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Ortiz: I never used steroids
(Editor's note: Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.)
At a news conference at Yankee Stadium this afternoon, David Ortiz stated definitively that he never used steroids or bought them, but acknowledged that he was "careless" when he was "buying supplements and vitamins over the counter."
"I definitely was a little bit careless back in those days when I was buying supplements and vitamins over the counter -- legal supplements, legal vitamins over the counter -- but I never buy steroids or used steroids," Ortiz said during a news conference before the Red Sox played the Yankees (read his opening comments). "I never thought that buying supplements and vitamins, it was going to hurt anybody's feelings."
Ortiz thinks it was those supplements and vitamins that likely caused him to land on a list of alleged drug users seized by the federal government, and Major League Baseball and the players' association said some of the names on the list never tested positive for steroids.
MLB said in a statement that at most 96 urine samples tested positive in the 2003 survey -- and the players' association said 13 of those were in dispute.
The government seized the samples and records the following year from baseball's drug-testing companies as part of the BALCO investigation. The list of 104 players alleged to have tested positive has been the subject of a five-year legal fight with the union trying to force the government to return what federal agents took during raids. The New York Times reported at the end of July that Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were on the 2003 list.
MLB players association chief Michael Weiner, who sat at Ortiz's side during the press conference, indicated that there would be no way for Ortiz to know anything about his test results: "There would be no way to assess if something he took" resulted in a positive test result, Weiner said.
Ortiz said that when he met with Weiner in 2004, he wasn't told he tested positive for steroids. Weiner, who has been designated to succeed union head Donald Fehr, said that because the list is under court seal, the union can't confirm to Ortiz that he tested positive, only that he was on the list.
"I want to apologize to fans for the distraction, my teammates, our manager," Ortiz said, flanked by Weiner, with Boston manager Terry Francona standing behind and to the side. "This past week has been a nightmare to me."
Ortiz said he has tested negative about 15 times since baseball's program with penalties began in 2004 and additional times for the World Baseball Classic. The Red Sox issued a statement backing him (read the full statement).
"There are substantial uncertainties and ambiguity surrounding the list of 104 names," the Red Sox said. "David Ortiz is a team leader, and his contributions on the field and in the community have earned him respect and a special place in the hearts of Red Sox Nation."
Citing court orders, Weiner wouldn't say whether the union asked courts to authorize an investigation into the source of the leaks. He did say that if the union wins the legal fight to have the records returned, which may end up before the Supreme Court, it likely would comply with requests from players on the list to tell them what they were said to have used.
"Given the uncertainties inherent in the list, we urge the press and the public to use caution in reaching conclusions based on leaks of names, particularly from sources whose identities are not revealed," Major League Baseball said in a statement.
Weiner said a player alleged to be on the list "finds himself in an extremely unfair position; his reputation has been threatened by a violation of the court's orders, but respect for those orders now leaves him without access to the information that might permit him to restore his good name."
"Accordingly, the presence of a player's name on any such list does not necessarily mean that the player used a prohibited substance or that the player tested positive under our collectively bargained program," Weiner said.
The survey was designed to determine whether baseball needed mandatory random drug testing with penalties starting in 2004, with a 5 percent threshold for positives triggering future testing. While the exact number of 2003 positives was subject to dispute, the sides never worked that out because they agreed the percentage was over the threshold.
"Substantial scientific questions exist as to the interpretation of some of the 2003 test results," Weiner said. "The more definitive methods that are utilized by the lab that administers the current drug agreement were not utilized by the lab responsible for the anonymous testing program in 2003. The collective bargaining parties did not pursue definitive answers regarding these inconclusive results, since those answers were unnecessary to the administration of the 2003 program."
Under the rules of the 2003 testing, Weiner said "legally available nutritional supplements could trigger an initial 'positive' test under our program."
"Each 'test' conducted in 2003 actually consisted of a pair of collections: The first was unannounced and random, the second was approximately seven days later, with the player advised to cease taking supplements during the interim," Weiner said. "Under the 2003 program, a test could be initially reported as 'positive,' but not treated as such by the bargaining parties on account of the second test."
