Doug Glanville On A-Rod

Many of us have read former Cub Glanville's columns in the New York Times. Today, Glanville weighs in on the A-Rod situation from a unique perspective: he was a teammate of A-Rod's on the Rangers in the very year of the positive steroid test: 2003. Glanville writes:

"We should step back and think about what we really want to gain from this situation. While I was playing professionally, it was disturbing to watch players cut corners through chemical means to get to that next contract. But I don’t see the good in selling our souls while claiming we want to chase the devil from our midst.

I hope we learn how to keep our word. If the tested players had known up front that the results were going to be made public (or that there was even a chance that they might be), not a single one would have agreed to cooperate, and it has very little to do with hiding anything. It has everything to do with privacy. Being A-Rod should not change that fact."

over 3 years ago Al Yellon 70 comments 0 recs |

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Hogwash

This is a problem of credibility brought on by the players, the union and Bud Selig. All three entities have refused to tackle this issue head-on and have been extraordinarily dismissive of the fans who support this game. It is time for the list of all 104 players to come out. As well as any and all other smoking guns. And it is also time that the U.S. Congress and court system vigorously go after the people who have commited crimes and have perpetuated this fraud on the baseball public.

Bud Selig should be impeached from office for his continuing lying and backpedaling on this subject. Donald Fehr should be called on the carpet by Congress. And the guilty players should have their names exposed for all the public to see.

by BLou on Feb 10, 2009 10:21 AM CST reply actions

In other words, the ends justify the means?

Because that’s essentially what you’re saying. It’s ok to go back on your word for the “greater good”.

Seems like a pretty slippery slope to me.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 10, 2009 10:23 AM CST up reply actions

Further...

…. many of those 104 players may no longer be active players. What would be the point of outing them? Clearly, A-Rod suffers from being the only one on the list outed.

There is no doubt some action must be taken now. What that action is, is still not certain.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 10, 2009 10:28 AM CST up reply actions

Because they benefitted from cheating

When you do something like steroids, you must accept the consequences that one day you may be caught. They made money on contracts gained through shady means.

by dr stabbingworth on Feb 10, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

So two wrongs make a right, then?

The issue isn’t whether the game needs to be cleaned up, the issue is making a commitment of anonymity and then crapping on said agreement.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 10, 2009 11:27 AM CST up reply actions

The owners benefitted from cheating as well

That’s something you don’t get, Dr. Stabbingworth.

Attendance went up thanks to homers. So, the idea that only players made money is laughable.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Feb 10, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions

As did Gaylord Perry

or any other pitcher who threw a spitball. As did anyone of thousands of players who used greenies. As does any player who takes advantage of a bad call by an umpire.

Cheating is and always has been a part of the game and the sudden outrage over it by the “righteous” is more than I can take. Where were the reporters who stood in the clubhouse when all this “cheating” was going on right in front of their eyes? Why are they so outraged now? Why is no one outraged that what was promised to be anonymous testing wasn’t? Apparently lying is less a sin than “cheating” to the holier than thou crew.

Worried about it being illegal? Shall we persecute the players who smoked pot and dropped acid back in the ‘60s and ’70s? Shall we remove Doc Ellis’s no hitter because he was on acid when he threw it? Shall we remove Babe Ruth’s records because he used an illegal substance when he hit all those home runs?

I’ve always felt that this was much to do about nothing. It was an era, it is over, time to get over it and stop the whining.

Baseball is too much of a sport to be a business and too much of a business to be a sport.
William Wrigley Jr

by bubbamike the one and only on Feb 10, 2009 12:00 PM CST up reply actions

+1000000000000000000000000000000000

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Feb 10, 2009 12:01 PM CST up reply actions

The key

for me is Doug’s statement “but what really surprises me is the lack of outrage about how a confidential and anonymous test could be made public.”

I can’t agree more. Enough voyeurism.

by leothelip on Feb 10, 2009 1:18 PM CST up reply actions

Received

That lack of outrage has been overwhelmed by the publics shock / anger / criticism of A-Rod. Perhaps what we’re seeing here is the public’s apathy or better yet jaded attitude about federal law enforcement. No one can trust anyone w/in law enforcement to maintain any type of morality and/or ethics.

