meaningless, because for every one we castigate, 10 more are cringing and thinking "Thank God they didn't nail ME." Maybe we should just agree that a whole lotta ballplayers were bulking up with pharmaceutical assistance until 2005, we're gonna punish 'em if they do it after 2005, and move on.

VintageJeff · August 1, 2005 1:58PM

<< <i>I agree Boo! Last night on SportsCenter when they said he hit 14 HR's in July I was happy for him. And I hate the Yankees.

I think he was as forthright as possible without being outright self incriminating.

<< <i>He is a cheater, and a liar - I can't find myself rooting for someone like that no matter what team he plays for >>

He is playing in an age of cheaters, if you will. And I look at them all now as guilty, of what? They will never say so we won't know for sure who and who not, but IMO the majority of the sluggers did it. Giambi therefore is more of a man than the rest of these guys, 3 of which have 500 HRs, but I won't name any names. If he is a liar and a cheat so are guys named (I will try to hide their identities) B Bonds, S Sosa, and R Palmiero No. Lets call them Barry B, Sammy S, and Rafael P., yeah that should hide their identities better.

That being said, the only true hitters of the 90's are Gwynn, Grace and Thomas because I don't think anyone would ever accuse those guys of using a needle, the cream or the clear. >>

I think you can put Ryne Sandberg in the list of true hitters as well.

Does anybody else..

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