The most explosive 24 hours in the games history.
Dec 13th, 2007 by Curt Schilling
I hate to think it is, but I don’t think there is any other way to look at it. Not since the Black Sox scandal of the early 20th century has this sport had to endure what it will starting at 2pm EST.
I am hoping no one I know or respect shows up as a name on this report but I am feeling like that’s wishful thinking.
There will be no shortage of media opinions, castigating, berating and blaming all the names involved. Just remember that this will be coming from the very same people who, like many, turned a blind eye to what many of us believed when we were smack dab in the middle of all the things the Mitchell Report will say.
I can still remember Pedro Gomez, a writer in Arizona, telling me that he specifically ‘knew of 4 guys in this clubhouse that are on steroids’. When I asked him to name them he wouldn’t, but he assured me he knew for a fact. I have yet to see him write an article with those names included. There were many members of the media making these same claims, I’m curious to know what they are going to say now.
I certainly am not blameless. I had opinions like many other people, but I also had a closer view of what was happening. I can say with a very clear conscience, to this day I still have never seen anyone inject or ingest HGH, or steroids. Do I think I know former teammates that may have been? Sure I do. Can I tell you with no uncertainty who that was? No.
And at the end of the day, from everything I hear, that’s what will be contained in the body of this report. Much speculation, conversation, and hearsay, as to what people saw and thought. I don’t believe there will be much hard evidence on anyone mentioned. I don’t think for a second that absolves many that will be named.
Look, if you ordered HGH or steroids, in your name, and there is documentation to prove that you did, please do us all a favor and admit you made a mistake and move on. If you needed it for medical reasons then I am sure you can back that up through your physician if you choose to.
I’m past tired of hearing everything but “I screwed up” or “Ya I made a mistake, I apologize”.
This is a pretty damn forgiving country. We are all about giving people second chances. The quicker anyone guilty is accountable the quicker we can all move on and hopefully make this thing go away, and fix what needs to be fixed.
But I also think there are going to be players named purely on speculation and opinion and that to me will be the true sadness in all of this. I don’t think it’s a reach to say that regardless of the context in which your name might be mentioned in this report, people will lump every name into one big ball of guilty by association, and that won’t be right.
Whatever the outcome I think it’s safe to say that the foreseeable future of this game is going to be rough for everyone involved. The only solution will be to have the MLBPA and MLB itself agree on a course of action that will eliminate the potential of this ever happening again.
The rumored list has Varitek on it and I sure hope that isn’t true at all.
Why speculate as to what report will say? Why damn it before it comes out. Why not WAIT until it comes out rather than prejudging it?
The report is over 400 pages long and I feel that anyone who they questioned is initially going to get thrown under the massive figurative bus that is the mitchell report. HGH and steroids are being dealt with, which is a huge step in the right direction and necessary for the sport. Obviously without subpoena power they are not going to have as much hard evidence as I think a lot of the media would love, but never-the-less the media is going to run with this topic due to the fact that it comes during a lull in the sports year.
I hope that the MLBPA and MLB can find an honest way to move forward and retain the dignity of the game I love so much. I also hope that even during this time the players are able to still enjoy the holidays and spend it with those they love and care for. As you said its a lot of speculation and agents/press managers are going to have a hectic holiday trying to reassure clients and teams of those who are incorrectly or indefinitely linked to this report.
Judging by the time you released this blog, you’re refreshing ESPN.com , drudgereport or other media outlets to try and get an idea of what is happening… have you also heard from agents/team managers about what to expect as well?
Well said. I learned early in life that we all make mistakes but how we react to them tells the truth about character. Admitting mistakes, accepting responsibility and dealing appropriately with the punishment is a must. Sidestepping them will only cause problems to linger, or never go away. Take Pete Rose for example. He may have been allowed back in the game one day and possible even The Hall but he chose the wrong path AFTER the fact. Same with Vick. His sentence would have been lighter in the eyes of the law had he been forthright from the get go. Same with his situation with Goodell. He was not forthright and I am sure Roger will weigh that into his decision in 2009.
I truly hope, as you mentioned similarly, that names will not be those of players I idolize. Unfortunately, I fear there will be some. It is part of the recent history of the game and hopefully this will be the first step towards changing the current “status quo”.
2008 back-to-back World Champs!!
Curt, some are saying that the guys on the list “made a mistake.” I disagree. They made a conscious decision to cheat - and to break the law. I love this game more than I love the players. I have had my favorites, which is completely natural - but I fear that some of those are in this report. I refuse to be hypocritical and will state that I will boo every single one of these guys who take the field. They cheated.
This has much more of an impact than the Black Sox scandal because this affect - if not every team - nigh to every team…. and multiple seasons.
This affects society and these men owed all of us better than that. MLB owed us better. MLB owners and the Commissioner are complicit in this, imo. They knew that this was going on and after _the_ strike thought that fans would only be drawn back in by the long ball. Players wanted to play longer and wanted to heal faster. We have created a huge problem and it sickens me.
I love the Boston Red Sox more than any one player and it sickens me that any of our guys are on that list…
ToofarawayfromBoston
(Chaiah)
I sincerely hope that rumored name isn’t true. I will be so very disappointed. I am realistic but still “naive” enough I guess to be heartbroken.
Indeed this is the time for all involved to put a stop to this.
I think that’s very clear thinking on the subject, and it’s terrific you’re so candid about it. As a longtime baseball fan, I am thrilled that you’ve kept up this blog.
I also happen to agree with you on this topic. I’m stunned at how often in this country people fail to take responsibility for their actions, at every level of society. Those people who appear to feel like they have so much to lose if they admit any kind of fallibility (a condition of being human) would probably be surprised to find out you’re right about forgiveness. And it really is as easy as saying, “Sorry, I screwed up.” Of course, there are always consequences, but they knew that when they made the mistake to begin with.
I’m glad the Mitchell report is coming out, if only to put it behind us.
I will be devastated if Griffey Jr. is mentioned in this report. He is the one true “superstar” from 90’s baseball that I whole heartedly respect besides guys like yourself, Gwynn, Ripken, Biggio, etc. The guys who seemed like they loved the game.
curt….. Im not sure what that list will included but should the players really be shot down and be hated… No I dont think so, I think this should all be put in the past and the players that are involved just say yea I did it I;m not on it any more, and if they do that them just let them be.. Baseball is the greastest game ever played and if anything its better now than it ever was.
Brian
I’m damn glad we have honorable people such as yourself in sports… As a fan I will no longer root for anyone on the list, even if they are on the Sox (Ive stopped cheering for Rodney Harrison) I just cannot respect someone who knowingly cheats
Agreed. This will be a media firestorm. But how do you get your name in the report? In some cases, isn’t it just from someone else naming you? It seems pretty haphazard. Having your name on that list– or not having your name on that list– doesn’t necessarily mean much.
Personally, I blame the union more than anyone else for this problem, because they’ve won every labor dispute in my lifetime, and they dug their heels in on this one, citing privacy concerns. But there sure was a conspiracy of silence that extended into ownership, the media, and even fans. I was irritated with the reporter who wrote about McGwire’s locker full of substances during the 1998 season. I don’t look too prescient on that one.