Weiner also said Ortiz wanted to answer questions a lot sooner than today's press conference, implying that it was the union that urged him to wait.
"If it were simply up to David he would have been before you much earlier than today," Weiner said.
The Globe's Adam Kilgore reported from the Red Sox clubhouse that while the press conference was going on, players were sitting quietly in their stalls watching Ortiz speak on four monitors coming down from ceiling.
Cut this lying piece of dead weight and move on.
After we solve this Ortiz thing, we can get right on helping Michael Phelps solve the performance enhancing swimsuit issue. Both are equally absurd. Fact: ONLY a few players during the last 2 decades knew about and used PEDs, like the holy grail this secret was hidden from all other players and the general public. This was especially the case during the BIC MAC - SLAMMIN SAMMY duel... Nobody questioned 3 homerun games everynight. Everyone just assumed that these two baseball gods must be just that much better than everyone else on the planet. THE MEDIA SOLD THIS STORY LIKE BILLY MAYS, and now they are shocked at how "dirty" the game was. If anyone has failed baseball fans, it is the media... Hey baseball writers... I was just wondering if you think the Economy is bad right now? Thanks for doing your job when it mattered. Maybe you could have wondered "Hey isn't it weird how many homeruns are flying out of the park"? Maybe that didn't sell enough papers... The only people who care about this story is the media... and only because it is selfserving...
It took him a whole week to say that???
Yea Right, his numbers just happened to SPIKE like nobody's business in the smae year he tests positive...
What an original excuse
/sarcasm
I think Big Papi deserves the benifit of the dought.
Yucky People.com and other sites has that list of the 103 players accused of taking steroids. Bigger issue here is when friends in New York swear Derek Jeters and other Yankees are using a new substance others dont know about yet. All the fans here need to start complaining to the MLBPA.com, newspapers and Letters to the editor. Americas past time is beginning to look like a spending and drug abuse sport.
You know what I'm disappointed with the most... the media. Just like the Gates/Crowley issue, shoot first ask questions last. Ortiz is an icon in this town, and Afro Samurai and Muppet face wrote demoralizing stories about him to sell papers. Makes me want to puke.
uh-oh, shaughnessy, looks like your article was a lie. please step down. nobody likes you and you are a sensationalist posing as a journalist.
BS, Ortiz is a liar.
If I were a MLB player, I would be very proud of David Ortiz and my union. Today they stood up and demanded some fairness in this overwrought media carnival.
David Ortiz became rich, became legend, was the toast of the town, the best clutch hitter in the history of the Red Sox, with a big assist from PHDs. Fine. He did what he did, what everyone else was doing, and I don't begrudge him that.
Now that the whip's come down, and he can't use them anymore, the most pathetic thing in the world is watching him try to prove to himself, to the world that he can perform au naturale. And it would be just punishment, if we too, didn't have to suffer his ground balls to 2B with runners on in key situations....I look forward to 2010, a year w/o David Ortiz.
Shame on all those who didn't give the man a chance to talk. Shame on all of those who don't believe in heroes.
Lots of fans owe Ortiz an apology on this matter. (Particularly the asshole Yankee fans.) Unfortunately, that won't happen. Sorry, David.
That aside, he can no longer do his job effectively. Sox need a new DH.
funny no union reps when yankee names were outed
AMAZING ... David appears to be talking, and you can't even see Michael Weiner's lips moving. What a farce!
I think that we need to give Ortiz and alot of these guys a break, we dont know all the details and we are wayyyy too quick to believe whatever we hear in the news and media, its not always the truth, in fact, it rarely is...
Between this and Weiner's statement earlier today I'm feeling a bit better, but still... there's something weighing upon me here. Still taking this all with a grain of salt. You have to.
Sure. Those mysterious supplements you were taking in the DR, right? Probably the same stuff that just caught up Rashard Lewis. I'm sooooo sick of this. This is how it works for steroid users -- first the cheating, then the lying. Ugh.
and Pigs were sighted flying over Yankees stadium during the press conference.
I hope that now some of these Globe writers will apologize for their remarks concerning the "disappointment" with Ortiz using PED's. You are just like the Times' writers and the lawyers that have violated the court orders regarding the 2003 test list. You should all be ashamed of yourself for not holding true to the American ideal that everyone is "innocent until proven guilty". Some loyal Red Sox fans you all turned out to be.
