Brian Roberts admits to steroid use

[don_kessinger_was_good]

On NBC News.....admits he used steroids "once" in 2003 and "regrets it." Jason Grimsley fingered Roberts as telling him (Grimsley) that he used once or twice during 2003. Guess Grimsley's credibility looks pretty good right now.

[Banedon]

Wow...the media was all in an uproar about there not being any concrete evidence about Roberts, and how much of a victim he was. I'm glad some of these guys are starting to admit it though. Petitte, Vina, Roberts....that's the right way to deal with this, even though I don't buy your "oops" stories that go along with it.

[Tracer Bullet]

Wow...the media was all in an uproar about there not being any concrete evidence about Roberts, and how much of a victim he was. I'm glad some of these guys are starting to admit it though. Petitte, Vina, Roberts....that's the right way to deal with this, even though I don't buy your "oops" stories that go along with it.

 

I can't speak to Roberts since I haven't seen the story, but I don't think Pettitte gets any credit for his "admission."

[Iceblink]

Like Pettitte and Vina, this sounds a lot more like damage control than the truth.

[ZMovieman]

Wow...the media was all in an uproar about there not being any concrete evidence about Roberts, and how much of a victim he was. I'm glad some of these guys are starting to admit it though. Petitte, Vina, Roberts....that's the right way to deal with this, even though I don't buy your "oops" stories that go along with it.

 

I can't speak to Roberts since I haven't seen the story, but I don't think Pettitte gets any credit for his "admission."

 

Roberts' admission falls right in line with what Bigbie said Roberts did. I think, while it doesn't look good short term, long term these admissions are for the best. Sounds like Roberts took it, then regretted it. Who knows the truth, but he more than most certainly didn't have to come out with an admission.

[Banedon]

Wow...the media was all in an uproar about there not being any concrete evidence about Roberts, and how much of a victim he was. I'm glad some of these guys are starting to admit it though. Petitte, Vina, Roberts....that's the right way to deal with this, even though I don't buy your "oops" stories that go along with it.

 

I can't speak to Roberts since I haven't seen the story, but I don't think Pettitte gets any credit for his "admission."

 

He gets credit in my mind only so far as he didn't deny it. Same with Vina. Vina's story was so weak though that I didn't buy a word of it. He was trying to admit it while dodging responsibility for it the whole time.

[jersey cubs fan]

Wow...the media was all in an uproar about there not being any concrete evidence about Roberts, and how much of a victim he was. I'm glad some of these guys are starting to admit it though. Petitte, Vina, Roberts....that's the right way to deal with this, even though I don't buy your "oops" stories that go along with it.

 

I can't speak to Roberts since I haven't seen the story, but I don't think Pettitte gets any credit for his "admission."

 

He gets credit in my mind only so far as he didn't deny it. Same with Vina. Vina's story was so weak though that I didn't buy a word of it. He was trying to admit it while dodging responsibility for it the whole time.

 

I don't buy any of the "it was just for rehab" stories. And frankly, I don't buy Roberts "only once" story. Maybe one cycle, but I doubt he went through the trouble of getting an injection, and then stopped right there. It's an "I didn't inhale" excuse.

 

Although I really don't blame any of these guys for not being 100% truthful about it. It's got to be embarrassing.

[Soul]

I don't buy any of these stories.

 

These players all sound like the guy who cheated with another woman. "It was only that one time, and it didn't mean anything......honest!" Suuuure.

 

As far as I'm concerned, they all did it multiple times, and all of them did it to gain a competitive advantage. This parsing of details based on what Mitchell was able to find out/didn't find out just won't fly. At least not with me.

[YearofDaCubs]

Wow...the media was all in an uproar about there not being any concrete evidence about Roberts, and how much of a victim he was. I'm glad some of these guys are starting to admit it though. Petitte, Vina, Roberts....that's the right way to deal with this, even though I don't buy your "oops" stories that go along with it.

 

I can't speak to Roberts since I haven't seen the story, but I don't think Pettitte gets any credit for his "admission."

 

He gets credit in my mind only so far as he didn't deny it. Same with Vina. Vina's story was so weak though that I didn't buy a word of it. He was trying to admit it while dodging responsibility for it the whole time.