Now it’s too late to figure out exactly what happened in the past, so we get this mess. Maybe I’ll be proven wrong, but I don’t see what purpose it serves to name names when we don’t have proof of anything.
“we all make mistakes”
A mistake implies that one is not making a conscious decision. These players - whomever are on the list - did not make a “mistake.” The consciously chose to do something that they knew was wrong.
Curt,
I could not agree more with you, while all baseball fans most certainly realize there are speculations that have been around for quite some time, and while i hope it does not disgrace the wonderful game that ive grown up loving, ive played and watched baseball as far back as i can remember, and i feel aweful sitting here watching the clock waiting for them to deface my childhood hero’s and guys that millions of kids look up to everyday
Its a sad day for baseball and everyone involved , and i would like to add that players who used HGH for medicinal purposes (i.e. Rick Ankiel, Paul Byrd, ect..) please do not lump them into the likes of whomever comes out of this looking like a cheater of a jerk-off.
Thank you for letting me voice my opinion
1. I wish Mitchell had resigned from the Red Sox before doing this. There’s the appearance of a conflict of interest. Mitchell seems like a stand-up guy to me, but there is an appearance nonetheless. Now, he almost has to name some Red Sox to avoid partisan accusations.
2. I’m a cycling fan. It’s had a culture of drugs for years, and has spent the past decade trying to clean itself up. It’s not nearly there yet, but it seems to be turning a corner- a lot of teams have signed up for next year with a pretty good third-party comprehensive control program, which should be much, much harder to beat than the existing testing.
The bottom line is that cycling has suffered a lot over the last decade, and there’s been a lot of carnage. But it’s such a great sport, that it will survive, and I hope will be for the better.
Baseball will also survive, come what may. It is still the American Pastime.
The sooner the powers that be crack down on this sort of cheating (or, change the rules, all mutants welcome- at least it would be open and honest) in a meaningful way, the better.
curt,
i’m sure (if one of our boys is mentioned) there will be a lot of sox fans out there, after hearing from the mitchell report, saying “i knew it, i knew (some yankee player) was using them. what an ass.” then two minutes later saying “well, it’s only speculation. there’s no way (one of the bosox) ever injected anything.”
it comes down to this: if you cheat, you cheat. fess up, but we can’t forget that there were/are those out there who are cutting the checks for these players all while turning the other way when the steroids come into play. i’ll be trying to stay as objective as i can about this. and if one of my boys did do something, i’m sure i’ll defend him. it just comes down to it being sad, that some players felt the need to have to harm themselves in that way, just to be recognized. if you make it to even the minors, you’re and amazing freakin’ athlete.
It’s interesting to note how you don’t bring up the fact that Mitchell is a Director of the Red Sox; that conflict of interest is DISGUSTING.
“This is a pretty damn forgiving country. We are all about giving people second chances. The quicker anyone guilty is accountable the quicker we can all move on and hopefully make this thing go away, and fix what needs to be fixed.”
Huh? You’re kidding, right? To forigve requires the likes of Bonds, Sosa and Mark McGwire while lying to our faces when it’s plain they’ve helped to destroy the sport for their financial gain is idiotic.
Why would you want to forgive the likes of these guys? Especially Bonds and Sosa? Bonds himself has done more to denigrate the sport than any human being in it’s history.
These guys, especially the above mentioned, have taken a gigantic wizz in our face and I for one won’t say,”Please sir may I have another”.
Is it any wonder soccer is ascendent and Baseball-AMERICA’S SPORT-is dying a slow death?
Wow, did scout Mark Delpiano have Gagne right (page 219), or what?
(I understand if this comment gets dinged; this is probably not the best forum to gossip about the report)
I wonder how much Mitchell stood to gain from this?(financiallyand otherwise)
This “report” is such utter Bull*hit, things in baseball are only going to
get worse. Of course the media just loves this…
It’s very very nice to see that no active members of the Red Sox 40-man roster are on there although it didn’t come as a surprise to see Eric Gagne on there. Brendan Donnelly was a surprise to the list and I wonder if the front office knew he’d be on that list and wasn’t offered a contract for that reason.
Looking forward to your thoughts Curt.
I just scanned the report. Tek’s name is not on it.
After downloading the 400 page pdf of this report, I used the search tool to find references to the two most heart breaking names on that suspect early list. For the recrod, the PDF search tool found no references to the following names or letter sequences:
-varitek
-tek
-vari
-pujols
-albert
-pujol
The only Jasons listed were Jason Grimsley and Jason Giambi, according to this tool.
Lets hope this toll is accurate, because I don’t really want to read through this whole thing.
After all, I have to spend my time fighting the evil Dr. Melt.
Toofar, a mistake in this context would be a mistake in judgment.
I am so relieved that the inclusion of Tek was just a rumor - as far as I’m concerned/as far as I can tell, the man is the epitome of integrity.
I think that this situation has been so overblown in media and sports etc I’m glad that this report may finally bring some closure to all of this “steroid talk”. When McGuire and Sosa battled it out in ‘98 “Andro” was advertised and endorsed by MLB players and was not a banned substance. Many players utilized the supplements, vitamins, shakes and injections that medical science has produced over the last 20 years. The “anabolic steroid” use I have a hard time forgiving for, since it was clearly banned. All the newer “designer steroids” utilize I have less of a problem with but do not condone them. It is in the competitive nature of sport to maximize your playing ability at all times, and unfortunately for decades cheating in ALL sports has been a part of it. From spitballs, stealing signs, to steroids there have always been players willing to do whatever it takes to maximize their performance. It stinks that this has all come to a congressional investigation dictating to the game who has cheated.
Since 2002 the game has banned substances that were previously okay. So McGuire and those players like him to use products once legal that now are not, are followed by a shadow that is somewhat unjust. During this “transitional” era of the game, it is unfortunate that both players who tried to do things right and “cheaters” may be looked at in the same light. I really don’t care that much about steroids and HGH, I think it sucks, but I also feel that the issues of this are getting blown way out of wack, if the players in MLB used products to the level that can be assumed, it seems to me the playing field just elevated in performance across the board. I know the Babe did it on beer & hot dogs, so they say but had the Babe played in the generation we all live in now we may have seen steroid use of some sort by the greatest player to ever play the game. But those are unanswered scenarios. Professional athletes compete..period. They also want to always be the best player they can be at all times. All athletes do. Put players of the past did not have the technological advancements in medicine that we have now. Do we now put an asterisk next to a pitcher who recovers from tommy john surgery? Because in the 30’s that ended a career. Knee replacements? Come on where does it stop? If you break the current rules as they are set now you should be punished. I understand and agree, but before these rules were set can we vilify players who used? I think not, it’s time to move on and realize the purity of athleticism in the US is gone, what do we do when a player has a robotic arm or leg? Technology along with time changes elements of sport immensely. I think we need to move on and I’m sure we will, it is not a good day for baseball and will occupy news and media outlets for weeks, but players need to go out and play the game like they always have and fans will go watch the games like they always have, but sports have changed with the times and not all for the good.
Baseball is still the greatest sport in the world to me and always will be. I look forward to moving on and getting back to enjoying the game and now we all no from this day forward what is legal and what is not. Well until the next thing……..