#1 they need to disbarr the laywer(s) that leaked any information so far
#2 MLB needs to contact every player on that list to tell them the list is going to be release in 30 days--this is exactly what you tested positive for..
#3 release the list and move the game forward.
#4 shouldn't the NYTimes or any other new organization be subject to fines too if they report leaked information from a court ordered sealed document or reporting any information that was obtained illegally?
I don't believe David was using roids, he did not have the build like the ones who were.
Time to let this go! Baseball has more than once tarnished itself with its lack of leadership . The sport now is just a witch hunt . Between the strikes and the scandles. Who cares anymore! When attedance drops off maybe then the owners will stop turning a blind eye . The lawyers who leak this story and others like it should be made to answer for their actions.
Yeah,Yeah...and in related stories the Tooth Fairy claims to have donated all her cash to charities and the Easter bunny will maintain Easter egg hunts on a year to year basis promising at least 1 more before retiring!. How LAME!!!!!!!!!!!!
If it does turn out that David Ortiz did nothing wrong and never lied, I expect to see a full, sincere apology on the part of Tony Mazzarotti and all the other writers who went into full attack mode. Because it looks like we didn't know with "99.9 percent certainty" that "Big Papi is a myth." I don't believe that our hometown players should be protected from public scorn more than anyone else, but I do believe that newspaper writers should hold off on being judge and jury on these matters until all the facts come out. Tony and the other writers seem to have forgotten the need to confirm information - especially from undisclosed sources - before writing scathing articles and casting aspersion against someone's charater.
Cop Out! What a lying, sniveling cheat. 2004* 2007*
There's no need to apologize for being a name on a list that was supposed to be confidential, Big Papi, and no need to apologize for being suspected of a premeditated illegality.
The apology should come from the avaricious and/or ambitious and/or desperate jackal who leaked the information and from those who disseminated the information without clarifying context.
All is good! we now know is all fault of GNC; but please, let's now kick some Yankees' arses and win some game!!!
good job lying ROIDTIZ be a man
This puts Ortiz in the clear..It was stated that the list of 104 names can not be correct..That there were just 83 opsositive RESULTS not players as there were multiple tests on some players!! A -Rod blew it by stating he did use STEROIDS,
Ortiz said he did not...just vitamins and would not admit to taking supplements known to have performance enhancements......The Union DOES NOT KNOW what substances were involved to put someone on the list!!!! So Big Papi i innocent
Also it was proven Ortiz DID NOT KNOW he was on the list!!!
Can people just leave this guy alone now.
Let him play baseball.
He's a liar, just like the whole lot of them. He "doesn't know" if he used androstenedione. Please. And, also, he took illegal steroids, very little doubt in my mind.
I think some one else (R.M.) said the same thing and he played at the top of the class his full seasons, check Ortiz years at last club,very bad.
1st... he's innocent
God bless you David. I know that the Red Sox fans are with you 100% and all baseball fans should feel the same way. Now, just start getting some hits. Thanks for everything.
God bless you David. I know that the Red Sox fans are with you 100% and all baseball fans should feel the same way. Now, just start getting some hits. Thanks for everything.
I really want to know why the union hasn't released a lot of this information for any of the other players "leaked". They made some facts clear today that they should have made clear the day the first name was leaked. 104 names on the list can't be right because there were only 96 confirmed positive tests? Of those 96 a few of them were retests of the same player? This is all information that should have been released a long time ago. Why "defend" Ortiz now instead of defending any of the other players leaked?
The old: I never used steriods, but.......
and
I don't know what it was I took, but......
Why can't these guys just tell the truth?
liar!!!!!
Papi came across as honest, sincere, frustrated and so very sad. Unlike the arrogance displayed by ARod, Bonds, Clemons. My heart was breaking for him. I for one, believe him, and I would say that even if he were not "ours."