If more than one person knows a secret, it ain't a secret.

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 10, 2009 1:20 PM CST up reply actions

The difference

To me there is a difference in throwing a spitter or even corking a bat and illegally obtaining a substance that has had a devestating effect on a portion of the youth of our nation. I think the age of greenies was unfortunate but I don’t think baseball had a large role in furthering the usage. To that end, I don’t think Babe Ruth was drinking so he could hit the ball farther.

I doubt many players used steroids in front of reporters as well. It may have happened occassionally but not often.

I do agree that the anonymity should’ve been protected. This story really damages the ability of the league to deal with the players on future embaressing but necessary investigations.

"I'm petrified of nipple chafing. Once it starts, it's a vicious circle." Andy Bernard

by TXCub on Feb 10, 2009 1:21 PM CST up reply actions

Follow your direction, and you thwart future negotiating on testing advances...

They only agreed to the testing because it was anonymous. That testing led to further testing policy. The fact that the anonymity has been shattered isn’t going to help future negotiations. If you expose everything, it’s doubtful the union will agree to any further progress for a long long time.

I dislike steroids as much as the next guy. And I can’t stand Fehr or Selig. I’d love to see the game played PED-free. But the reality is that the Union is in place, and thus politics are always going to be involved. You have to make concessions to make progress, and going back on your word is not going to help with progress.

The world is not black and white. It’s lot more complicated than that.

by SouthernCub on Feb 10, 2009 11:03 AM CST up reply actions

Disagree

The court of public opinion is now such that vigorous and increased testing shall become the reality of professional sports in this country. The players and their union no longer have a defensive leg to stand on.

by BLou on Feb 10, 2009 11:14 AM CST up reply actions

I think what SC is saying is that the testing wouldn't be where it was without sticking to agreements

And it certainly wouldn’t build up any goodwill for the next CBA negotiations.

I have to agree.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 10, 2009 11:17 AM CST up reply actions

I have to disagree also on the point you raise

I think the tide has turned in this country to the point where the American sports loving public has had it up to here with prima donna ballplayers commanding insane salaries and getting away with a lot of unpunished bad behavior.

This current economic crisis our country will, in my opinion, be the event that turns the tide. Baseball owners are scared silly right now that the money gravy train is coming to and end, hence why they are holding the line on salaries.

Call me goofy, but I think we are on the verge of seismic changes that are going to have impact on major league baseball. And the NFL.

by BLou on Feb 10, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

OK, you're crazy

Fans want to see winners. If anything, you’ll see winners get away with MORE, because teams will be scared to death to let them go and ruin their box office.

If, for some ungodly reason, the Royals start strong and have a winning record in April and May, they will be able to murder puppies in center field and still draw a salary.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Feb 10, 2009 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

Wow. Just had a Michael Vick moment.

If more than one person knows a secret, it ain't a secret.

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 10, 2009 1:11 PM CST up reply actions

So do we do the same for the witness protection program, then?

Get people to testify, then toss them away, too?

How long do you think that would last as an effective way to get testimony?

The point that Glanville is making is, if I promise not to reveal something you tell me, and then I do it, anyway, how does that give me moral ground to stand on?

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 10, 2009 11:28 AM CST up reply actions

The court of public opinion?

Maybe the court of message boards.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Feb 10, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

The court of opinion is irrelevant...

the Union and Owners negotiate these things outside of the court of public opinion. The first step HAD to be definitive but anonymous evidence of a problem. Rumors and speculation weren’t going to get it done.

And regardless of those facts, what value does the court of public opinion have? Clearly it wasn’t hurting revenues for baseball. Fans were flocking in record numbers. Sure, we’d love to have a clean sport. But the fans have made it pretty clear that they’re willing to pay to watch the game, even if the game is being played by juicers.

by SouthernCub on Feb 11, 2009 12:59 PM CST up reply actions

+104

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 10, 2009 11:09 AM CST up reply actions

+1

If more than one person knows a secret, it ain't a secret.