As far as the hall of fame by the way, let’s just start a “Slim Shady” wing and put Bonds, Pete Rose and all the guys who are questionable into the Hall of Fame but in the wing, where everyone knows the character may be questionable……but numbers are still numbers in baseball, and field performance has always gotten people in before, why stop now??? Just give them their own place!
Curt’s right about second chances. If people would just stop lying and denying it, we all can get past it so much sooner. The public isn’t stupid. And no one is buying that you didn’t know it was steroids!
I don’t hate Rodney Harrison for taking them because he admitted to it and did his time. MLB is so different. It’s too late for some of those people to do their time…
I scrolled through the report for a while this afternoon and I wasn’t horribly shocked by it. No, Tek was not on it.
I wonder what the players that have declined to speak about it in the past will do now. It will surely be interesting.
Oh yeah, and I thought it was funny that Gagne was on there. Have fun playing w the Brewers! haha
Tek’s name is not on it. Someone’s losing their job. Of course it was a reporter from New York too.
Hey Yankees, the 2003 Red Sox called, they want a do-over.
2003 highlights:
Clemens: 17*-9 (WP*, Game 3 ALCS, ND, Game 7 ALCS)
Pettite: 21*-8 (WP*, Game 2 ALCS, LP, Game 6 ALCS)
Giambi: 41* HR, 107* RBI (2* HR, Game 7 ALCS)
Karma’s a bitch, I suppose.
Curt, Theo is named as a GM who brought in two platers (Donnelly and Gagne) even though he knew that they were doing steriods. In my mind…just as bad as a player doing roids.
Your thoughts?
I saw Eric Gagne listed. It proves my hypothesis that steroids aren’t performance enhancing.
Was there ever any doubt that Tek wasn’t gonna be named in the report? Truthfully, i was most surprised by Tejada and Clemens…i mean, Clemens is a hall-of-famer..
what happens now? do they just move forward and incorporate a new drug policy, or do they now backtrack and try to figure everything out? the next few months will be interesting, to say the least..
Schill - as always, thank you for sharing your thoughts on the report. I was wondering your thoughts as a player about the fact that it is now clear that there has not always been an even playing field. Some of the players named have pitched against you (and perhaps gained an edge from the drugs) or hit home runs off of you (when that may have been drug-fueled as well). I hope that when you have a chance you will share some player insight on this.
Thanks so much - I so enjoy your blog, even when we don’t agree.
happy holidays!
I hate to have to say this, but as a Sports Historian I think its necessary….
With the names of all of the roster players who were members of the Yankees 1990’s WS run listed in the Mitchell report, serious attention has to be payed to those series results. I agree with Curt that this is the most pressing issue in baseball since the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, and there should be some type of footnote placed on those championships.
This disturbs me, as there were many players on those teams who were not cheaters. However, using the list, one can scenario a point where nearly half of the players batting or on the field for the Yankees in a WS inning were cheating.
Does this warrant an asterisk next to those Titles? Perhaps is this a serious enough issue for those Titles to be taken away?
I do not want to be sensationalist, but these are question i feel must be answered.
Let us all remember all that Roger Clemens has done for the game… He was a great pitcher before he started using. his record may have vastly improved post 1997 but taking into account the lack of talent in the Red Sox bullpen during the mid 90’s, and the lack of good talent on the team in general, his numbers were still very good. I have been a Clemens fan scince i have been four years old. I will not stop admiring him not because he has been caught up in the era. Mickey Mantle Drank himself to a stuper and took pills everyday along with the greats of that era. Ty cobb was a racist, and Babe Ruth was the poster child of “unhealthy living” Roger is a product of his time in the game. He, like Schill is an icon and is bigger than the game. If nothing else during the time between 1985-1997 Roger won 192 games. Struck out 20 twice. Cy young four times . one MVP that aint that bad.
PR
I am curious, Curt, as to what you think about Roger Clemens and his “work ethic” now…
Well it looks like someone you respect is on that list. Pretty damning evidence against the accused. Too bad. I’m shocked you didn’t know anything about your friends or former teammates’ drug use. Sounds like the D-Backs were heavy into the steroid movement. I think you may have had more than an inkling who would be named in the report.
I totally agree with you on points made on your blog. What interests me more is NOT the names of those players on the list, but the impact that the report should have.
The report should open the eyes of many who do not follow baseball close or to those who do not know the inside of a clubhouse. What intrigues me the most is how those not in the baseball world will be effected by it. While i am a 22 year Law Student, here at OU, i have already started to see the effects because of my peers around me. Some of them have told me personally that they will not watch the game again. I remember a close friend saying:
“Once a dirty game, always a dirty game.”
However, i think this game is far more purer than other sports. I would love to think that no other sport is as tainted as the MLB is, but for that i would be ignorant.
I expect a avid report by the MLBPA, to deny and try to defame this report, but if you read the report (outside of the “hearsay”), there is proof in this pudding.
Sorry for the rant for this response, but i think enough is enough. Admit the wrong doings, suffer the consequences and move on. With you I agree that the US is a forgiving country. (Unless you are Bill Clinton)
- JCM
to think that tek and those other players on the 1st where on it was crazy. who would put out a list like that and have no proof of it. if they where on it they would of come forward or not be the people they are now, like tek. he doesn’t want to lose fans or his family. and if he is on it/was he might now come forward to clear his mind. put us to rest for the hell of it. come clean. shut up people that question you please. keep your fans
No mention of Varitek in all 409 pages. 8 pages on Clemens. He gets crucified. Gagne needs lasiks, not HGH.
Curt, not trying to kiss up but you should be commended. Clemens faced a similar situation as you..both of you hit a point where you lost velocity and gained some lb’s. Clemens chose to take the needle, you decided to reinvent yourself. The report is graphic on how Clemens was shot up on several occasions with Winstrol…it’s pathetic how much this country adored the Texas Con-man for the last 10 years. I’d hate to be one of those Cy Young Runner Ups those years.
Red Sox fans are so filled with anger it’s disgusting — so much that they live in denial. THE REPORT WAS DONE BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE RED SOX! Wake up!!! It is biased. Curt should recognize this. He probably won’t because he sucks up the Nation. For instance, he buys right into the anger towards the Yankees (which is completely unfounded and BS, BTW), He even named his kid after a great Yankee for his admiration of the team’s history but he still buys into the REDSOX fan base’s PSYCHOTIC anger towards the Yankees/
Most of this report was based in NY. WHY? They could have followed the lead of Manny Alexander and the Boston clubhouse but NOOOOOOOOO. That would be against his personal interests. Then he had the NERVE to compare his ties to the Red Sox with his being a Catholic and working on peace in Ireland. Apples to Oranges. He was not naming names of anti-Catholics.
WAKE UP RED SOX FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t take the BS anymore.
I guess it’s safe to say Gag-me was not taking steriods when he was pitching for us!!!!!
Curt,
As a huge fan of yours, I read your blog and enjoy the way you speak your mind. I read most of the comments as well, and find it ludicrous that people would make posts telling you that you are wrong. I certainly do not agree with everything you write, yet enjoy getting the perspective of another person to possibly learn something from.