As Nomar said earlier, the list is a joke. There were non-using players who refused to take this "confidential" test to force MLB to start testing. There were over the counter substances that would apparently test positive in this test that were included in multi-vitamin and mineral products, that could account for more failures. There were also those who injected themselves specifically and intentionally with PED's. They are all caught in a broadly cast net when MLB was still trying to figure it. The list should be buried and forgotten about.. As Ortiz said. Anyone who tests positive now should get a stiff penalty.
Anyone else think that press conference was a total farce? I didn't think it was possible to get any more irritated or frustrated by the stunning degree of cowardice exhibited by both MLB and the growing parade of implicated players. And then baseball gives me this...
Big Papi = Big Phony
The most telling part of the "press conference" was when Ortiz could not explain why he had to wait a week to deny taking steroids. Never thought Ortiz would look worse than A-Rod in this scandal. Big Phony is not just a cheater, but worse, a liar just like Clemens and McGwire. A sad day for all of Boston.
Watching Ortiz and the union rep and listening to what they said was an insult to my intelligence. I hate to say it but A-Rod has been the only player to look the reporters in the eye and appear truthful. All you have to do is compare Ortiz' stats in 2004-2007 with his stats in 2008-2009 to find out when he stopped juicing. It's time for the Sox to begin cleansing their roster of the old underperforming players, the ones who have never lived up to the overpayment given them by Theo and all the players protected and coddled by the spit-master mgr. I would hope by spring 2010, the roster will have a 50% turnover and Theo and Tito are gone.
Ortiz's numbers did not spike out of the norm. Look at the 2002 numbers and specifically at the at bats. His growth was quite normal for a slugger entering his prime years age wise and his numbers now are declining and also are age appropriate.
Today he was frank, did not have a prepared statement to read from and finally got the union to get out in front of the public and shed some light on this mess from their perspective. Nuf Ced Ortiz is honest!
Go to it, media. Start doing your jobs and unearthing whether or not Ortiz was telling the truth when he categorically denied ever using steroids.
The man's head has grown to the size of a large pumpkin, but he's done nothing more than taking some protein powder from GNC.
1918.
Until they release the information from The List and let Ortiz, and all players, face their accusers, nobody involved with baseball, sportswriters included, should be out to crucify those players who have conveniently been 'leaked'. Have any of the people who have condemned Papi seen The List? Or was it just the NY Times source, whose credibility none of us, including MLB and the Players Association, can really examine? What's more, there's an apparent discrepancy between the 96 players that the Players Assoc. turned up in their report of the survey, and the 104 on The List? What of that? And once more--isn't the leak of List contents illegal? Can't we at least wait to throw blame on them after the accusations have been PROVEN?
Ortiz could well be innocent, but will the Red Sox please use someone else as DH? Ortiz's ability as a ML hitter is deteriorating at an alarming rate and he is no longer effective in that role.
Just like he's lying about his age. Have him take a DNA test to prove he's not an old man. I don't believe a word he says.
In Baseball fans eyes.......YOU ARE GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT.
How can he say he NEVER used steroids and in the same sentence say he doesn't know what he was tested positive for???????
Bottom line, he's hitting .200 and having too many games without any contribution. Varitek would be a better DH than Ortiz at this point...which puts things into perspective.
Time to make a change. He's done, regardless of the past.
Whether you believe David or not, at least he didn't blame it on his cousin.
Ortiz is a fat liar. What a joke.
*2004
*2007
They're all a bunch of cheats!! They've tainted my second best sport in the world!!
Wonder why hockey is the cleanest and hardest sport to play and yet they don't use this crap.....??? Why?????? Cuz their intellect is far above them bums!!!
Manny should be run out of the country or better yet, surrender this years pay as a offer of goodwill to the cancer of this world! On Ortiz, I actually believe him to a certain degree! Age is catching up to him....
I would like to see a 50 mil reward to the first person to cure cancer....Since there isn't a freaking Dr or scientist in this world to cure this disease...But yet they bring in billions for research...Go figure!!!
Yankees still suck!
Who cares who inhaled and who didn't. If all the players were tested back then the list of positives would probably shock us all. Any and everyone that played the game in the last 10 years gets painted with the same broad brush, fair or not. The record book ought to have a separate "Steroid Era" addendum and the HOF should have a separate "Steroid Era" wing for players who obviously padded their HOF resume during this period.