 

I don't buy any of the "it was just for rehab" stories. And frankly, I don't buy Roberts "only once" story. Maybe one cycle, but I doubt he went through the trouble of getting an injection, and then stopped right there. It's an "I didn't inhale" excuse.

 

Although I really don't blame any of these guys for not being 100% truthful about it. It's got to be embarrassing.

Agreed. No way you only take one shot and that's it. He probably did a minimum of one cycle. He probably saw his balls shrink and decided enough is enough :)

[Wolfgangbucks]

Speaking of small testicles it at least takes more courage to admit anything at all than it does to have your lawyer make a denial for you.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

Well if he is sorry, that is fine by me..you know what is says in the Bible about not forgiving people....

[Wheelimus]

For some reason I kind of believe him. You'd think the only people who'd be speaking up would be those who are confident there are no more shoes to drop. Such as Roberts, he'll be a free agent in a couple of years at age 32 or so. If he gets caught up in the next steroid name list that would probably just about kill his career. At the least force him to take small "make good" contracts.

 

I just don't see the logic in not coming 100% clean now because you know more shoes will drop. Congress will probably get involved with actual subpoena power and more names will come out. While I certainly don't put it past anyone to lie in an admission (they were dumb enough to write checks for illegal drugs...) it would seem that would take a special kind of stupid.

[jersey cubs fan]

For some reason I kind of believe him. You'd think the only people who'd be speaking up would be those who are confident there are no more shoes to drop. Such as Roberts, he'll be a free agent in a couple of years at age 32 or so. If he gets caught up in the next steroid name list that would probably just about kill his career. At the least force him to take small "make good" contracts.

 

I just don't see the logic in not coming 100% clean now because you know more shoes will drop. Congress will probably get involved with actual subpoena power and more names will come out. While I certainly don't put it past anyone to lie in an admission (they were dumb enough to write checks for illegal drugs...) it would seem that would take a special kind of stupid.

 

I don't know. I just don't see it escalating much further from here as far as lists and whatnot. Congress acted as a way to twist some arms and get baseball to police itself. That has happened.

[The Voice of Reason]

Based on previous statements, color me skeptical

 

http://

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-te.sp.roberts18dec18,0,163568.story

 

The Mitchell Report is the second time that Roberts has been implicated in baseball's steroid scandal. The Los Angeles Times reported in September 2006 that former Orioles reliever Jason Grimsley named Roberts, along with outfielder Jay Gibbons and former Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada, in a federal affidavit as steroid users.

 

At the time, Roberts said: "We've had steroid testing, and I've taken all the tests."

 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bal-sp.maese18dec18,0,6655864.column

 

"His accusations are ridiculous," Roberts said in September 2006, when the Los Angeles Times reported that former teammate Jason Grimsley had named Roberts as a user. "We've had steroid testing, and I've taken all the tests. There is no point in getting into verbal wars. That's really all there is to say."

 

Like Roberts, the two other Orioles accused that day also saw their names resurface in last week's Mitchell Report.

 

"I'll get checked out for anybody, anytime, any moment - whenever they want," Miguel Tejada, the recently traded shortstop, said at the time.

 

"I am not going to dignify these claims and accusations with any further response," said the recently suspended Jay Gibbons.

Edited December 18, 2007 by The Voice of Reason

[Yanksfan1523]

The truth will never be known. I agree with the philosophy that you admit to a "minor" lapse in judgment and move on. Details will always be vague at best. Giambi is not trusted or clean, but he is far more accepted than Bonds.

[Tracer Bullet]

Well if he is sorry, that is fine by me..you know what is says in the Bible about not forgiving people....

 

I don't care if they're sorry. I don't think they're looking for my forgiveness.

[CuseCubFan69]

"I'll get checked out for anybody, anytime, any moment - whenever they want," Miguel Tejada, the recently traded shortstop, said at the time.

 

Isn't that exactly what Sosa said and Rick Reilly called him on it?

[SouthSideRyan]

"I'll get checked out for anybody, anytime, any moment - whenever they want," Miguel Tejada, the recently traded shortstop, said at the time.

 

Isn't that exactly what Sosa said and Rick Reilly called him on it?

 

Rick Reily's an ass and for Sosa to pee in a cup would have killed the player's union.

 

Of all the misplaced anger at Sosa over stupid issues, the "he didn't pee in a cup when prompted to by a douchebag guy pretending to be a journalist" might be my most hated.

