I’m sure everyone caught at least some of Roger Clemens’ embarrassing spectacle in Congress – basically a four-and-a-half hour ordeal in which he stammered and perjured his way along, finally exposing to the world that he’s both a liar and a buffoon. Everyone else has already sounded off on Clemens’ Alamo, and I don’t really know what I’d be able to add to this shaming, so I’m going to focus on one of the less-noticed pieces of news to come out yesterday.
Through all the BS you’d never know there was only one real revelation, one ugly truth that was uncovered. You’d never know it because it didn’t happen during Clemens’ testimony, it happened in a press release that came out that same day. While the Texas Con Man was making his last stand, another Yankees’ story seems to have been ignored, or at least eclipsed by the sensationalism.
That same morning, Andy Pettitte revealed he’d been using HGH in 2004. That’s two years after the Mitchell Report allegations and in direct contradiction of his famous “Apology” he issued after being outed by the report. Take a look at this ridiculous statement because Pettitte’s apology, to me, is one of the most infuriating aspects of this scandal:
First, I would like to say that contrary to media reports, I have never used steroids. I have no idea why the media would say that I have used steroids, but they have done so repeatedly. This is hurtful to me and my family.
In 2002 I was injured. I had heard that human growth hormone could promote faster healing for my elbow. I felt an obligation to get back to my team as soon as possible. For this reason, and only this reason, for two days I tried human growth hormone. Though it was not against baseball rules, I was not comfortable with what I was doing, so I stopped. This is it — two days out of my life; two days out of my entire career, when I was injured and on the disabled list.
If what I did was an error in judgment on my part, I apologize. I accept responsibility for those two days. Everything else written or said about me knowingly using illegal drugs is nonsense, wrong and hurtful. I have the utmost respect for baseball and have always tried to live my life in a way that would be honorable. I wasn’t looking for an edge; I was looking to heal.
If I have let down people that care about me, I am sorry, but I hope that you will listen to me carefully and understand that two days of perhaps bad judgment should not ruin a lifetime of hard work and dedication. I have tried to do things the right way my entire life, and, again, ask that you put those two days in the proper context. People that know me will know that what I say is true.
Even without knowing about this latest revelation, Pettitte’s apology is a complete joke. I despise this statement. Its worthless, it doesn’t mean anything, and its non-apologetic. How can someone issue a non-apologetic apology? Ask Andy Pettitte: Inventor of the “Nonpology.”
Let’s look at the conclusion again:
If I have let down people that care about me, I am sorry, but I hope that you will listen to me carefully and understand that two days of perhaps bad judgment should not ruin a lifetime of hard work and dedication. I have tried to do things the right way my entire life, and, again, ask that you put those two days in the proper context. People that know me will know that what I say is true.
“If,” “but,” “perhaps,” “proper context.”
Its obvious Pettitte isn’t sorry for using illegal prescription drugs, he’s also not “not comfortable” with them since he was bumming them off his dad a mere two years later. That “two days of perhaps bad judgment” is looking more like a career’s-worth of drug abuse and cheating. Yet he sneers at the rest of the world, telling us to “listen to him carefully” – like we should apologize to him. All the while he was lying through his teeth.
Pettite doesn’t care that he was caught using HGH, insulted the fans with his self-righteous statements, lied about the extent of his abuse, and sold his buddy Roger upriver. Everything in this statement is a lie, and reveals the true nature of a guy who claims to pride himself on his “character” in the clubhouse. Even Barry Bonds, with all his disgrace and contempt, never claimed such duality.
To me, Andy Pettite is one of the worst in this steroids scandal. Truly, they’re all cheaters, but guys like Bonds and Clemens have one lie, and they stick to it. Pettitte is the only one who’s lying about his lying. Even Jason Giambi’s ridiculous apology in 2005 is more redeeming than anything Pettitte has done.
At least Mark McGuire had the decency to disappear. Unfortunately, Andy Pettitte is still on the books to earn $16 million next season.
Worst of the worst, indeed.
Everything you see here is a lie
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1 Brian // Feb 14, 2008 at 12:34 PM
You’re joking, right? How did you decide that Pettitte was not telling the truth? He’s the only one with any self-respect – and respect from others – left among the lot of them.
2 Brendan // Feb 14, 2008 at 02:02 PM
The truth is Pettitte doesn’t respect anyone. First he cheats, then he makes his high-handed nonpology in which he insults the fans and the media, then he cooperates with this congressional investigation to rat out his friend Clemens (who was doomed anyways). After he has done all this- he then admits that his big apology was a lie too! Notice we didn’t get another “I guess if its wrong then i’m sorry” statement from his lawyers.
He’s a liar, a cheater, and he has no respect for anyone. He’s a Yankee.
3 MIke W // Feb 14, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Sorry B, this don’t hold water. First, it comes across as an angry Yankee-hater column. Second, he’s one of the few to admit steroid use, when we all know there are COUNTLESS others who sit back and continue to lie.
Also, the first apology was in reference to the Mitchell report, in which he addressed using HGH as supplied to him by McNamee (who, might I add, came across as a serial liar yesterday – very similar to Roger). This recent admission was unprovoked and had nothing to do with the Mitchell farce. He got the HGH from his dad, not McNamee so Mitchell and Congress would never have found this out. He simply came out and admitted it, serving no possible purpose other than to clear his conscience.
4 Brendan // Feb 14, 2008 at 03:28 PM
Let me try this again:
“This is it — two days out of my life; two days out of my entire career, when I was injured and on the disabled list.
If what I did was an error in judgment on my part, I apologize. I accept responsibility for those two days.”
This is not an apology - its a lie. He has been using HGH for far longer than 2 days, as his admission this week proved. He lies to the fans and testifies against his teammates - but hey, he’s a true Yankee so you gotta stick up for him.
By the way, McNamee did not look half as retarded as Clemens does - i’ll believe that guy long before I buy the rocket’s BS.
5 Thomas // Feb 14, 2008 at 04:09 PM
You seem to be upset about his testimony against his former teammates for using illegal substances. I don’t get it. Despite any errors in judgement he might have, I wish they would all testify and tell all they know.
Forget loyalty. We’re talking about ruining America’s game, and, hence, crushing children’s dreams across the country. Get it all out in the open. Punish the ones who did it, and move on with a clean slate.
6 Mike W // Feb 14, 2008 at 04:27 PM
“Get it all out in the open. Punish the ones who did it, and move on with a clean slate.”
I agree with this. AP did the first part, and I think he should be punished (suspended or something, to go along with the deserved public humiliation). I don’t get how AP is soooo evil (besides the fact that Brendan hates the Yankees and will look for any reason to pile on them). Clemens is the dirtbag here, as we all know he’s lying (although NOTHING has been proven, this is all just hearsay – the only eyewitness account came from a guy who was proven to be a liar in the hearing yesterday. If this were a criminal proceeding this case would have been thrown out immediately.)