Ortiz is a fat liar. What a joke.
*2004
*2007
Some of you people just delight in being a douche. Give the guy a break.
I think Ortiz is lying. If he is not then neither is Barry Bonds. Both had "all of a sudden" become hr monsters. The stats do not lie. Look at what is happening lately with hr's ... anyone see any 70 hr runs for this year?
Well, surprise . . . surprise.
This is what we've been waiting for?
The dog ate his homework?
Once -- oh, Lord, just once before I die -- I want one of these a**holes to stand up and say, "Yes. I used performance-enhancing drugs. I did it to increase my productivity so I could make more money. I'm sorry all this has come to light."
If that ever happened I would probably have an incendiary embolism and die on the spot.
Lucky for me Major League Baseball is full of lying liars who lie and I won't ever have to worry about such an event ever occuring.
There seem to be a lot of people - alleged fans and media - who "know the truth" when "the truth" obviously is not knowable. Was Ortiz lying? I don't know. Was he telling the truth? I don't know. Was it some of each? I don't know. How much of each? I don't know. Why do so many other people "know"? (Partly because anonymous board-posters have no accountability, and apparently neither do some media creatures.)
What will Shaughnessey say now? Will he apolgize for jumping to conclusions or will he keep to his daggered words and still claim him to be a cheat. This just unravels the lack of faith in the Media's responsibility more than ever in that with their irresponsibility with information and how to sell their dying Newspaper professions. They will do anything to conjure up the interest in the public because it is their constitutional and civic right at the cost of someone else's profession. Their should have been a responsibility envoked upon the alleged Ortiz steroid use due to it's source. Leaking information loosely from Attorneys involved in this case should have put up a red flag to what the motive was. This information was to be concealed and no one was suppose to know about it. We don't even know how test were done and what they were tested for. Without that knowledge there was a perfect opportunity to jump to conclusions and that is exactly what Dan did. Shaunghnessey's employer, the New York Times, I am sure were behind this little caper to try to get at all those names announced so that they could sell more papers. Dan and his "Duty" to the paper to keep writing his bogus accusations have now done more damage to a person(David Ortiz) and possibly to an organization than ever imaginable. Their is no conclusion to all of this and their may never be since this was to be confidential information but it is not a paper's responsibility to try to pry information from the government's confidential files. I find it quite ironic that any information the government would have would be appealing to the media in the first place considering how these tests were done in the first place. I wish Dan would just wear an "NY" hat today and under it put the word "Times" and show where his true colors bleed. Black and white and RED all over his blood stained hands. Nice job of responsible media coverage Dan.
The Guy USed, and You people Carrying his Water really need to stop. Manny used, Bonds used, Mcgwire used, Sosa Used, Caminitti Used, Clemens Used, Palmiero USed... they all have the Exact same Profile. a Player who was either Never a power threat OR passed their Prime in that they reached an age at which most Normal Players begin to decline.. and Suddenly They had Huge spikes upward in Production, seemingly out of Nowhere. The only one who doesnt fit that Profile is Arod, but He admitted he USed. Ortiz Used, and Now He has assurances that theres No way For anyone to Verify That he Didnt test positive for sumthing in a Supplement, so all he has to do is continue crying foul.
He's a Cheat, and Anyone Stupid enough to Believe Anything the MLBPA says on this thing, when their interest is the well being and continued success of the same people who are accussed , is a moron. Its like in Police Corruption when the police investigate the Police and Say Nothing Illegal went on, well DOH! of course you say that youre a Cop Too!
This whole story is a ridiculous farce. Move on.
You gotta believe him! They sell 'roids right over the counter at GNC!
LOL. Why don't these users just admit it and move on instead of lying about it.
The old party line. I'm sick of hearing "duh geez I didn't know what I was taking back then. My trainer said it was ok". That said--I find it comical for Yankee fans to yell the "steroids" chant. Look who's talking! The Yankees had 4 WS titles tainted.
