Yesterday, Andy Pettitte sat in front of a sea of press and many of his teammates and apologized for his use of HGH.
Pettitte, sitting in between Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman, apologized to the Yankees organization, his teammates, and his fans; and he should be commended for that.
Over the past two weeks, Pettitte has had to testify, along with his wife, and under oath, has had to turn on his best friend and endure a barrage of media coverage.
The only possible way that Pettitte could have put all of this behind him and move on was to do exactly what he did yesterday.
Printing names in the Mitchell Report based on flimsy, hearsay evidence was downright irresponsible and government has no business intervening in professional sports leagues. But, the situation is what it is, and Andy Pettitte is one of the few who can walk away from this ridiculous ordeal with some form of dignity.
Pettitte’s decision to take steroids was wrong, plain and simple. Most baseball fans will never fully forget the fact that Andy Pettitte used illegal steroids.
But based on Pettitte’s actions, not only yesterday, but in the previous weeks, he should begin spring training with his head held high and put all of this behind him forever.
And we should let him.
As the three-ring circus surrounding the Mitchell Report and the Congressional Hearings finally begins to conclude, we should not forget the problems Major League Baseball has had with steroids, but we should also begin to move on embrace the excitement that inevitably surrounds spring training.
8 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
You have got to be kidding.He "should be commended" What a joke. Andy P did this to himself. He did this to better himself. He only is taken responsibility because he got CAUGHT. Where was this heartfelt apology BEFORE he got caught. Dont give me the crap that he did it for his team. He did it for the 16 million dollar contract. His quicker recovery due to the hgh stoped another player probably a minor leaguer a chance at the bigs(not to mention a big payday). Our standards are pretty low if he is considered a role model. Not that he cant get his rep back over time. But not NOW. it is way to soon. let him continue to preach on the dangers of drugs to the youth. Maybe put his wallet where his mouth is and give a few millon to hgh awareness etc. Right now the message to a young player is do hgh and make millions of dollars. If you get caught tell the truth and everything will be ok. Come on that is crap.
The game will be fine but strict rules have got to be in place or cheaters will always try to beat the system . Strong punishment is the only deterrent to the steroids/HGH issue. First strike should be 50 games. second strike should be 2 years . strike three your gone jackass. Otherwise the $$$$$$$$ outweighs the possible punishment.
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Paul Salman about 1 year ago
He did do this to himself, you are right. However he is the only one who said I am sorry for doing HGH. Everyone else just says I am sorry for distractions and to my teammates. Just listen to Giambi and to La Duca and to Gagne. They are all apologizing but for what? I can't tell what they are sorry for. It takes a man to admit his wrong doings and of all people Andy did this best. He said you can be the judge of what I am perceived as, but he came clean and has self closure and I hope he has a CY Young year and makes everyone forget. I will stand up and applaud him at his first outing at Yankee Stadium.
We knock the other guys for fake apologies, well lets applaud him for his real and heart felt apology. We all know what he did was wrong, but he moved on in the correct way.
Good article.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Let’s remember how Pettitte arrived in this situation. Would he be so truthful if he hadn’t ever been named in the Mitchell Report? No. Throughout this process, Pettitte has repeatedly told lies, or withheld information, only to backtrack at a later date. Even during his press conference yesterday, Andy refused to admit that he misled the Yankees by signing his contract when he had prior knowledge that his name would be included in the Mitchell Report.
There were 89 players in the Mitchell Report.
But what about these guys? Chad Allen, Mike Bell, Gary Bennett, Mike Cameron, Matt Herges, Glenallen Hill, Chuck Knoblauch, Brian Roberts, F.P. Santegelo and Fernand Vina
89 players in the Mitchell Report and we only celebrate one for admitting his wrongdoing.
Where are all the articles celebrating the honesty of these nine players?
Chris Iafolla, http://heardinthecheapseats.com/
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
celebrate none. they were the few that got caught but it does not change the fact that they DID get caught.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Sorry if I wasn't more clear in my previous comment--I wasn't at all implying that we should celebrate these guys. It was toungue in cheek. I was implying that we have spent so much energy lauding Andy Pettitte for being honest, when in fact, his honesty has been in question from the outset. My poiny was, Andy Pettitte did something that nine other players did, but we only hear about Andy as this example of honesty. In reality, we should not be applauding any of these players.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I totally agree none of them should be applauded.
Paul. Let me guess your a yankee fan. So what he apologized. He should. He also should of come out before if he got caught if he really ment it. just because some othe players are being vague does not mean that Andy should be put on a pedestal because he apologized. If his old ass wins the cy young they should test him again. But go ahead and give him your standing ovation. Just remember your 100 dollar seat and 10 dollar beer are helping to pay for his 16 million contract that he got by cheating. Your logic on pettite reminds me of Chris Rocks joke about the father who boast "I take care of my kids" your suppose to you dumb ass. So what he apologized. He was suppose to.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Paul. I want to make it clear that I was calling a player who failed a test 3 times a dumb ass. Not you.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Paul. I want to make it clear that I was calling a player who failed a test 3 times a dumb ass. Not you.
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