Monday, February 07, 2005

(hey kids!) among the best testimonials ever for steroid use for the young athlete

From the NYT:
"[Baseball manager Tony] La Russa said [Jose] Canseco and [Mark] McGwire were 'not really close,' and he strongly disputed the idea that McGwire used steroids, let alone allowed Canseco to administer them.

'We detailed Mark's workout routine - six days a week, 12 months a year - and you could see his size and weight gain come through really hard work, a disciplined regimen and the proteins he took - all legal,' La Russa said.

'As opposed to the other guy, Jose, who would play around in the gym for 10 minutes, and all of a sudden he's bigger than anybody.'"

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Of course, McGwire hit 583 home runs and became one of the most beloved players in the history of the game. Canseco, on the other hand, racked up more felonies than homers and was widely despised by fellow players, team officials, fans, and the general public.

So maybe it's not such a cautionary tale after all.

jeremy said...

Canseco hit more than 450 home runs, I believe. I have no idea how many felonies he's committed.

Corrie said...

Oh my god! The THOUSANDS of sporty youngsters who read the New York Times everyday are all going to run out and use steroids even though, technically, the article only documents steroid effectiveness among adults. All those young lives ruined by another case of careless generalization beyond the study population.

jeremy said...

LaRussa's comments are being widely reported, I just used the NYT report out of my relentless desire to make this blog seem highbrow and its proprietor seem like a member of the cultural elite.

Anonymous said...

The highbrow commentary is what keeps me coming back to this blog. This business of steroids is a game unto a game, and a lucrative one at that. The 'pushers' develope new drugs that can't be detected and are not on the taboo list, then the enforcers detect them and ban them and the cycle begins anew, with lots of cash flowing both ways. What a racket. The end product is glorified in home runs and touchdowns and publicity and the users become rich and attain hero status, until busted. It appears the ends justify the means. It is noteworthy that we have a whole structure in place that combats 'drug use' with harsh sanctions in place, at least for some drugs, yet on the other end of the spectrum, the pushers and users for the most part simply fade away into whatever comfortable lifestyle they have developed for themselves, minus their hero status. Tsk tsk, no wonder so many kids take the gamble of getting a piece of the economic pie knowing they will never have a heroe's status to lose but money to gain.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
jeremy said...

I have just deleted the latest comment/news-update from "The Massabi Ranger", which involved some story about Dennis Rodman and bestiality. As indulgent as I may be about off-topic topics (e.g., the oeuvre of Mr. Donut Man), I do reserve the right to exert control over just how much weirdness will be allowed here.

Anonymous said...

Canseco hit 462 homers. He also struck out 1942 times, and it is well known that he never set foot inside a gym without being coerced. McGwire, on the other hand, was known to spend several hours every day lifting weights, and though he did use androstenedione, it was legal at the time.

Canseco is known to have beaten various wives/girlfriends and has been clocked driving over 120 miles per hour several times, including at least twice when he was drunk. McGwire has always been a model citizen. Canseco has been convicted several times on drunk and disorderly charges, as well as assault and drug possession charges, and is perhaps best known for having a home run bounce off his head and into the stands in a 1993 playoff game. McGwire is a loving husband and father who is probably best known for bringing fans back to Major League Baseball with his joyful and friendly competition with Sammy Sosa to set a new single-season home run record in 1998.

It's simple: Canseco is one of the biggest prima donnas ever to play baseball; McGwire is one of the fans' all-time favorites and will be a deserving Hall of Famer when he's elected in 2007.

Anonymous said...

I extend an apology for imposing on the tone and tenure of your Blog. Hopefully in the future I can generate some satire that would be appropriate for the topic at hand and the guidelines of your Blog, subject to your editorial discretion of course. Cordially, The Massabi Ranger

Anonymous said...

I was just wondering if JFW was going to have a crew in the mardi gras this year. That's all.

Anonymous said...

I was just wondering if JFW was going to have a crew in the mardi gras this year. That's all.

Anonymous said...

I was just wondering if JFW was going to have a crew in the mardi gras this year. That's all.

jeremy said...

Wow, Anon, you must really be wondering about this.

Anonymous said...

I didnt mean to repeat that 3 times it was some sort of glitch or is that a sign from the carnival spirits that you are entering a crew?