The Llehctim Report

I look into my crystal ball and all I see is lawsuits, lawsuits, and more lawsuits. In a day and age where we are guilty until proven innocent the sports world and celebrity status its a billion times worse. In 2007 I watched as fans from all major league teams scrutinized Barry Bonds and his "alleged" use of steroids, booing him in their ballparks, and slandering him at every chance they could get. Then he would come to the plate and knock one 450 feet and get a standing ovation as he rounded the bases heading towards baseball's homerun record. It was hippocracy at its best and the Mitchell Report only makes it worse.

This is not being written for the purpose of taking the sides of the player's named nor is it being written to uphold what Mitchell, Selig, and others are trying to accomplish for the integrity of baseball. However the idea here is to help others realize how one sided this has become, and not to become so in tune to believing everything then becoming quick to judge without understanding more of the facts. Its a difficult task to try and combat, but its worth a shot. So I wanted to use my 100th article on Associated Content to do just that. What will happen remains to be seen.

Why does Mitchell feel as though all of these player's names have to be announced to the public? My guess is that any story in the news can become redundant. Easy examples: How many of you were sick of hearing about Barry Bonds reports about steroids that were going nowhere. Or continuous news clips on Michael Vick's dog fighting issues. They get old after awhile and to be quite frank, the interest dies down. However, if you throw potential Hall of Fame players under the bus before they are being proved guilty of anything automatically the world of sports and those that even aren't into sports most likely know the big names. Then there you have your interest back ten fold.

Unfortunately I am wanting to add player's to the list myself, but refrain to giving my opinion here simply because its not fair and whether a million people read this or only two, word of mouth goes a long way to where 10 million could here about it in today's internet world and their reputations tarnished as well (not that all of baseball will be for many years now). I would however like to discuss the player's listed and talk about their involvements.

As Mitchell states on page 10 of 409 in his report, " Players who use Human Growth Hormone (HGH) apparently believe that it assists their ability to recover from injury and fatigue during the long baseball season; this is also a major reason why players used steroids".

Lenny Dykstra (page 197/198 in Mitchell Report, PDF)- Acknowledged using steroids during his career to as stated in the report, "keep his weight up" during the season so he didn't have to work out.

David Segui (page 198 in Mitchell Report, PDF)- Was turned on to Deca-Durabolin because as stated in this report, "was thought to alleviate joint pain". It also states that Segui told Radomski that he had a growth hormone defiency and was getting HGH from a doctor in Florida.

Larry Bigbie (page200 in Mitchell Report, PDF)- Has cooperated with the investigation stating that he used the steroids to become more "competitive" after discussions with Segui, but Segui never pushed the drugs onto him nor did Radomski.

Brian Roberts (page 206)- The report on Roberts was less than 150 words only stating that he had confessed to Bigbie that he had injected himself with steroids in 2003.

Jack Cust (page 207)- Asked Bigbie about steroids while playing together in triple A. Cust confided in Bigbie he had tried steroids.

Tim Laker (page 207)- Segui introduced Laker to Radomski. Laker admitted that he wanted to use steroids to "enhance his performance". He ended his use in 2000.

Josias Manzanillo (page 209)- Although listed in this report. Manzanillo says he did in fact purchase one cycle of steroids from Radomski as he was told it would give him more velocity on his fastball. Then Manzanillo's lawyer states that Josias "chickened out" and never actually took the steroids.

Todd Hundley (page 211)- Hundley was told by Radomski that if he used Deca-Durabolin he would hit 40 homeruns. He did (41 that same year).

Mark Carreon (page 211)- Radomski says Carreon bought Dianabol. He also said that Carreon told him, the "ball was jumping off his bat" because of the steroids.

Hal Morris (page 212)- Morris's lawyer sent a letter to Mitchell stating that he never used anabolic steroids, testerone or HGH during his playing career. Mitchell states that the letter never denies having the drugs in his possession.

Matt Franco (page 213)- Franco is on this list because Radomski said he sold steroids to him in 2000. There is no copy of a check stated. Also Franco agreed to an interview over the telephone and denied using or purchasing any performance enhancing substances (PES). He also acknowledged that he didn't know Radomski and only heard of him through publicity.

Rondell White (page 213)- The report states that White told Radomski that he needed PES because of his injury problems and needed to be able to "stay on the field".

Roger Clemens (page 215)- Definitely an extensive report on Clemens. Almost as if Mitchell may have been excited to receive information on such a prolific player. Clemens trainer suggests he gave steroids and even injected him with them from the time Clemens played for Toronto until the 2001 season. There is no record of checks of any kind showing Clemens purchasing PES or HGH from Radomski or giving McNamee (Roger's trainer) money for either.

Andy Pettite (page 223)- During the 2001-02 off-season Pettite asked trainer (McNamee) about HGH and McNamee discouraged him from using it. In 2002 Pettite asked again wanting it to speed up his recovery from his elbow injury.

Chuck Knoblauch (page 225)- The report states Knoblauch was injected by McNamee. It also states Knoblauch paid for HGH through Jason Grimsley, although later in the same paragraph it states McNamee thinks that was the other source other than himself.

Jason Grimsley (page 225)- Told authorities he used Deca-Durabolin to recover from shoulder surgery.

Greg Zaun (page 227)- According to the report Radomski furnished a check by Zaun for the purchase of Deca-Durabolin in 2001. During that year Zaun only played 39 games due to injury. It could be so noted that as did earlier players mentioned, Zaun purchased this to in fact help with recovery time to injuries.

David Justice (page 230)- Justice denied using PES, but gave names of players who may have even though he wasn't sure.

F.P. Santangelo (page 230)- Santagelo purchased Deca-Durabolin from Radomski according to these reports.

Glenallen Hill (page 231)- Hill suggested that he purchased Sustanon from Radomski, but did not take it. When asked why he cited marital stress as the reason he ended up not taking them and he found them in 2007 while moving. He denied ever using PES according to these reports.

Mo Vaughn (page 234)- As the report states, Vaughn was seeking HGH for an ankle injury which eventually Radomski said it would make it heal faster.

This is not the entire list nor will there be an additional list for the rest, but as you read this I am curious to find out your thoughts right at this point. Then I would like your thoughts after I tell you that although these statements and findings were all reported in the Mitchell Report , but there is more to each story. In order for you to give a full analogy of everything you must read the entire report. Not simply see a list of players and call them cheaters because it is thought that everyone is trying to use these substances simply for becoming more competitve although some of them were.

Thoughts on the Report as a whole is that it is going to run baseball into the ground not help it. I find it odd that Radomski can account for almost all the events in virtually a 20 year period not to mention be able to produce all these checks. Its pretty interesting and I am curious how it will all turn out. I hope they will eventually figure out a way to separate the ones that were trying to prolong their careers or recover from injury faster from the ones that were trying to become more "competitive".

***this article was intended to show how "we" as people think when we see something in the media as we are quick to judge. It was also intended to play at the fact that while reading the report I was under the impression that Mitchell was trying to create doubt in the minds of everyone who read this report for the players that he did not have enough information on. Which is why you only see certain information in the Llehctim Report***