Release the whole list of names and move on! Plus the Ortiz explanation just doesn't pass the "smell" test, but what do you expect from these guys. Too much to lose.
what a lying sack of crap!! try giving a true statement w/o having your mouthpiece sitting next to you trying to deflect the blame eslewhere. This happened six years ago, Poopie. And you knew the results over a week ago! I'll believe Santa Claus is for real before I believe this BS drivel. Say all you want about this being an innocent taking of supplements/vitamins. We all know better than that. You don't have Mr. Mitchell to hide behind any more! Now get back in the club and get ready for your 3-4 groundouts to 2b. Oh, I forgot - efty today - you'll be a spectator since you can't hit anymore. Perhaps the s"upplements" have finally worn off.
Just maybe he's telling the truth. As a college age person many years ago, I purchased, serveral times, "supplement" powder to mix in drinks. It was all over the counter type products you could easily purchase at a GNC. I assume if I was tested at that time, I may have likely tested positive. I didn't know what was really in it. I was just some skinny kid that wanted some muscle to impress the ladies. BTW, it didn't work. I'm still thin and nobody was impressed!
All I'm trying to say is, Ortiz could have done similar things to help gain strength. Even though it is only a few years ago, it is light years ago in terms of steriods and testing issues. If someone is found tkaing anything these days, to me it would be their own fault for not looking into it.
David Ortiz does not deserve any of the criticism on this comment page. If you are a Yankee fan, please go to your New York Post or Daily News and place your comments there. Yankee fans always show their true colors with classless and ignorant diatribe.
For those commenting about why he waited until now...he is a member of the player's union, which told him to wait.
To those calling Ortiz a liar...no one knows all the facts. Ortiz waited to confirm information before going public. He says he didn't take steroids; he admits taking vitamins or diet supplements over the counter -- big difference.
To those of you saying '04 and/or '07 is tainted...there are 104 people on the '03 list. The list is broader than players on any one team -- Red Sox or Yankees. Any team playing in 90s and last decade had players doing something related to PED. If you want to say our championship seasons were tained, then every championship in the Steroid era should have an asterisk too.
Finally, I agree that the NYTimes among others were unethical in leaking information from a COURT-ORDERED SEALED DOCUMENT. They reported information that was OBTAINED ILLEGALLY.
He's a saint!
Giraud ... you put any weight into what Nomar has to say? He's probably at the top of the 2003 list!!
its amazing how fast some sox fans can kick those they claimed to love a short time ago, to the dirt. it is the posters who are the disgraces. there were no rules against this stuff til '05. and yes, gnc does carry bottles and bottles of products that contain things banned by mlb, football and olympics. that doesn't mean papi shot the stuff up. he says he didn't there is no evidence of what he took. it is he lawyers who leaked the information who committed federal crimes, not papi.
real sox fans hope the 3 balls he hit hard his last 3 ab's last night are a good sign of things to come. the rest of you may as well be yankee fans
It's obvious that there are LOTS of questions about the list, and what exactly those names represent, and what they may or may not have taken.
Given that, and that Ortiz has tested clean for MLB and the WBC for the past six years, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
An admitted STEROID user won the game with a walk off last night. Yankee Stadium rejoiced - including all of the fans carrying Ortiz bashing signs. Even after this press conference today - which casts significant doubt on the 2003 results according to MLB and the Union - and on the legal ethics of the lawyers involved, AND the NY Times, AND the BOSTON GLOBE - Yankee fans will still embrace the admitted steroid user A-ROD, the admitted HGH user Andy P, and denigrate Ortiz. In Boston, Red Sox fans will do the same in reverse. Let's just move on!
Papi, I am with you. The raid was illegal and what you took is your own business, whether supplements indicating a positive result or not. I don't believe you took steroids intentionally. You are a legend and always will be. You are Boston's Big Papi and always will be. Let the doubters show, document and specify their allegations, with a legitimate reason for the raid, a list of 'those who know' and who took what, when -- with specifics. How can a man defend himself against charges of this sort? Your strength and character are what matters. You are a giant in baseball, not a myth in Boston. I support you wholly. Here is hoping the press, congress and any other nosy parties start watching cricket.