I must also add my thanks for all you do for us with ALS. You and your wife are some of the most generous people in the sports world, and without your help, we would be no closer to finding a cause or cure then when the Iron Man gave his name to the disease.
I have just finished watching the press conference releasing the Mitchell report, and the interviews afterwards. Barry Bloom (MLB.com reporter) states that Congress can stop the steroid use by high schooler’s by making them harder to get, and even offered the suggestion to revoke Federal Funding for schools that do not have an illegal substance testing program, and that the Major League players have no influence in what high school kids do. I have a few questions based on this statement. First, as a long-time little league baseball coach, if kids cannot play in their high school program because of the steroid problem, will they not migrate to the local little league programs that are available in their local community? How does this reduce the steroid problem in high school kids? Can you honestly say that you believe that professional athletes are not role models for children, especially the great ones, whether they want to be or not? In your opinion, should testing positive automatically eliminate a player from the HoF?
Thanks for everything you do,
Ken P
Its a sad day for all baseball fans. I justheard Steve Phillips say on ESPN that he is sure his own players were involved in the use & abuse.
Stop being an idiot bobbyo7. There’s a difference between “were doing” and “have done in the past.” The change in the implication between those two statements are huge.
Well, this is going to explode with commentary as will the news unfolds.
I am saddened that before this was released, some players–like Jason Veritek–were “named” on blogs. As others have noted, some of these–like Tek–are not listed.
I agree with Schill’s statement that excuses have become tiresome–”I am not hear to discuss the past!”
The real question is “what,” if anything, will be done? For some players, the only thing to be done is their reputation–Clemens, for example. Not that I expect Shill to read this, and I am sure what will soon be a few hundred comments, but I would like to know his opinion on what being named with sufficient evidence–not just hearsay–to those players’ reputations, including records and the Hall of Fame.
–J.D.
Hey Syphax,
Don’t even think about being smug. Let’s see…. the author of the damned report is on the Board of Directors for the S**t Sox, and there are no Sox implicated. Give me a f***** break. Maybe in 2003 Pedro shoulda used steroids then so that he coulda slammed the door on game seven, or maybe Graady Little shoulda took steroids so that he would have thought better of leaving Pedro in the game….Oh and I’m sure all the steroids that Aaron F****** Boone was doing helped him hit the home run right?? Boones about a buck fifty soaking wet. Maybe Wakefield shoulda took steroids so his ball woulda knuckled… Typical dumb a** words from another dumb a** Red Sox fan. All mouth and no brain. Karma aint the bitch here, but I know who it is (and it aint me!!) Figure it out yet????
Any member of the players union has some responsibility for this issue being as damaging to the game as it has been.
I think that what was released to the public was a neutered version of the real report…….I just find it very shocking that none of MLBs greatest players (and assets) are on the list. Everyone listed is a “B” player, a guy who was already caught through the media, or a retired or soon-to-be retired player.
…. and Wahjah denies. Shock! Surprise!
Curt:
Your headline hit the nail on the head. It is a sad day.
Why in the world were the players so uncooperative?! Mitchell mailed requests to every player in the league and no one responded. And why did the Player’s Association match Mitchell’s mailings with letters discouraging players to cooperate?
I suppose…On the bright side, as someone pointed out yesterday: “Let’s get this thing over with. I’d rather it happened now than during the first few weeks of spring training.”
There are three and a half months left until Opening Day. It can’t get here soon enough.
One of my favorite “Army” sayings when I was on active duty was: Bad news does not get better with time.
Although this is a terrible day for MLB, players, management, ownership and fans, the only way to get past it is to get it out there and then fight the use of performance enhancing drugs. MLB, like any other organization in our country, is reflective of our society as a whole. Any problems you see in our society you should expect to see in MLB and any other institution. That is why you have cheaters in sports, presidents who cheat on their wives and lie about it, congressmen who do all sorts of weird things, and people of every walk who do self-destructive things.
I am VERY happy to see no players who are currently playing for the Red Sox were named in the report because that will make defending the championship a bit easier (fewer distractions), but the key is “named”. I have no doubt there are many many more who were not named.
Now that its out I can only think what Vince Lombardi might have said: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Hopefully, everyone will get tough and hit this thing head on. The fans will certainly have “chant” material. Go Red Sox!!
I just finished reading the Mitchell report. Did you ever expect gagne or Donnelly to be on it?
Thanks, Alec
“The most explosive 24 hours in the games history.”? Hardly. The Mitchell Report essentially sums up Major League Baseball’s mediocre attempt at cleaning up the game. In fact, this report, to fans, has to be the biggest slap in the face to date of this entire debacle, slightly ahead of the testimony on Capitol Hill.
The fact is MLB, its employees, including players, are above the law. In any other industry, employees and associates are held accountable for their actions, not rewarded like baseball players. Fans, the same people who fork over an entire paycheck to attend a baseball game (likely to support someone for being at a normal weight for his position - where in the real world employees may lose benefits, even their jobs for being overweight) are hopeless in this situation. Will baseball ever clean up? No. Not a chance. The presence of steroids, HGH, amphetamines and other performance enhancing drugs, will become worse, much worse before it gets better, if ever.
And why is this? Quite simply put: greed. Owners, executives, right on down to the players, all of whom are greedy, self-righteous individuals, have no sense of morality whatsoever. And until a player steps forward and admits this problem, and becomes somewhat of a whistleblower within the industry, we will see no change in this fact. Hard to believe that a pompous ass like Jose Canseco, now seems like one of the most reliable baseball players and sources of information out there.
Just watched Don Fehr dodge questions from the media. Curt, I have to know what your thoughts are about the MORAL obligation the MLBPA has to not only its fans but to the sport itself. Baseball was/is the “National Pastime” with the records being “sacred.” So now what?
Baseball used to be about sportmanship and work ethic-guess it is about the steroids. It is too bad that very talented individuals, who most likely didn’t need to use steroids have their names appear in the report with alleged use. I hope MLB and the players union can figure out a plan to help eliminate cheating through steroid use and help restore the faith in America’s greatest pasttime.
Remember that the exclusion of a player’s name does not mean exclusion of using Performance Enhancing Drugs. It just means they weren’t mentioned or just didn’t get caught. My cynicism and skepticism is quite high. Imo, the Mitchell Report didn’t do nearly enough. While MLB, the owners and players continue to refuse to really deal with this issue - it is all a joke.
I am sorry. These guys did not make a mistake in judgment. They knew exactly what they were doing. They were causing societal harm and breaking federal laws.
Give me a break! These are not adolescent young people. Excuses, excuses, excuses. It’s bad enough when it comes from the players - but coming from fans is inexcusable. There is no excuse, folks! None. Sorry, but we deserve better. I don’t care which player took them… No excuses.
Roger and out! Is anyone truly surprised Roger’s name is on the list I have been saying for years–He had to be on something! I’ve been 30 years old, 40 years old, and 50 years old and you ,physically, do not improve with age. No way! Curt, you are right to raise questions about the media. They knew about Clemens but didn’t want to know. They don’t report–they pontificate! And what about all those awards? They are as tarnished as his name. Dan Duquette gets the last laugh!