[CuseCubFan69]

"I'll get checked out for anybody, anytime, any moment - whenever they want," Miguel Tejada, the recently traded shortstop, said at the time.

 

Isn't that exactly what Sosa said and Rick Reilly called him on it?

 

Rick Reily's an ass and for Sosa to pee in a cup would have killed the player's union.

 

Of all the misplaced anger at Sosa over stupid issues, the "he didn't pee in a cup when prompted to by a douchebag guy pretending to be a journalist" might be my most hated.

 

I've never been a Reilly fan but Sosa did say the same thing as Tejada did. I agree, no way in earth could Sammy have done that without getting beat up by the Union.

[Roast]

I have nothing to add except Vina has always been my least favorite player of all time and the evil side of me was ecstatic when I saw he was listed.

[TruffleShuffle]

point and laugh at all the morons on tv who were bashing the mitchell report for having all sorts of second-hand "irresponsible" accusations.

 

if anyone was really slandered by this, they'd find plenty of teammates to say swear that they were clean, and they'd probably file some sort of slander lawsuit. but oh look, nobody has done it or will do it, because everyone in that report used steroids.

 

sorry, but i'm not about to feel bad for people who at the very least did something completely unethical, and might have broken the law. you took steroids, now everyone knows it. deal with that.

[The Voice of Reason]

point and laugh at all the morons on tv who were bashing the mitchell report for having all sorts of second-hand "irresponsible" accusations.

 

if anyone was really slandered by this, they'd find plenty of teammates to say swear that they were clean, and they'd probably file some sort of slander lawsuit. but oh look, nobody has done it or will do it, because everyone in that report used steroids.

 

sorry, but i'm not about to feel bad for people who at the very least did something completely unethical, and might have broken the law. you took steroids, now everyone knows it. deal with that.

 

 

=D>

[haltz]

I don't buy any of the "it was just for rehab" stories.

Not even with HGH? Seems to me like that's how the snake oil salesmen got these dudes to buy it.

 

As far as Roberts and this "one time" stuff, I'd like to believe it too, but it's just too obvious an explanation. I think he comes off looking better than he did before in some ways. "I tried it once, I'm a scrappy white guy, but I knew it was wrong and now I'm being honest by admitting something that doesn't make me look all that bad, after the Mitchell Report came out."

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't buy any of the "it was just for rehab" stories.

Not even with HGH? Seems to me like that's how the snake oil salesmen got these dudes to buy it.

 

The stock answer has been, "I used HGH once or twice for rehab purposes only, and never used steroids for performance purposes."

 

I don't buy it. Sure, they were probably sold on the rehab benefits of the stuff, but these aren't just a bunch of innocent country bumpkins being misled by those snake oil salesmen.

 

Although now I was just reminded of the most asinine defense of these guys by a couple stooges on espn radio last night. Michael Kay was the voice of reason more or less saying what truffleshuffle said above, but a couple ex-jocks on the broadcast were throwing out strawman after strawman to try and discredit the story. One guy, said, "What's the difference between this report and me saying Michael Kay is a heroin addict?" And they said these freaks of nature can't be users because Ironhead Heyward could lift 400 lbs without ever going to gym and exercising.

[haltz]

The stock answer has been, "I used HGH once or twice for rehab purposes only, and never used steroids for performance purposes."

 

I don't buy it. Sure, they were probably sold on the rehab benefits of the stuff, but these aren't just a bunch of innocent country bumpkins being misled by those snake oil salesmen.

I'm not saying they're innocent. Disregarding the stupid one-time arguments, I'm making a distinction between HGH and steroids and why players take them. Taking HGH because someone mentioned that it helps you recover from injuries seems to be the prevailing sentiment from players.

 

This falls in line with some stuff that we already know about how the drug is marketed to adults. The only other reason players take it seems to be because it's undetectable by MLB's testing, so why not? Just like people take steroids for the same reasons, and/or because they think it makes them hit homers or is a shortcut in their workout routine, I can buy that plenty of athletes take HGH because they think it will help them heal.

 

Players who use human growth hormone apparently believe that it assists in their ability to recover from injuries and fatigue during the long baseball season; this also is a major reason why players used steroids. - p 10, Mitchell Report