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 10, 2009 1:09 PM CST up reply actions

+1

For once I agree with your fervor. However, Congress has overlooked so many other things of greater importance, I doubt they will waste their time on fixing something as corrupt as baseball.

by dr stabbingworth on Feb 10, 2009 11:18 AM CST up reply actions

IMO

This was the final straw for me. Records and stats no longer hold any meaning / relevance for me whatsoever. I want my team to win. That’s what I’m going to attend the game or watch the game on t.v. for: The team win. Records and stats me damned.

If more than one person knows a secret, it ain't a secret.

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 10, 2009 1:09 PM CST up reply actions

You know who else is dismissive of fans who support the game?

The fans who continue to support the game!

Until attendance drops, television ratings plummet and souvenirs are left unpurchased, I refuse to believe fans are really ticked off about this. At least not to the point where they will do anything except whine about it.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Feb 10, 2009 10:38 AM CST reply actions

A-Rod will be a good test case

It’ll be interesting to see how his merchandise sales do this year. I don’t think fans need to stay away to show that they’re ticked about steroids in baseball.

In this time of economic crisis, I think some fans will not be able to go to games anyway. Those who can go will look at baseball (or football or any other sport) as a pleasant diversion in the midst of a depressing time.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Feb 10, 2009 10:46 AM CST up reply actions

Fine, just be ticked

But continue to pay for tickets, support the advertisers through watching, etc…

That’ll show them!

Fans LIKE homers. Fans LIKE strikeouts. Fans LIKE cheering for a reliever who is gutting his way through his fourth appearance in four games.

Most fans really couldn’t care less how they get there. That’s been the lesson of this. Purists care. People who care about numbers care.

The rest of us. Not so much.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Feb 10, 2009 10:48 AM CST up reply actions

You might not care

but I happen to enjoy the game of baseball. At its core, its still the game I grew up playing – I still recognize that game.

It’s not about the numbers – it’s about being on a team, enjoying the summer, sitting in a seat with friends and having a beer. Why would I deny myself that fun?

Fans care – and they have a right to be upset. But just like a parent who doesn’t give up on a child because they misbehave, so too will people not give up on baseball.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Feb 10, 2009 10:57 AM CST up reply actions

Don't deny yourself the fun

I sure don’t.

But at some point, the only way to really express anger is through your purchasing habits.

I would bet that no owner wants to say this publicly, but PEDs WERE good for baseball.

A) They produced power hitters and pitchers
B) They allowed fan favorites to play in more games and have longer careers
C) Greenies produced better, more alert baseball
D) Records being broken may offend purists, but a lot of fans come out to see records being broken

The only way this changes is if one of three things happen:

A) Congress shuts the sport down — Not happening
B) Players start dropping dead of heart attacks while active — Do we really want that and anyway, it hasn’t stopped pro wrestling
C) Fans stop throwing their money at owners

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Feb 10, 2009 11:05 AM CST up reply actions

I'd agree.

Money does talk. But does it make one hypocritical for them to be disappointed and angry yet still go to a game or purchase a hat?

I think fans’ outrage, with some pressure from Congress, got baseball to this point in testing. The testing continues to become more stringent and better as the public applies pressure, which is good.

The owners must be worried enough about losing fans (and the players about losing money should attendance drop) to have come to an agreement on testing.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Feb 10, 2009 11:09 AM CST up reply actions

Look, I think it does

At some point, you have to make a personal choice.

I was a huge wrestling fan in the 80s. Went to live shows. Ordered pay per views. Rented the tapes and DVDs of shows I didn’t get. Kept up with it through the 90s.

It was about the time we lost Curt Henning that I said, “Enough”

Maybe it’ll take McGwire or Sosa dying at 50 for us to get it. I don’t know. Until then, we’re all part of the same hypocrisy.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Feb 10, 2009 11:18 AM CST up reply actions

That's fine. That's your opinion.