Ted
Question:
If Mark McGwire was not on the list, should he be voted into the HOF next time around?
Should Sammy Sosa make the HOF?
I agree with pretty much everything in the post.
Well said, Curt.
As a Yankee Fan who enjoys your blog, I would like to use this as a place to let Pettitte and Clemens know that you need to just stand up and say Yes I did this for a period of time between — and — . Mr. Schilling is right when he says this is a forgiving country. Admit it, and lets move on. I for one will have lost zero respect for either man who for whatever reason they felt they needed these injections to help them heal quickly, or perform better. I am not saying that I agree with their decision, but they worked in an environment that this drug was accesible and all around them. They are human. They made a mistake. If Barry had admitted to this years ago, he wouldn’t be where he is in court right now. He let it go on too long and that is where I lost respect for him. I do not believe though that any of his records should have an * I also don’t believe that Pettitte and Clemens should not be labeled as poster boys of the steroid era which is all over ESPN and driving me nuts. What a rush to judgement. Didn’t they learn anything when They reported on the murder of NFL player Sean Taylor? No respect
Honestly, unless players start speaking the truth, stop hiding behind the union, or towing the company line, baseball will never move on and we’ll never find the answers we so-called want.
The sick thing is though the so-called rats have been proven right.
In cases like these, sadly, burden of proof does not matter so much; alas, it’s the perception is reality unless the players prove themselves innocent rather than guilty.
- Anthony, The Oriole Post
I love the fact that the Yankees won 4 world series during the short “steroid era”. Think about it.
Maybe we owe Dan Duquette an apology. He said Clemens was at the “twilight” in his career and let him go to the Blue Jays. Clemens had a few mediocre years before leaving. Maybe Duquette was right in assessing Clemens at the time. He went to the Blue Jays, got hooked up on juice and HGH, and wins a bunch of CY awards.
Duquette then went out and got Pedro. Pedro wins us a WS title….a legit title unlike the 98, 99 Yankees.
First time poster. Great site, Curt!
NUTS!!! -General McAuliffe 1944
I am sorry but this whole report is very stupid. I am all for getting rid of steroids but why do they have somebody who has a lot of money invested in the Red Sox leading the investigation? The two most notable players mentioned are Yankees, the two main sources of information are from New York and the first two names ESPN ran with were Yankees. I can not be the only person Yankee fan or not who doesn’t see something wrong here. I just don’t buy the fact that after 15 yrs or so that the biggest Red Sox names they could come up with are Donnelly and Gange lol This was a Yankee witch hunt from the start and anybody who doesn’t agree is pure blind. George Mitchell has financial and personal ties to the Red Sox and this was just the perfect way to drag the Yankee organization through the dirt. I would bet a lot of money if somebody from the Yankees front office was leading this investigation there would be a lot more notable Red Sox busted than Donelly and Gange. The Yankees would first start with Ortiz. How do you go from a 260 hitter who hits line drives to a 300+ hitter who hits 450ft home runs in 2 yrs? The names of the Yankees and other players are dirty and rightfully so but Mitchell in my opinion is just as dirty for the way this report was handled
There is an old saying if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, sounds like a duck then it must be a duck.
It’s a sad day for baseball. I find it so hard to accept “just say it was a mistake” anymore. Are we forgiving? Yes. Too forgiving? Most certainly in my opinion.
The way I see it is that all of you involved in MLB. All of you from the players who use, the management who condone, the trainers who hush hush it, the players who are clean but are aware, the owners of the teams to the Mr. Selig. You are all responsible and guilty. I have written several posts here over the past few weeks. If you read them you will see that I love baseball with a passion. Like many fans I am now at the crossroad of where will I stand with this issue. It is difficult. Millions of young boys and girls look up to an adore you the players. Some of them follow you like you are gods and will copy what you do because you are so good at whichever position you may play and excel at. Just think what you may have now done to some of these youth. The future of baseball.
While there are no numbers or statistics available I am sure that some of these kids will end up trying the same things you men are using.
Unfortunately some may even use more dangerous and deadly things like cocaine, heroin etc. (Not that HGH and the other things aren’t deadly) And why? Maybe because they look up to you so much they can’t understand the truth to it all. What will you do if one of your own babies plies that route? Who will you blame then? The fans? Sports is one of the last things we need to see destroyed for our kids. You guys and women get paid millions of dollars. You break the laws. You hide your head in shame. You deny it’s existence.
As a parent I am distraught that even the nonusers keep the cheaters and liars safely hidden, brush it off and look the other way. You want no part of the truth unless it fits your plan. Baseball is a game. You call it a business and it is but the bottom line it is still a game. It has to be played. Perhaps I have had my rose colored glasses on too long. Perhaps I have accepted “I’m sorry I made a mistake” one time too many Curt. Perhaps I am to blame just like everyone who in involved in baseball. Maybe I’m too old.
What I see now is that baseball has fallen to the depths of disgrace just like football (the great Michael Vick (beast master)) or basketball (violence both on and off the court) and most all of the other big name sports. The difference this time is drugs. But really is there much difference between the drugs, violence and abuse?
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, sounds like a duck then it must be a duck.
“This is a pretty damn forgiving country. We are all about giving people second chances. The quicker anyone guilty is accountable the quicker we can all move on and hopefully make this thing go away, and fix what needs to be fixed.
But I also think there are going to be players named purely on speculation and opinion and that to me will be the true sadness in all of this. I don’t think it’s a reach to say that regardless of the context in which your name might be mentioned in this report, people will lump every name into one big ball of guilty by association, and that won’t be right.”
Curt in using your own words we are all guilty merely because of “association”. None of us should be let off that easy. I sincerely hope that whoever is “guilty by association” stand together and put an end or at least the beginning of the end to the blindness in what is still the greatest “game” of them all.
David
Curt,
Are you surprised at all with Clemens outrage and total denial? Now he and his attorney are “spinning” the story that his and Andy Pettite’s trainer was forced to make up this “story” because he was threatened with criminal prosecution.
It was so refreshing to hear Marion Jones “sincerely” apologize for her mistake, not that she deserves kudos for doing so, but at least she stepped up and did the right thing in admitting her mistake.
Why can’t any baseball player, other than Canseco, do the same? Do they all feel they’re bullet proof and can get away with anything?
Sad day indeed!
We sure appreciate your honesty and speaking from the heart on many issues. Thanks Curt.
With the “steroid era” now upon us I think their should be either an asterisk or bold lettering on all players that have played in this era. Don’t just single out the ones that have used some kind of enhancement. It is only fair to the players that have not used anything when baseball was an honest game (well with out performance enhancement drugs). I believe that the people who broke records should have the asterisk next to them for this reason. MLB and the Hall Of Fame should differentiate the two eras. Everybody looks for an edge at any time in history but what the steroid era is just ridiculous.
This whole situation is just depressing. There were very few things in life as simple and true as baseball and the inocence is now gone. It really is depressing to know that the faces of baseball in the 90’s are now tarnished. It really is a shame.
