Comments on: Jason Giambi: “he’s not a veteran, he’s the veteran”

By: humanexcrement

humanexcrement — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:47:18 +0000

“It is easy to handle something like a man…” probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say. However “whatever that means” tells me all I need to know.

By: DelawarePhilliesFan

DelawarePhilliesFan — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:49:51 +0000

Just to be clear – my original quote as a subtle jab at Craig. When Young was called a “professional”, he whipped out the dictionary and focused on the literal defintiion of the word – and hence mocked it as meaningless. If Giambi was on the Phillies and Michael Young an Indian, these articles would have flipped in their focus.

I am fine with the Phillies having Michael Young

By: badintent

badintent — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 06:17:13 +0000

Does he get to redo the Pert Shampoo commmercials ?

By: humanexcrement

humanexcrement — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:29:58 +0000

McGwire plead the fifth because the statute of limitations on steroid use is four years and he had only been retired for three at the time. In retrospect, I guess it’s understandable, but it’s a little hard to feel sorry for him when he cries on national television after being the national hero for years and years, lying through his teeth and making money hand over fist…now he regrets it? No, he just regrets getting caught.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:56:36 +0000

Nah, it’s the first thing you said. It is easy to handle something “like a man” (whatever that means) when no one really cares that you did it. Unlike players that broke records or had HOF careers, no one cares that Giambi used, no one would read repeated articles dragging him through the mud, so no one asked him any questions about it after the initial public revelation. He never even admitted what he did, ever. Not once.

In short, everyone just ignored him because they didn’t care….and the reason they didn’t care didn’t have to do with “respect”, but because he didn’t do anything that anyone cared about.

By: ezthinking

ezthinking — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:57:59 +0000

Seems alot like Giambi is being praised for being what Michael Young is routinely hated for… a veteran presence.

I’m not a Young apologist, but he is routinely run down in this blog, but somehow Giambi is lifted up by the same qualities. Odd.

I’ll save a few of you the next few posts – yeah but Giambi knows he can’t play every day, he makes little money, no one is counting on him, and blah, blah, blah. Then why take a roster spot instead of having him as bench coach? Why is Young the in the same position – one of 25 roster spots?

Young’s 6 years younger and can still catch a ball – mostly what’s hit at him. Players say the same things about him as they do for Giambi. Unless you’re just trolling Phills and Rangers fans, nothing wrong with that, save this endless praise for Giambi.

By: cowboyzshininstar

cowboyzshininstar — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:41:42 +0000

Love Giambi, started watching baseball because of him. Back in the A days. If he has a little gusto left in him. I’d like to see him put it to good use. He’s with a team with a great club of guys and one of the great manager Francona. Maybe Phil’s fans might contest that lol

By: 2077james

2077james — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:08:58 +0000

He’s been helped by the fact that he doesn’t appear to be a dick – unlike Bonds, Clemens, Sosa…

By: rcquinn1972

rcquinn1972 — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:08:21 +0000

I am a die hard Red Sox fan, with no reason to like this guy at all. But he handled the issue like a man, and deserves the respect he has EARNED in the league.

By: Kevin S.

Kevin S. — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:58:42 +0000

Not sure the “plead the Fifth” jab in there really separates Giambi from McGwire. Giambi testified before a secret grand jury with immunity in hand. McGwire testified in front of a public grandstanding exhibition without immunity. The difference between McGwire and Giambi is almost entirely one of circumstances.

By: humanexcrement

humanexcrement — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:40:02 +0000

I have moments when I think those things too. But I do think his handling of the situation is why he’s so respected in the game to this day, at the very least.

By: fanofevilempire

fanofevilempire — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:39:47 +0000

he was sorry he used that stuff……………………..

By: nategearhart

nategearhart — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:28:33 +0000

You give a lot of people the benefit of the doubt. I’m afraid I’m more inclined to believe it’s because of the first things you said.

By: humanexcrement

humanexcrement — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:34:00 +0000

Notice how the public forgave Giambi for his PED use. Now why might that be? Could it be that he didn’t break any major power records, eclipse 500 home runs or 60 in a season? Is it that he is unlikely to go to the HOF, with or without PEDs, so it isn’t really a controversy? Maybe, but I think the real reason is that he handled it like a man. Though he never specifically admitted it to the public, neither did bask in glory like a god among men and then go on national television crying crocodile tears and begging everyone’s forgiveness, or lie to Congress or plead the fifth. And when summoned to Bud Selig’s office, he publicly stated that he would do so only on one condition, namely that he would not give information about any other player. When the Feds start knocking on your door, kiddies, it’s time to start telling the truth. That Giambi has turned a youthful mistake into a genuine example to young players, namely what not to do, and how to handle yourself if you have done something wrong, is why the public has forgiven him. He didn’t commit perjury, play the public for sympathy, beg forgiveness after being caught, use his controversy for sensationalist, money-making books, or call out any other players. That’s why he’s been forgiven in the public eye. And that’s why he’s still around.

By: DelawarePhilliesFan

DelawarePhilliesFan — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:18:23 +0000

Yes, but is he a professional?