Baseball Musings: History of Lies

December 07, 2007

History of Lies

Rick Maese chronicles Jay Gibbons lies about PEDs over time, and concludes with this:

Perhaps the reaction would have been different if he were among the first busted offenders, but as it is - Gibbons is one of eight players connected to the Orioles to be tied to performance-enhancing drugs - what feels especially repulsive today is his parallel career of lying.
Gibbons walked around the clubhouse with a body that was supposed to be chiseled in the gym, not over the counter. The steroid witch hunt unfairly chased after the game's bulky gym rats, Gibbons said, and he promised us time and time again that his statuesque physique was solely the product of an incredible work ethic.

We wanted to believe him, mostly, I suppose, because Gibbons seems like a decent guy. He was the clubhouse union rep. He attended chapel before Sunday games. He rode an inspiring underdog story into the starting lineup, and both he and his wife constantly gave back to the community. He treated reporters, teammates and fans with respect and appreciation.

Which is exactly why the lying and the hypocrisy are so damaging.

Gibbons was one of the good guys, and if the good guys are cheating and able to look us in the eye and lie, what does that really say about the game? And its athletes?

Posted by David Pinto at 08:21 AM | Cheating | TrackBack (0)

Comments

This writer doesn't understand how steroids work, as show by "a body that was supposed to be chiseled in the gym, not over the counter." If you take steroids and don't work out, you don't magically gain muscles. Steroids let you work out more, because they help the muscles heal quicker from the damage inflicted by exercise.

Posted by: Steve H at December 7, 2007 08:34 AM

Isn't that splitting hairs? I understand his point, despite this turn of phrase.

Posted by: Jersey at December 7, 2007 09:09 AM

I agree, it is splitting hairs. Without putting words in his mouth, I feel like Gibbons has held the position for years that "I got this way by working harder and longer than most others, and I resent the fact that you'd attribute it to steroids."

Well, the fact of the matter is, it appears that it is at least partially due to steroids. Certainly there's some work involved, even with assistance. If I started shooting up today I wouldn't look like Jay Gibbons tomorrow. But it would be easier for me to get there in time than it would be if I were clean.

Posted by: KL Snow at December 7, 2007 09:45 AM

Oops...I saw the headline, and assumed the article was about Barry Bonds!

Posted by: ANdy at December 7, 2007 10:21 AM

This article strikes me as mellow-dramatic. If it had been written by Mike Lupica I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference. I doubt there are as many O's fans who are as devestated as Mr. Maese by Gibbons taking PED's.

Posted by: crg at December 7, 2007 11:39 AM

My give a damn meter must be broke because it's registering nothing.

Posted by: Jason at December 7, 2007 02:11 PM

Let me answer the question at the end of the quote.

"If the good guys are cheating and able to llk us in the eye and lie, what does that really say about the game? And it's athletes?"

The answer is absolutely nothing. The character of baseball players or athletes in any sport is no different then the character of the rest of us including the almighty and self serving media. To the players the use of steroids during the last 20+ years has not been considered cheating it has been considered competing. For most of the last 20+ years very few others involved in baseball including management, ownership, media, and we the fans cared either.

Just because it has now become a witch hunt driven by the almighty and self serving media does not mean the players find it easy to immediately go aboutface and in their hearts and consider this cheating too. The players are just like the rest of us. When the winds of public opinion start blowing in a new direction they find it hard to immediately adapt and change their behavior and instead try and keep their behavior private or lie if you will. Most of us if we are honest with ourselves would do the exact same thing in the exact same circumstances. Denying this fact of our own human nature is actually the bigger and more damaging lie.

Posted by: giantsrainman at December 7, 2007 02:14 PM

IMHO, Amphetamines (greenies, dexadrine, speed) would have more of an affect on performance than HGH or something like that. A drug that limits your appetite, raises your focus, increases your energy levels, and makes you motivated is much more useful than plain power. Because of the pure simplicity in getting this stuff, I don't doubt any stories of greenie abuse in the game. Uppers have been around the game since before the 2nd world war, if not earlier.

Posted by: Andrew at December 7, 2007 03:42 PM

If anyone thinks Jay Gibbons is really a good guy remember that he was the one who, after O's barely known pitcher died in spring training of substance abuse, removed the poor victim's stash of substance from the clubhouse and dumped it.

Posted by: Bob S at December 8, 2007 02:51 PM

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