I just finished watching Andy Pettitte’s first press conference since he testified under oath before a congressional committee regarding his involvement with HGH (Human Growth Hormone). Unless you have been living under a rock, you are somewhat familiar with the saga that has swept baseball since the Mitchell Report was dropped. Of course at the epicenter of this mess is Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, and Brian McNamee; 3 longtime friends who have been dragged through the mud and pitted against each other, resulting in some pretty damaging accusations .
At this point I could care less about Clemens and McNamee, but I would like to commend Andy (putting the awful apology from December 15, 2007 aside) for his words that I believe are honest and forthcoming. After what I heard and saw today, I applaud Andy for coming clean and facing the music. He did not shy away from McNamee’s accusations, he even divulged the fact that McNamee (his former trainer) advised him not to take HGH in 2002. He seemed genuinely saddened and upset with his actions, and the chain of events he helped set in motion. Instead of running from his past, he has come clean with his use of HGH, and divulged the truth to the best of his knowledge. Andy struck me as an honest sort who could not live with himself had he chose to lie under oath. Some may call him a rat for selling out his friend, I think that is unfair. Andy did the right thing by facing the music, taking the moral high road instead of spinning a yarn that would only make matters worse. I know we hold our athletes to high standards, but they bleed just as we do.
Enough of all this I am ready for baseball, and will someone please explain to me why Bud Selig still has a job?
Update: Audio of Andy Pettitte’s press conference today, compliments of Peter Abraham’s LoHud Yankees Blog.
5 Comments
I support Andy fully in this matter. Honesty is a scarce resource, it seems, and his apparent openness and remorse shows he is a good person who made a mistake.
People make mistakes, true remorse and subsequent forgiveness is the optimal way to handle the situation.
Agreed. It is absolutely commendable when famous people (i.e. athletes, actors, politicians) are honest and forthcoming about something that tarnishes their status.
Honesty is easy to come by when everyone already knows your a cheater. I have mixed feelings on this.
We all make mistakes, I am just glad he is not huffing and puffing like King Clemens. At least Andy is willing to face the music and move on.
My two cents:
The only problem I have with Andy is that he lied about the amount of times that he used HGH. He originally said to the Mitchell Reporters that he used it in 2002, and thats it. Then, he hqad a conference and told people that he used it twice in 2002, and that he was sorry, but that 2002 was the only time he used it. Then he told the US Government that he also used it in 2004, getting it illegally from his own father. Now, I KNOW he is claiming desperation and stupidity for taking it in 2004, even after it not feeling right to him in 2002, but come on already. I dont see why he didnt just say that to the Mitchell Reporters to begin with.
That being said, i am glad he at least addressed the situation.
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[...] standpoint it bears watching how this process affects members of the New York Yankees – especially Andy Pettitte. In a sworn affidavit, Pettitte testified under oath that he indeed discussed Roger’s [...]
[...] The Upside: Do I really need to go there? Andy’s résumé speaks for itself. The Yankee lefty has cultivated a legendary reputation as a big game pitcher who was always Torre’s go to guy to start game 2 of any post season series. With Andy, the bigger the moment the greater the focus. On top of all that he is one of the best second half pitchers in the history of the game. Andy will give you everything in the tank and will pitch until his arm falls off. He is the ultimate teammate, an unquestioned leader, and a consummate Yankee – even with the HGH scandal. [...]