I love the fact that most bloggers here have no idea that there is a difference between testing positive for PED's and steroids! Rashard Lewis just tested positive for probably the same thing that Papi did and Papi did it when it was not a PED! Obviously most of you have no clue about the difference between Roids and supplements! Did anyone consider the fact that the reason you never heard Papi's name prior was for the very reasons stated in his press conference? The union didn't know what he tested positive for either! Oh yeah, the "genius" who mentioned that it took so long for him to talk about it has the attention span of a gnat because the union said they were the one's who wanted to wait until today!
With Davids catholic up bring , this immoral deed is something david can not rebound from. The advice (lies) he has received from his P R people, will consume him with guilt . He is better fessing up ! I did wrong , I knownly cheated ,
I will return my championship rings as my pennings and pray for forgiveness.
This is the only way to redeem davids career !
yeah. rigth.....BIG LIAR.....that's was a movie????with the big star Big Papi.
THIS IS SO STUPID IN 03 THERE WERE SOME DRUGS THAT WERENT ILLEGAL AND IN 04 THEY CHANGED IT SO THEY ARE ILLEGAL. HOW ARE YOU GONNA GET BLAME FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHEN SOMETHING IS LEGAL IN 03 "THAT YOU CAN USE" AND IN 04 BAND AND GET CAUGHT USING IT IN 03!!! HOW IS THAT FAR.. SO STUPID!!! COME ON GUYS EVERYONE KNOWS ITS HARD TO HIT A BASEBALL HOW IS A PILL GONNA HELP YOU LOL YOU GOTS TO HAVE SKILLS!!!!!
yeah. rigth.....BIG LIAR.....that's was a movie????with the big star Big Papi.
“buying supplements and vitamins over the counter" ... yeah, over the counter in the Dominican ... come on ... he seemed rather evasive to me.
Certain flavors of VitaminWater are banned in NCAA sports. Red Bull is completely illegal in many countries such as Denmark, France and Norway. How many of you drink either of these to help you get through your day at work, so you can stay competitive and earn a paycheck and get a raise? People in all walks of life use whatever they can to stay sharp and get ahead.
You are no different than David Ortiz.
Nobody was complaining when David was spanking 50+ homers a year, yet you complain when he goes 200 at bats without a homer. Yet, the hypocrates you are complain again when you find he may have taken an illegal substance?? When chances are doing the same thing every day at your job.
Amazing. Give David a break. He's the most beloved athlete in Boston of my generation, and I have his back. I hope you do too.
Can we all stop being hypocrites for just 5 minutes??
The MLBPA is claiming that at least eight players on the list of 104 never tested positive. That could be an indication of problems with the testing regime. When I had to submit to a drug test 20 years ago I was warned that certain anti-inflammatories could cause a positive test for marijuana. Drug testing is something that people let themselves be frightened into accepting. Unless an adult is involved in an activity involving other lives such as truck drivers, bus drivers, police, fire fighters, etc., they shouldn't forced to take a drug test. Lots of players took amphetamines during the 1960s. Should their records carry an asterisk?
What a liar. Glad to know that RS fans are 100% behind the lies. Nice to have ESPN gloss over the press conference. "Can't people just leave the guy alone", come on.
I just hope the media does their due diligence to plug the gaping holes in his story. But why would they? The Sox are their darlings.
U LYING SCUM.... What's worst then being a cheater? LYING CHEATING SCUM. Am dominican, and i am totally dissapointed in DAVID.. i thought he was going to come out and be a man about it.
I was deeply stunnded when this information came out, and felt terribly for Ortiz the Red Sox and all of MLB. But looking at this article it is clear that Ortiz doesn't take steroids... Who can test posative once out of 15+ times being tested? Also Ortiz is acting like a real gentlemen and isn't throwing around bull s*** like A-Rod and others. Good luck to all involved in this 2003 drug test...hopefully you will act mature like Ortiz and nothing like A-Rod!
Nice, I see the comments mysteriously find a black hole after 1:20pm
Hey Manny never failed a test either. Ortiz waited to see what he could plausibly deny and then did so. It's a shame MLB, The Players Union and the media have destroyed our national pastime. It no longer reflects the values we aspire to but the ones we live with every day. I can find a cheater on any street corner, I don't need to pay $200 (and $10 for a hot dog) to see one. As a long time Red Sox fan I am disgusted by this team, Theo and the media that cover the team.
