Quote of the Day

Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was okay to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing; I’ve taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons.

— Manny Ramirez, May 2009, demonstrating how it’s that sixth season that gets you every time.


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Michael
14 years ago

I don’t understand how the women’s fertility pill is something Manny’s doctor would want to give him under normal circumstances.  Normal meaning without steroid or other chemical use.  He sounds incredibly unintelligent, and sounds insincere with the words of a lawyer rolling off his tongue (no offense, Craig).

I’m fine with moving on from Manny, and A-Rod, and Sosa, and now Papi, but I would love to see more sincerity and a little more of the truth without it being polished.

J.W.
14 years ago

If Manny tested positive in 2003 and 2009, what happened in between? I’m willing to believe he didn’t do anything between those years. It seems unlikely but certainly plausible. Maybe after the implementation of testing he stopped. And then maybe he decided he wanted to play lights out this year and get an even bigger payday so he started again. Who knows? But if he was using some sort of substance that could result in a positive test in the interim between 2003 and 2009, how was he avoiding positive test results? That’s really the thing I’d be most curious about.

Personally I don’t think purging the sport of steroids is a necessary morally mandated crusade. As I see it, the issue with steroids is that they have a variety of effects on the body which are unhealthy, and if they are prevalent in a sport, young people and professionals who are at the start or end of their careers might find themselves in a position where they are forced to take drugs just to have a chance to earn a living.

Consider the everyday equivalent. If everyone at my job started taking Adderall without a prescription just to improve their productivity, and my office didn’t do anything to curb this illegal drug use, I might find myself in a position where I face the choice of taking Adderall or losing my job. That is not a position anyone should be put in.

But I don’t think there should be a high and mighty witch hunt conducted to root out the “cheaters.” That said, since I do believe that it would be best to curb the use of potentially damaging drugs, I think that understanding how a player might have avoided testing positive for 5 years could prove a tremendously useful tool.

themarksmith
14 years ago

I just hope House’s 6th season goes well. I love that show, and I just hope it wasn’t using humor-enhancing drugs (HED’s) and now can no longer produce any humor of its own.

Bill B.
14 years ago

I would love to see more sincerity and a little more of the truth without it being polished.

I never got why people expect this. I never expect people to be honest, ever. Yes, I’m a pessimist; a glass half-empty guy, but especially in MLB players’ cases, they have no reason to come clean because action is taken against very few of them, with Bonds and Clemens being a couple of the few.

I have no problem with players lying. It serves their self-interest and I’d do the same thing if put in the same position.

Rob
14 years ago

To be fair, baseball only started (non-anonymous) testing for steroids in 2004…

joepro
14 years ago

Manny cannot be taken seriously.  He’s trying to justify something that is just so obviously wrong, he’s making himself look worse.  The problem is, many people will believe him and sympathize with him.

I think A-roid’s approach is much better.  While he could appear slightly more humble and apologetic, the message is clear: i did it, i’m sorry, i made a mistake.  (Now let’s move on and hope I don’t get caught again.)

I liken this to when a man catches his kid smoking.  Son, you should not smoke!  But Dad, you used to smoke!  Yes son, but back then it was legal, EVERYONE DID IT, and we DIDN’T KNOW HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS.  And I don’t do it anymore.

Not 100% legit, but pretty hard to argue with.

Michael
14 years ago

Bill B,

I expect Manny to be honest and sincere because he made a fool of himself, and because he cost the Dodgers millions (despite them saving a few mil during his suspension), and made the team look bad to some.  Plus, whether we like it or believe it or not, kids look up to ballplayers, and I think if you’re in the public eye like that, you need to stop acting like a horse’s ass and play the game the honorable way.
I’m an honorable and respectful guy myself, and despite the nil odds to this idea, I expect superstars to act the right way too.  And that’s that.

Michael
14 years ago

Speaking as Original Michael, the previous comment does not represent me.

My feeling that steroids were as level a playing field while everyone was doing them as bennies were before them still stands.