I happen to disagree, but that’s alright. I don’t have a problem with people feeling hurt, but still supporting a team – I can understand that.

Joe Radio Show Caller who bashes A-Rod, but then wears his #13 Yankees jersey to the game, I’d say is a hypocrite.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Feb 10, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions

You have FUN

Doing something other than ripping people. I would never know that.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Feb 10, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions

My hobbies are VERY diverse

but my true love is ripping people.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Feb 10, 2009 11:38 AM CST up reply actions

there is a line

between good jabs, and being a jacka$$ with all due respect

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 10, 2009 11:42 AM CST up reply actions

I'm sure there is

Fortunately for me, I dont care

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Feb 10, 2009 11:44 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I thought you were the gentler Klingon . . .

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 10, 2009 11:47 AM CST up reply actions

Wow Worf.

For the most part, I agree w/what you have to say (w/regards to baseball, economics etc.), but why on earth would you want to antagonize the people in the room purposely? That would seem to warrant a warning or being banned in the future no?

If more than one person knows a secret, it ain't a secret.

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 10, 2009 1:17 PM CST up reply actions

Which is basically what Worf just said...

People like baseball, regardless of whether there’s cheating going on. Unless the fans stop going to games, there’s little incentive in place for the players or the owners to really try to abolish the cheating. And as you note, the fans aren’t going to do that.

So as long as the fans are still coming to games and paying ridiculous prices for tickets, do the owners and players REALLY have a problem to worry about?

by SouthernCub on Feb 10, 2009 11:05 AM CST up reply actions

They must have some concern

if testing was even agreed upon in the beginning.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Feb 10, 2009 11:11 AM CST up reply actions

That came more from Congress...

If Congress ever bails on this, testing will disappear.

Do you REALLY think the NFL has a handle on cheating? And that hasn’t stopped popularity.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Feb 10, 2009 11:19 AM CST up reply actions

I don't think testing will disappear

because if it does, then I think you’ll see the fans walk away. Congress did get involved because it’s easy for Congressmen to go back to their constituents and say they’re doing something about it (it’s far easier to tell baseball to police itself than to pass legislation, after all).

As for football, that’s a completely different argument, one that could go in a variety of directions based on sociology, media coverage, etc.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Feb 10, 2009 11:27 AM CST up reply actions

How romantic and what utter bosh.

It was all about winning and that’s why you didn’t want the fat kid on your team or the little kid who couldn’t hit. Don’t give me all the la te da when it has always been about numbers. That’s why people here get so upset over the smallest thing, say Theriot’s slugging.;-)

Baseball is too much of a sport to be a business and too much of a business to be a sport.
William Wrigley Jr

by bubbamike the one and only on Feb 10, 2009 12:06 PM CST up reply actions

To some, maybe, but that's how I feel.

Baseball is about more than numbers to me.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Feb 10, 2009 12:13 PM CST up reply actions

Arod

If I were Arod once I knew this story was going to come out on Saturday I would have done a PC on Friday evening coming clean saying “I have found out it will be leaked that I had a positive steroid test back in 03” would have cut this reporter off at the knees. I would have gone to a competitor like Fox Sports.

Barbara V. October 14, 1941 - December 19, 2008. A great lady who was a friend to all and like a second mom to her children's friends (she was my best friend's mom)

by puckishcubsfan on Feb 10, 2009 10:42 AM CST reply actions

The thing I find odd

is that Rodriguez says he first found out that he tested positive when Sports Illustrated came to his gym a few days ago. But, he came back from a trip out of the country to give the interview to Peter Gammons.

So, was his plan to get out of the USA for a while and lay low, before the story blew up and his crisis managers shuttled him back to fix the mess?

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Feb 10, 2009 10:48 AM CST up reply actions

Or maybe he had a planned vacation that happened to coincide...

with the story breaking. Who knows?

by SouthernCub on Feb 10, 2009 10:57 AM CST up reply actions

I know.

The skeptic in me wonders about this, that’s all.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Feb 10, 2009 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

+1

what is true anymore?

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 10, 2009 11:09 AM CST up reply actions

Nothin.