“sure I tried steroids, but I didn’t inhale”
–Worked for a former president…
Honestly………the names on the list does not surprise me what so ever. However, cant make me believe that out of a possible 5100 players since 1984 only 86 names made it on the list i think that list should be more like 450 names. As I read down through the blogs from tonight/today I get a sense from everyone including you Curt that all everyone wants is to accept responsibility so we can move on. Isn’t that what we expect from life in general. I agree with dhughes that now some investigation needs to be looked into about what to do with the Spankmees WS run in the late 90’s. If MLB is willing to ***** next to Barry’s homerun record then there should be some added to chokemees players names and organization achievements. I am absolutely befuddled that the 2 yankees fans chimed in on the blog tonight and are still trying to run the SOX and theirs fans into the mud and of course like a true Yankees fan instead of takin any heat for their cheating team and turn it into ” it being bias” Why dont you 2 wake up and realize that the Red Sox organization and its players have ALWAYS played the game with dignity and respect for the game “you know the way it should be” instead of looking for the biggest hero from the season before, buying him, introducing him to the wonderful world of PHD’s and calling themselves champions like your beloved Yankees……………………
The problem starts with the owners, naming Bud Selig as commissioner. That office is supposed to protect the owners from themselves, as an impartial executive the commissioner could always justify his actions as “in the best interest of the game.” They are now reaping what they have sown, the Legends of the game have been sullied, the records are a joke,
and the players union can claim rightfully the accusations have met no burden of proof. For Selig to claim he wasn’t aware of steroids is to stretch the limits of common sense. It’s time for responsibility and consequences, starting with Bud’s resignation. Until that happens the farce continues.
I absolutely agree that this is a forgiving country for people who are honest about the conscious mistakes they have made in the past. When you think about “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” it does not mean “If you have never used steroids feel free to denigrate everyone who has”. What they did was wrong, but let’s give them a chance to see how they respond. We all make mistakes (large and small) and it would be a dark world without the grace of forgiveness. I’m not suggesting that we give everyone a free pass, obviously. But let’s all just slow down and see how this all plays out.
And one other note thank you Cano24 for saying what you did about the dirty players and maybe you are right that some past Red Sox players names should be on the list but Oritz got better as a hitter because he got out of Minnesota and got with a real hitting coach I mean really look at PAPI does he look juiced hes 6′4″ 230 lbs of out of shape is what he is .
I’m just disappointed your name wasn’t on there. Now I have to start over for tomorrow’s column, which means I’m going to miss the “Ripped Pants” episode on SpongeBob. Schilling, you screwed me again.
i understand yankee fans concern for an un-biased Mitchell investigation. But what people fail to realize they only people we can blame for this are the players. Since they refused to cooperate with the investigation the mitchell investigators were forced to take testimony from others tied to the organization. We have to blame certain players for failed judgements. If someone says take these you’ll play better, do you take them? These players are adults and need to realize right from wrong. They have failed as role models and certainly as men. So yankee fans don’t blame the investigation on poor judgement from a few players. Since 95′ nearly 3,500 players have played professional baseball. And some of those chose to succeed the wrong way. It is a shame who lost an oppurtunity to fulfill a lifes dream to play professional baseball ligitly because cheaters like clemens or pettite or tejada or any other player named.
If a yankee employee did the report what else could they have found? They asked hundreds of people about the situation if players were named they would have been put in the report. Wake up and realize the 99 and 00 world series is tainted!
Curt, You say that you have never witnessed anyone actually using steroids or HGH, but what about amphetamines? Using them would be considered cheating too Curt, right?
Boy oh boy there are a few real idiots showing up tonight. This is all a RED SOX conspiracy against the Yankees simply because George Mitchell is a director (uncompensated) with the RS. Let us ignore that the man is a former Attorney General, Judge, Senate Majority Leader and that he somehow figured out how to get the IRA and the Brits talking and secured peace in N. Ireland. Oh well.
Anyway, as a life long Sox fan who still enjoyed watching Rocket pitch as a Jay and a Yankee (albeit not against the sox,) I have to say that I am incredibly disappointed.
Remember those mediocre seasons in the mid ’90s as a Sox that had then GM Dan Duquette stating that Roger was done or on the decline? Remember how we vilified Duquette for allowing Roger to go, myself included? Looks like Duquette has a hell of a smile on his face tonight!
If you look at the period of Rockets steroid and HGH usage in the Mitchell report, it lines up pretty much with his miraculous consistency as a 20 game and Cy Young award winner with the Jays and the later the Yankees!
As for WHY all the Yankees in the report, open your eyes, its no conspiracy. I forget the name of the steroid / HGH provider that snitched on the Yankee and Mets players, however, this fellow lives in Long Island, used his mother who lives in the Bronx as a staging point, and had free access to both club houses. It stands to reason that their would be a preponderance of NY players named. This is not to say its any rosier in Boston, Cleveland or anywhere else.
I firmly believe that if they named 80 or so in this report that they happened to catch, that there are many many other larger fish out there that have not been caught to date.
Do you seriously think that of the 80 named, with only 5 - 10 premiere players and the rest virtual nobodies; that this is the entire pool of tainted players within the scope of the past 10 years? You’re awfully naive if you do.
The report reads like all the proof needed to ever prove the dumb jock theory of evolution. Can you imagine writing checks for this stuff? It’s like the stupid bank robber that makes a withdrawal from his own savings account just before holding up the bank!
Keep up the good work Curt!
Tom
hey flogbishop,
the yankees won those ws with great pitching,and a great team effort, you would think you would stop whining, about previous yankee ws, and be thankful that you have two under your belt now. why is it. that no matter what happens in the news, you have so many bad things to say about us?
get real dude,old news wouldn’t you think?you have a great team now.and it looks like for many years to come.so stop blaming,all you’re losing years on the yankees. if the redsox would have done business then, like there doing now, they maybe they would have more then”2″ ws in 86yrs……..best wishes
Just out of curiosity…how did that guy get to be in charge of the report? It aggravates me that non-Sox fans feel that because this guy is attached to the Red Sox, that there won’t be any important Sox players named.
The first thing I did was open the PDF file and start doing searches on names. I gave up and just searched for the Red Sox. I bet Duquette is laughing his butt off.
I know it’s not a good thing that so many people are involved in this but I thought it was going to be much worse. And for all those people that are screaming, “Where are the positive tests?” didn’t you read the report? The fantastic players’ association would fight the tests until the suspected violator’s system had been cleansed. How surprising it that?
Keep fighting the good fight, Curt. Can’t wait to see you on the mound again.
All,
Red Sox this!!…..Yankees that!!…….
First off, remember these organizations represent HUNDREDS of talented people from Single A right up to the Majors. Probably a very high percentage of these players in both teams are clean and are very proud to be in their respective organizations. We always lose sight of that.
Yes, it’s the greatest and historic rivalry in all of sports but let’s be adults here…..
(Heck, how about the 70% on the list that are on other teams — the non Sox/Yanks.)
So, let’s “talk” about the INDIVIDUALS and the mess they got themselves into.
I agree as others had noted here; this is just the BEGINNING.
Think about it. These “drug pushers” named names to get lighter sentences from the Feds. What if players on the list implicate more players?? Remember, BALCO and 2 other sources led to this investigation. Are there other suppliers we don’t know about?….
