Legacies and Steroids
Sports Illustrated has more info on baseball’s latest steroid scandal. What’s the deal with PED accusations dogging players with fathers and grandfathers who played in the majors?
Already we’ve have the Bonds (Bobby and Barry), the Matthews (Gary and Junior), the Hairstons (Sammy, Jerry, and Junior), and now we have David Bell (son of Buddy and grandson of Gus).
David Bell, a veteran of a dozen major league seasons, received six packages of HCG at a Philadelphia address last April, when he played for the Phillies. The cost was $128.80, and the drug was prescribed in conjunction with an Arizona antiaging facility. Bell acknowledges receiving the shipment but tells SI the drug was prescribed to him “for a medical condition,” which he declined to disclose, citing his right to privacy.
Watch out Ken Griffey.
Nothing like a little intergenerational transmission of human capital. Maybe instead of fathers teaching sons how to hit the curve, instead they teach them how to find the best juice.
Just for the record–in case the smiley face is not a sufficient disclaimer–my comments above are meant entirely in jest. I have no idea if any of the mentioned players used PED.
My bet is Armas or Alou is up next
It seemed as though ESPN tried to spin Adam LaRoche’s medicine as a PED, too.
Bret Boone probably had some help too…
I’d guess Alou before Griffey.
Just to be clear, the Griffey comment was a joke. I don’t want to upset anyone.
I was just about to say, “don’t forget Bret Boone,” since he was certainly on steroids. (Full disclosure: I HATE BRET BOONE.) And Pete Rose Jr. was implicated in a steroid ring in the minors. Man, this is eerie.
And Dale Berra was a cokehead, does that count?
Yeah, and then apparently John Rocker has been named too.
Would it be so surprising that a son trying to impress his accomplished father would be willing to try anything to be a somebody in his father’s eyes?