Don’t be surprised to hear that Pujols and/or Teixeira are juiced. Everyone is guilty till proven otherwise. That is what sport(s) has come to.

If more than one person knows a secret, it ain't a secret.

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 10, 2009 1:18 PM CST up reply actions

There is no doubt more action needs to be taken

But I agree with Glanville that breaking a promise isn’t the appropriate action.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 10, 2009 10:48 AM CST reply actions

Badger is right

Look, for better or worse, the union isn’t going anywhere. The idea that you can just ramrod lifetime bans for first offenses is laughable. And frankly, the stomach amongst the American public for Congress to continue staying involved in this in light of the economy is, I suspect, waning.

The system needs help, but it will not be helped by breaking what little trust remains among the union and the players. The smartest thing Selig can do right now is let Fehr and Orza twist in the wind. At worst, their position is weakened among the players. At best, the players force one of them out (Orza seems to me to be in a VERY shaky spot)

The worst thing Selig can do is overreact to this.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Feb 10, 2009 10:55 AM CST up reply actions

Over-reacting is Selig's forte, though

See: ASG, circa 2002

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 10, 2009 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

But it was the union who failed to destroy the records

and so I assume it was the union where the leaks started.

by TC Cubby on Feb 10, 2009 11:15 AM CST up reply actions

Now that's a fun topic...

Maybe one worthy of its own thread.

The leaks obviously came from someone who either had it in for A-Rod, or stood to benefit from the heat going to him. SI tells us they had four sources.

We know that A-Rod is in the middle of a nasty divorce, so it could have been his estranged wife or someone on her side of the family.

Joe Torre could have dropped a dime to SI, since he has a working relationship with Verducci.

Barry Bonds’ people have all kinds of motivation to put more heat on A-Rod, both short-term (helps his current case) and long-term (helps his legacy if everyone was doing it)

Prosecutors upset with the way the Bonds case is going could be wanting to keep steroids from fading away in the public eye, which could mean there will be a slow drip of players released.

Some clerk looking to be important could have said something to someone and it made it to SI.

My guess is that the union would NOT have wanted to see this leaked. Maybe a fellow player, but not a union official.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Feb 10, 2009 11:26 AM CST up reply actions

Sidenote prediction

Put this down in ink right now. Alex Rodriquez will win the American League MVP in 2009. I think A-Roid is going to turn into an offensive monster like none other in 2009 in order to reduce the crushing weight of public opinion. And the 2009 New York Yankees shall be the benefactor. As if they already weren’t loaded enough to go after their 27 World Series victory trophy.

by BLou on Feb 10, 2009 11:16 AM CST reply actions

He seems to wilt under pressure

I could see him turning in his worst season yet. In either case, it will most likely be a turning point for his career. And if he tanks, I will be laughing at the Yankees and their $30 million/year contract.

by dr stabbingworth on Feb 10, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions

If A-Rod used 2001-2003

but was not aware of the results, why did he “suddenly” quit at that point? he has not answered that question, right? And if he was using during that time, he KNEW the results without even taking the test.

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 10, 2009 11:32 AM CST reply actions

why he quit

One was left to assume that he quit after they started testing for steroids in 2004.

by Acapulco Taco Pie on Feb 11, 2009 5:21 PM CST up reply actions

exactly, assume he quit only because he was forced to

not by his own choice, just because it was the right thing to do (stop using)

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 11, 2009 8:40 PM CST up reply actions

The Juiced Rod

He lied and cheated to make money… Though he came out to admit it, he’s still not being 100% honest. He’s sorry that he got caught, not that he did them. He realizes after watching this mess with Bonds, Clemens, and Palmeiro that He had not fart around and lie anymore about it. In a sense, he is smarter than those guys… but he still cheated, and he still lied about, and he’s made a ton of money over it… and he’ll get away with it.

I have sympathy for him… Unless he does something awesome like seriously giving a lot of his $$$ to charities or something, I won’t change my mind on him.

by TheHawkRules on Feb 10, 2009 12:19 PM CST reply actions

To make money?