Steel-town.
you know i have to agree with a previous comment, this game is so important to our country and other countries around the world that no one player is above the game or should ever be above the game. It disturbs that some players feel they have to use steroids in order to compete in the game. Baseball is one of the only sports where a person of any size can compete. What are the honest players supposed to think, they are the ones that have been competing with cheaters. What other sports have players using steroids, maybe it is time to include basketball, football, hockey, and everything else. Remember it not whether you win or lose but how you play the game that is important. One more thing the Sox are going to win again in 2008.
Anyone who believes that a man of George Mitchell’s stature and level of accomplishment would use this report to enrich himself or his firm is a fool. He was one of the most widely respected voices in the Senate for many years. He conducted himself with the highest ethical standards and the earned the admiration of both Democrats and Republicans. History may judge his efforts to bring piece to Northern Ireland as being amongst the most important of the 20th century. And you think he’s going to risk his reputation by spinning a report on BASEBALL? Get a grip.
What I don’t like about this report is the fact that many players are named with no more evidence than word of individuals who were peddling the controlled substances and are looking to cut deals. I think that the release of this report will so compromise the players constitutional rights, that any further prosecution will be impossible and that MLB might find itself prohibited from exacting any in-house punishments.
While we sit and fret over what a few grown men have done, how many people will die in Darfur? What is happening right now to our brave men and women in uniform in Iraq and Afghanistan? How many more children will develop asthma (America’s fastest growing pediatric disease) because of all of the filth in the air? How will our government deal with the massive infrastructure failures that we are already beginning to witness? In the grand scheme of things, what importance does steroid use in baseball really have?
Baseball players, football players, race car drivers and many others have always looked for that extra “edge”. Anyone who knows baseball can quickly name a few famous, highly regarded pitchers whose careers were built on spitballs. Think corked bats. When an outfielder traps a ball, yet its called an out, do you expect him to stop the game, go to the umpire and tell him that the call was wrong? When I hear people whining about the kids in America who are using steroids because some baseball players do, I have to shake my head. Anyone of any age who is stupid enough to use steroids has no one but themselves to blame when they suffer the consequences. What concerns me more is that we are encouraging youngsters to deny responsibility for their conduct by pointing the finger of blame at someone else. That mentality creates moral cowards.
Perspective people.
What a SAD day for Baseball. Hey we all knew it, but just kind of let it float by. C’mon Curt! You had to know about Dykstra? And what about his “former midget buddy”….Micky Morandini???? Those were the days when I feel this stage of baseball took off! Wow, why couldn’t they all be like Tony Gwynn?
I just wish we (fans, players, media, etc) could all just go back to….THE GAME. But now you can’t. It’s all about the money! Just look at the NFL. What a league, huh? Yea they have it all, but how commercial is that league?? I used to love it, but now….turning off the lights at halftime during the half time show??? HOW AND WHY DID THAT NOT BE RIDICULED THE WAY IT SHOULD’VE. THEY WERE SITTING THERE WITH CANDLES ON??? Oh Costas get a life! OK I’m all over the place now.
But Baseball should and I think could just go back to basics. We have the best game. If someone cheats…THEY SHOULD BE G O N E . (period)
Curt…you have the platform to get us out of this sick commercialized sports world. For instance, why do people who don’t watch a single game all year…suddenly watch the Super Bowl? (oops…I didn’t Pay To Say it so….THE BIG GAME) It also sucks that kids can’t stay up to see a playoff game???? Start time??? $$$$
Sports are really losing there hold over hard working fans!
I have a few things. How does a guy that worked to get peace in Ireland become so “Dirty”. I was wondering how that is possible. It isn’t his or the Red Sox fault that NO Current Red Sox is on the list. It isn’t like the 400 lb. machine Mo Vaughn wasn’t on list. He was a Red Sox wasn’t he? I am sure. It sadens me that we can not just look at the list and say… WOW…it really is that bad?! It shouldn’t be about what players are on what team, because in a day of free agency, almost eveyone has been on a different teams and so on. It is so typical that Yankee fans would get on here and cry about how it is unfair. Lets see if there is a trail of evidence then they should follow it. Everyone that is a fan of baseball has some sort of attachment to someone on this list in one way or another. People that get on here and scream and yell about how they were wronged, NEED TO WAKE UP!!!! This is rediculus and confirms every reason why I can not stand to be in the presence of a self righteous Yankee fan. GO SOX!!!! Another day goes by to showing why we are the class of the league. And Yankee fans have a bad case of sour grapes!!!
Curt,
I think the Mitchell Report has generated the most fervent activity in bloggers in a long, long time. People who don’t ordinarily talk or think about baseball have something to say now because of this Mitchell Report. It’s pretty astounding. In less than eight hours, there were already hundreds of posts related to the Mitchell Report on WordPress *alone*. I have compiled fifty posts from around the blogosphere here - http://mlb2007playoffs.wordpress.com/2007/12/13/the-mitchell-report-thoughts-from-the-blogosphere/-
The question that remains is whether this kind of attention to baseball from fans (and the general public) is better than no attention at all. I am not sure. What do you think?
What about the players named that won awards year after year. How do you justify that?
The race between McGuire and Sosa was so exciting if I knew they were both juiced up I would of never watched.
Baseball is suppose to be a god given talent that not everyone could do. Wheres the pride in these players that grew up watching all the old greats that accomplished things on pure love of the game not on any drug.
I dont know, but, my boys are big fans of alot of different players throughout the MLB and I think its just a shame that I have to tell a 9 yr old and a 7 yr old about steroids and why everytime they see Barry Bonds on SportsCenter theres this little star next to his name.
P.S. If Clemens name is truly on the report he better not ever go to the Hall Of Fame as a Red Sox Theres enough of Yankees names on Mitchells report I heard so let him where that uniform rather than disgrace ours.
In hindsight this should’ve been obvious…but I still need to say it.
NOT LENNY DYKSTRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clemens has just got to come clean with the fans on this. He has no choice.
donmehan:
Marion Jones lied for years until she was basically forced to admit she did them.
hey Fartfignewton,
get you head out of pretty boy Theo’s a** long enough to see how being a GM and bringing in players that “have done” or are doing steriods is just as bad. It shows that he’s just as bad as the rest of the steriod USERS. He’s a fraud.
i dont think baseball shoulod take a hit nor should it be percieved as a tainted sport. as an american, i still believe in due process and facts beyond a reasonable doubt.( and no, my trainer told me his brother knows a guy that sold it to mlb players, is not factual….. however as a sox fan i feel that any yankees named in the report should recieve a lifetime ban. reguardless, if you let this report tarnish your view of the game then you arent a true fan of the game. so keep all your hateful comments to yourself and let the true fans enjoy the game that has served america for over 100 yrs.
