Desert ball...Say it Ain't So, Gary

Uhhhh....right. This is really becoming an outrage. Anyone who has a breakout year gets accused of using performance enhancing drugs. I say let it rest. Jose Canseco is one of the worst things to happen to baseball. If a baseball bouncing off of your head and into the stands for a homerun isn't embaracing enough then writing a book that dimes out everyone for steroid use should do the trick on tarnishing America's favorite pastime. Now Gary's name will always be looked at in a different way. The witch hunt needs to stop. I've got an idea....how about everyone just watch baseball and enjoy it. STOP THE MADNESS. And to GMJ... keep your head up. Your not the first person accused of this and you won't be the last.

These accusations don't look good for a guy who waited until he was 32 to have a breakout season. Having said that, I hope they aren't true. GMJ always seemed like a geniunely nice guy. Rather it's true and he's a cheater or it's false and he's being defamed it's a shame either way.

The tough part is thinking about that conversation with his dad. Two guys who I think would be good with or without are Gary and Pudge...

I hope it's not true. GMJ does seem like a good guy and he did have the best season a Rangers CF has ever had ... but one question sticks in my craw: If a guy is truly innocent, why does he have to hide behind a lawyer?

If true, I don't know what he was thinking. I agree with HOndo that this seemed like one of the nice guys. My feeling is that it probably is true and I ownder where that leaves MLB and the Texas Rangers. Does the club have a plan to deal with such as this?

There is just too much money involved for these players. Look at what Matthews got because of his career year last year, as Austin Powers says 50 million dollars. I don't know if Matthews took the HGH or not, but if he did he sure profited from it financially. He is set for life, heck his children's children are set for life. All of these guys are competitive and are looking for the edge that will set them apart and make them rich. In the U.S. A. unfortunately, the ends justify the means. We continue to contribute to this because of our financial support and adoration of star players. Why is the steriod issue always focused on the everyday player and not the pitchers? They are just as guilty probably more so, but we don't hear a peep about them. I really am sick of this issue. Tell every player if they test positive for performance enhancing substances they are going to be banned, as in banned for life, see Peter Edward Rose. And another thing, Football and Basketball players are just as bad as the baseball players, football probably more guilty. Doesn't the U. S. Government have better things to do than pursue, the Steriod issue? As a police officer, i am telling you that everything i deal with is drug or alcohol related. All Identity Theft, Drug Related, all Burglaries drug related, Domestic Violence and assaults, Drug and Alcohol Related. Steriods aren't the drug problem in the United States, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Heroin, X, Xanax, and Marijuana are the drugs that are killing people and robbing this countries future. Steriods is a very small if at all concern of mine and the law enforcement community. The Governments War on Drugs is lost, if you don't believe me go to Lew Sterret, Dallas County Jail on a weekend night and see all of the people who have ruined their lives. You will find few steriod abusers their. In fact you will probably see more on a baseball diamond!

So looking forward to spring training this year but looks like we are going to have a few distractions. GMJ can go out and show everyone that 06 wasn't a fluke but I have a feeling that that was the best year he will ever have. If someone 32 years old has a year like that and has been in baseball this long and is just now finding out all these secrets on how to be a great player. Then he must have had some sorry coaches. Also the Rangers did not try very hard to sign him so I think they believed it was a one time shooting star. Will see, I know I will be checking the Angeles stats.

I guess I agree with the majority of the opinion, except that, Gary had a truly fantastic breakout year, and at age 32. Can't we give him his due? He had the best arm in center we've ever had, and probably the most range. He did a great job for average, power, and he switch-hit. He took the extra base, had some speed----then this allegation came out. I'm giving Gary his respect, because of his character, truly seemed a good, family and team guy, and was the best centerfielder overall we've ever had. I saw McGwire as a rookie, and where he ended up, and Gary didn't seem to me to be overly bulked up--he seemed fluid. Oh well, maybe I'm going to be proven wrong, but I like this guy, and he had a fantastic year. I'm giving him his due. What allegations come out after the fact, is not germane to me. If he bulked up so, why didn't he hit 52 homers? Robbing Mike Lamb over the centerfield fence was one of the greatest plays I've ever seen. Can't we just say "Nice job in center, Gary," and leave it there? I'm up to eyeballs with the steroid story.

I just dont understand the practice of using steroids. I wouldnt feel right if I didnt play it straight. I cant believe there are that many people so devoid of character. I would know its wasnt real, the heck with the money. GMJ was already set for life because of the money he was making anyway. I hope, like the rest, that its not so, Joe. But I feel it probably is.

One additional comment if I may. I listen to a big-band and oldies station in Fort Worth, and a recurring sponsor and info-mercial is one for Human Growth Hormone. I'm no scientist, and don't pretend to any great knowledge on this, but if these athletes, and we can include Gary Matthews, Jr. in this allegation of linkage with this Human Growth Hormone and steroids, but if this product is sold widely in health stores, and is available on mainstream radio ads (mostly Seniors listen to this station on the radio), then would someone please tell me where the "illegal" is? I guess any "enhancement" might skew some results (Canseco, McGwire, etc.), but how is this such an anathema to our society in regards to athletes, when it is readily available in health food stores, gyms, and is on the oldies' station's commercials?
I've never even contemplated taking the Human Growth Hormone, as some people might do to recapture that "fountain of youth" once you pass 40, but I just don't get the GMJ controversy. Is it ILLEGAL, or is it just probably unethical if used to boost competitive sports statistics?

rdr17, wake up fella. Their are alot of people devoid of character in this world and the world of sports particularly. The pursuit of wealth, the policy of the ends justify the means, by any means necessary. I deal with it every day, have been for 14 years. It is getting worse not better. The first thing MLB should do is get rid of Selig, hire a true commissioner, tell all players that they have 6 months to get clean. After the first 6 month elimination period, if you test positive for any substance that is deemed to enhance your ability to perform then you are done. Write it in their contracts if they are suspended then they don't get paid. Only through this ostracisim will this stop. Presently if you take these drugs and don't get caught you profit immensely. The tradeofff between the risk and reward is very low. The chances of getting caught is very low and the chance of elevating the salary is high if you increase your numbers. Lets use Matthews as an example. Lets say hypothetically that he used the HGH. What was he making in Texas? What is he now making in LA 10 million a year! That is a large incentive my friend it is an inducement to cheat, especially if you are devoid of character. The pursuit of wealth my friend, the love of money is the root of all evil!

TR, or anyone, could you enlighten me as to my last question: Are "steroid enhancements like Human Growth Hormone ILLEGAL, or are they more unethical if it is going to boost some player's statistics? This question vexes me because I see them sold on the shelves in gyms, health food stores, and hawked on the radio. If they are ILLEGAL and raids are being performed on pharmacies and such, WHY are they found everywhere at mainstream retail locations and spread throughout the airwaves? This is mystifying to me, as to why they are labeled ILLEGAL and simultaneously sold in "health" food stores.