The transcripts of the "sealed" testimony of New York Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi reportedly contain admissions from 2000's AL MVP that he used steroids. Jason Giambi? Steroids? Really? Next thing you know they'll be saying Barry Bonds is on the juice too.

In looking at these before and after photos, it's hard for me to tell the difference steroids have had on Giambi's physique. Do you see anything?

Great pictures. That's pretty damn funny.

Normally, I give someone the benefit of a doubt. However, if someone gains a lot of muscle over a short period of time and his sprinting time in the 40 decreases... he is juicing.

To all those who think that acedemia is a liberal establishment::

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2004/12/02/c1.cr.cardsuit.1202.html

Didn't Dave complain in a recent post about somebody being off-topic in their comments? Talk about being off-topic Apu . . .

next thing you know Apu will come clean with the fact that he has been on the juice since the election!

Are there any non-steroid users that absurdly thin people like myself can look up to as a role model?

how about Manute Bol?

man, everyone looks up to Manute Bol, except maybe Yao.

Well Paul, In Barry Bonds case the juice didn't make him faster. He bulked up and got slower, on the base paths and roaming the outfield his speed has dropped off dramatically. Your theory is partially inaccurate.

Bonds has admitted to using steroids (although he thought they were "flaxseed oil and a rubbing balm for arthritis"...ha).

Feck, I was speaking in general terms and not specifically about Bonds... but I didn't make myself clear. Mea culpa. My point was that if someone (a) gains a lot of muscle mass, (b) and his performance dramatically improves, (c) and this happens over a relatively short period of time... he had "chemical help."

My Manute Bol comments were half joking, as everyone knows the guy is huge in height and slim in the waistband but I recently read a story about Manute getting into a terrible car accident. I guess he had sent a significant amount of his Nuba earnings to his native land and was not exactly living the posh lifestyle most basketball players live. His N.B.A pention and insurance dont even cover his hospital bills and only a handful of ex-teamates have offered any help. I was happy to see that one of the players that has helped him was Chris Mullen, always one of my favorite players when pro basketball was watchable.

This post started with a discusson of athletes using performance enhancing drugs. It's evolved into discussing an athlete (Chris Mullen) who for many years killed his game by using a performance negating drug (alcohol).

so the real question is, are steroids a performance enhancing drug? Or is it now a career killing one? I do agree with your post though daniel, got a little sidetracked since its difficult to get a conversation about Manute Bol going these days unless Refrigerator Perry is in the squared circle with him.

I think steroids and human growth hormone might be literal killers, but probably in most cases not career killers. I doubt Bonds, Giambi, or Sheffield--who have all acknowledged, knowingly or unknowingly, taking steroids--will even get suspended. Blame baseball for that, since according to their rules, Giambi (if he's to be believed) hardly did anything wrong since he stopped taking roids in mid-2003--when there was no real testing program and the rules and penalties were murky.

Bonds will have both home run records solely because of steroids, and Giambi an MVP award and a phat contract, largely because of steroids. Steroids didn't kill their careers. It has enhanced their performance. Although in Giambi's case, one can't help but wonder if his weird health problems this past season doesn't stem from his use of growth and steroids--so maybe it can be a career killer in some instances. Canseco's many injuries also come to mind.