When we were little kids, I remember being taught not to cheat and specifically the phrase “cheaters never prosper”. It took me nearly a half century to decide that was an incorrect statement. Cheaters do prosper, and if you get caught in sports you may lose people’s respect, but you often prosper. And most cheaters don’t care if they get respect anyway. It’d be nice, but money is far more important to them than respect. In college when you cheat on a test (and get caught), you get kicked out. If you cheat on taxes, and get caught, you go to jail. In baseball, if you cheat, you might get suspended for two weeks, but you are more likely to simply face authority that says “Hey stop cheating…ok…continue”. And who looks up to students or taxpayers anyway. So, hey kids…If pro athletes cheat, then well…let’s just say “green light”…go ahead. Though I must say, baseball ain’t alone. I remember in college football in the late 1970’s and early 80’s, steroids were hugely popular and widely taken. I never took them, though watched skinny guys in the spring, take them (and GH Hormone), and end up with NFL careers and money a year later. Did football get cleaner over the years?
So, why single out baseball? Because baseball was a pure sport of true athletes, a game of character, our pastime, America’s game. I think baseball was a sport some of us hoped would shine the light of true character, integrity, and teach us good things about life…and warm our souls. But now professional sports, especially baseball, are nothing more than a different version of professional (fake) wrestling. But baseball is worse than the WWF now, because you have cheaters and liars. The WWF is mostly just cheaters. The World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and baseball are not fun to watch when you know the truth…that it’s not real. Blur your eyes a bit when you watch it, like I do with the WWF, and pretend like it’s real. It makes it more fun.
Curt,
“Say it ain’t so . . .” Wishful thinking, yes . . . I think many of us were hopeful that some of the names to be listed would not be those that we or our kids look up to. It’s a lesson for them too that those very public sports figures are people who sometimes do the wrong thing in order to win, and it doesn’t make it right. There were names that I will admit to anticipating on the list and some that I didn’t want to see that were there. I appreciate your perspective and thank you for speaking up responsibly. You are right in that America is very forgiving. I pray that this will be a wake-up call for all sports and that those that play the game with the “Little League Spirit” will continue to succeed.
The thing that bothered me the most was the e-mails from the Red Sox F.O. inquiring whether some one was a JUICE GUY. It just shows that it is not just the Ball players fault, but all levels of MLB turning a blind eye to the problem. I hope my favorite sport is now on the road to recovery !!!!!
“Red Sox fans are so filled with anger it’s disgusting — so much that they live in denial. THE REPORT WAS DONE BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE RED SOX! Wake up!!! It is biased.” - some idiot above whose username I didn’t take down. Around post #40
Now why in the hell would someone with a team interest implicate two members of the 2007 Red Sox, one of whom is likely to come back on a minor league deal during his rehab, in addition to drawing attention to the fact that the Sox office was aware of their steroid use prior to and in the process of acquiring each? Obviously, he is biased towards the Red Sox, so he withheld that information. Oh wait…
You are contradicting yourself. Do you see why?
Thank you for this blog Mr. Schilling. This blog makes you accessible in a game where so few are.
About the Mitchell Report….I’m done reading that there was a conflict of interest. George Mitchell was asked by the commissioner of baseball to launch an investigation. The investigation was endorsed by all the managers of every team in baseball. If anyone inside the game took issue with Mr. Mitchell’s role as a member of the Red Sox organization, they had time to say so. The only people who seem to take issue with the report and the investigation are those who are fans of the named men. I don’t blame you. You should be angry. The people you invested time in are cheaters. You have a right to be angry. But as the saying goes….don’t shoot the messenger.
I agree wholeheartedly that people need to step up, take responsibility for their actions, and apologize to anyone who was affected by their actions. But even a stand-up guy, sorry or not, needs to suffer the consequences of those actions. When a player finally leavs the game, all he has is his numbers and his eputation. One of the great things about baseball is that in any good discussion of the numbers, we’ve always made allowances for differencs in the eras and have formed our opinions accordingly concerning the relative value of those numbers: “Yeah, well, Player X played before night baseball, didn’t have to compete against relief specialists/black players, played in a bandbox, etc.” This is just one more factor in that mix. If it keeps people out of Cooperstown, so be it. If they get in anyway, so be it. We’ll all come to our own conclusions about any given player’s place in history. Let’s move forward.
I feel very sad about the list of players that is being plastered all over the media. I have become a baseball fan in my middle years and am less interested in stats than in enjoying the stories of how the baseball players have struggled to achieve, and I spend my summers cheering the red sox on, sometimes even at Fenway. This has become an important way to bond with my 14 year old son .
As a psychologist,I understand the way that stress and pressure to achieve can contribute to making bad decisions. Fans who lack empathy for the players on the list would do better to examine themselves. How do they handle pressure in their lives? Are any of us above reproach.
Here I am getting ready to go to Red Sox Fantasy camp and this hits. Im going for the love of a game that Ive had since youth. I’ve always felt that baseball has gotten out of hand with the players ability versus $$$$. Of course now we come to see how they were able to hit the numbers. Its not about records its about the money. If these players listed and some that are not need steroids and stuff to be able to perform then I feel they were definately ripping off us the fans,the true lovers of the game and most of all people like you who appears to me to be in it for the game. As far as I’m concerned you have earned your spot in the light and I can respect peolpe like you for what you have given to us not the Clemens, Bonds…..they have given us heartache. The so called winners proved to be losers….I hope they are feeling real good about now.
As Chet Steadman and others have mentioned, Jose Canseco is going to make the rounds with a huge dose of “I told you so”. This reminds me of when Brian Bosworth released his book and was tarred and feathered and vilified in the Oklahoma press. Barry Switzer took down his picture from the Hall of Honor at OU. The book spilled the beans on the reality of the program at OU and little by little all the facts came out. When Canseco released his book he took a lot of heat, a lot of denials came out. Like Bosworth said in the paperback version of his book, a little ketchup goes good with the pages of the book.
“Look, if you ordered HGH or steroids, in your name, and there is documentation to prove that you did, please do us all a favor and admit you made a mistake and move on.”
How about players admitting mistakes without having it shoved down their throats first?
Hey Schill,
After hearing your conversation with D and C this morning, I wanted to ask whether you and/or other clean pitchers will consider drilling any of the named current players that you might face next season. I don’t mean to make this seem like a sophomoric tit for tat, but you were so fired up about what it may have meant for your and others’ career stats if you were all on a level playing field. I can’t put myself in a player’s shoes, but I don’t know if I’d be able to hold back against any of these guys.
Everybody is concerned with pointing fingers and defending their reputation. Selig, the players, and the fans at this point.
Mitchell said it in this report, in his opinion he didn’t think the players should be punished. He made this statement because i think he realized the problem was much more widespread then just his report.
Your opinion and statements are the most “real” ones i’ve seen from a player.
It was indeed a dark day for the sport. With Clemens and Pettite on the list it really makes me appreciate your style and class so much more. You could have turned to some substance to keep your velocity up and pitch the way you used to like those two, but instead you took the harder and natural way, reinventing your style. It was a lot more work but it was safe and healthy and has produced amazing results. I’m glad you are staying with the sox and I’m looking forward to watching you pitch.
brussell21,
You wrote something way off context to what Curt was saying. You quoted him:
“This is a pretty damn forgiving country. We are all about giving people second chances. The quicker anyone guilty is accountable the quicker we can all move on and hopefully make this thing go away, and fix what needs to be fixed.”
And then you wrote about Bonds, Sosa, etc. These people have not