He already had the huge money before he says he started using. It’s not unreasonable to believe he started using because of the pressure to live up to that contract. He took a ton of negative publicity for Hicks giving him that $250MM deal which was before the 2001 season. There is little point in speculating if he is truly sorry and what he is sorry for. He did it and now he has to live with the consequences.

You don’t have to change your mind or opinion of him but he has been known to donate huge sums of money to the Boys and Girls clubs of Miami. You always hear fans complain about how much the players make but I sometimes wonder if these same fans donate the same portion of their salary to charity that a lot of these players do.

by Acapulco Taco Pie on Feb 11, 2009 5:27 PM CST up reply actions

I agree

all 104 players are getting hosed if their names are given to the public. The problem with keeping their names undisclosed is it will take baseball a lot longer to finally put the steroid era in the rear-view until everything known is made public. Otherwise every so often a leak of a prominent player will be made and this will continue to be apart of baseball for years.

I would prefer that these names are kept confidential, but at the same time I think for the good of the game it would be better if they were made public.

I will say I’m excited that baseball seems to be heading back to defense, speed, and more situational hitting.

I'm finally moving on...

by slocs55 on Feb 10, 2009 12:22 PM CST reply actions

As usual Glanville is a voice of reason.

I’ve posted this sentiment elsewhere, but my first reaction is disgust that these leakers of private information are lauded as heroes simply because there’s a general public self-righteous harrumphing about steroid use. The fact is that none of the 104 names should have been made public, and the fact that some were is no justification to step all over the right to privacy of the rest.

"They say we live and learn. Often what we learn is what damn fools we have been." ~Thomas Sowell

by Goodie1969 on Feb 10, 2009 12:39 PM CST reply actions

I do not condone PED, but if told the results are confidential, they're confidential

What would you do if you took a confidential survey for a university-funded study about crime. You admit that you shoplifted, or burglarized a home, or embezzled money from your employer, etc. and the results were turned over to the police and they came to your house and arrested you?

What would you do if you confessed to your priest in the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation and he, in turn, told the authorities. Oh….wait….he can’t do that due to strict confidentiality known as the Seal of the Confessional.

Getting too deep for me….A-Roid should not have taken steroids….period.

Major League Baseball’s testing survey was conducted in 2003 as part of a joint agreement between Major League Baseball and the Players’ Association to determine whether it was necessary to institute mandatory random drug testing for the 2004 season.

No penalties were levied for tests that came back positive in 2003 and those results were expected to remain anonymous.

I feel no penalty should be levied against ARod now. His legacy is crippled by this. We shall see how it plays out over the next decade or two.

"Every team will win 60 games, every team will lose 60 games, it's what the team does in the other 42 games that decides the season."

by flachimesa on Feb 10, 2009 12:41 PM CST reply actions 6 recs

Nicely summed up

Rec’d

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 10, 2009 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

You have a good point

however, I’m not going to admit anything to anyone at anytime regardless of what I am promised. There is NO WAY I would confess anything, especially in a university setting.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Feb 11, 2009 6:12 AM CST up reply actions

University studies

How often do you hear of them violating confidentiality? Ever?

How long do you think they’d be able to get volunteers if they did?

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Feb 12, 2009 5:56 AM CST up reply actions

They should blame the union

It was the union that had both the codes and the names together. I think they were only supposed to have only one list or the other. Either way, they had over a week to destroy the lists and didn’t. Why? I think because they wanted to know who to alert about up coming tests. I feel for the players that their tests might be made public but, once the Feds have the information they can’t ignore it because of a promise between other parties. You should have no expectations of privacy when you commit a crime. There’s no honor among thieves.

And for the record you’d have to be a knucklehead to admit to any kind of criminal activity for any reason other than a plea bargain.

by goddess on Feb 11, 2009 12:49 PM CST reply actions

+1

if they wanted it to be 100% safe from being released, they should not have marked any results with the name, jsut “here, pee in the cup, unknown person A”

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 11, 2009 8:42 PM CST up reply actions