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02/19/2008: "Time To Sack Up, Fellas ..."

In the wake of the Mitchell Report, at least a half dozen of the baseball players identified as having used steroids or other performance enhancing drugs have made some kind of public statement regarding their inclusion. For the most part, those statements have been pathetic.

There's something very important that each of those players needs to keep in mind. In the broadest sense of the word, any player who was named in the Mitchell Report or any of the other investigations is a cheater. It doesn't matter whether they got shot in the ass daily for years or only tried it once, or if they were trying to go for a record or just hang on to a career. If they did it, they are dirty - plain and simple. Nothing can remove that stain. The only thing that might change their perception in the eyes of the fans, and perhaps put some separation between themselves and the other named players, is the way they react to their inclusion.

With players reporting to spring training camps this past weekend, three high-profile players faced the media to try and explain what they did. Eric Gagne, former record-setting closer for the Dodgers and currently with the Brewers, apologized for "a distraction that shouldn't be taking place" and promptly lapsed into his native French. His then-Dodger teammate Paul Lo Duca, now with the Nationals, apologized for "mistakes in judgment I made in the past and for the distraction that has resulted" (think they have the same PR guy?), but never said what exactly that mistake was. When pressed for additional details, his response was, "Next question, bro."

Say what? Dude, there is no next question. This one is going to haunt you - and the rest of the Mitchell Gang - for the rest of your career. And nothing you've done so far has done anything to make me - or anyone else - want to let you off the hook.

If there's one guy who's taken the right route, it's the Yankee's Andy Pettitte. Save teammate Roger Clemens, no one is under more of a spotlight than Pettitte, and no one is being looked to for answers more than he. And yesterday, in an amazing hour-long news conference, he gave them.

"I didn't do it to try to get an edge on anyone. I didn't do it to try to get stronger or faster or throw harder. I did it because I was that it might be able to help me," he said.

"Was it stupid? Yeah, it was stupid. Was I desperate? Yeah, I was probably desperate," he said. "I wish I never would have done it, obviously, but I don't consider myself a cheater, no."

Amazing. No spin, no excuses, just plain truth. How refreshing.

I'd love to say that this will let him put the whole thing behind him, but that's just not the case. Even with his frank admissions, he still gets the "cheater" tag - although, it may be easier for him to regain what he has lost.

If nothing else, he has gained one thing that can only come when the truth comes out - self-respect.