How come Peter Gammons, who knows that the trainer put new laces in Jason Varitek's cleats before he does, never knew about players using steroids? Or maybe, just maybe, he kept his mouth shut to "protect" the sport. His reward? Election to the baseball hall of fame before his time.
If the Red Sox were still in first place, had a decent third starter, and Papi was hitting like last year, how many of you would be defending him. No wonder outsiders call us Second Rate to New York.
Not one reporter, the arrogant geniuses McAdam and Buckley included, asked him if he was ever injected in that obese azz. Real journalists, or Rump Rangers? You decide.
Why didn't anyone at the news conference ask Ortiz if he had ever received an "injection" of vitamins & supplements, or maybe even tapioca pudding."
Not only do I no longer hate David Ortiz, I completely fogive him. Anyone agree? Also, if he did not test posotive in 2004 and 2007 the world series titles were not tainted!!!
This venom directed at Mr. Ortiz seems way beyond reasonable. This society is saturated with dishonesty and denial. Look at politics. Look at celebrities. Spin, lies, monstrous allegations, scandal. Now we have an industry that has helped build guys like Ortiz into the heroes of our aspirations and people get truly irate when they don't live up to the ideals we foist on them. Get a grip. Taking it out on this guy is silly. As catharsis for the mountain of deceit we tolerate, it seems to me a pretty shoddy exercise.
1) Why does David (and presumably the Union) want to position his actions re: the use of supplements in 2003 as "careless," IFF he was only taking legal over-the-counter products? 2) Why is he apologizing to the fans and the team at this point, if he is (as represented by the Press Conference) the victim here and in fact is being unfairly treated by the media and the legal system, particularly given that he did not use steroids and was only using legal supplements and vitamins? or 3) Does "careless" just mean the Big Papi wasn't aware of his trainer (or Man-Ram) administering the needle to his rear end?
Jim P.
Oakland, Ca
I found the press conference credible
Hey Maz!
As important, Major League Baseball has informed us that David has been tested every year since the implementation of the MLB/MLBPA program in 2004 and, under the program, he has been tested 15 or more different times. We have been informed that, during this entire 6-year period (2004-2009), David has never tested positive for a steroid. Also during this period, David voluntarily submitted himself to the Olympic standard of drug tests administered in connection with the World Baseball Classics in 2006 and in 2009. We are informed he did not test positive for steroids under those tests either, and he participated actively in both international tournaments.
Where's the retraction for the MYTH article?
I believe him. I would never knowingly touch a steroid, but I take lots of vitamin supplements for my health. I often take what is recommended by the sales people. If what he took on 2003 was legal at the time why should we blame him?
good enough for me papi now let's move on
So many stones. So many glass houses.
Welcome to the Spin Zone . . .
I don't understand why so many people are still so quick to call Ortiz a liar. If the Red Sox, as an organization, said that during the 6 year period between 2004 and 2006 Ortiz was tested 15 times and NEVER tested positive for steroids, in addition to passing two Olympic standard drug tests, why can't you believe that? Even if he did test positive in 2003, he stopped taking steroids or anything else MLB is testing for now. I don't see how this can kind of evidence can still be translated into him being guilty and a liar. I have a feeling that most of the people calling him a liar are the ones who have been bashing him as a fraud and a disappointment the last week, and now just don't want to admit they might have been wrong to say that.
By no means am I being blinded by Red Sox loyalty or fandom- I still think he's had an abysmal season so far and that his time is pretty much done as the Sox Dh and most feared slugger. He DID have an actual wrist problem last year, has also had knee problems- legit health issues that once your past 30 as a professional athlete might actually hinder your performance. Look at Lowrie-- pretty decent player, now has wrist problems in his early 20's and he's having the same issues as Ortiz. Get over it and let the man play baseball--he's having enough issue doing that without all of this extra crap.
I would have a lot more respect for him if he had admitted the truth, apologized, and moved on. I am sick of the excuses when clearly you can see major physical and performance changes in these players in their mid to late careers. David Ortiz on the Twins and Big Papi on the Sox were two different people due to performace enhancing drugs.
Liar, liar, Sox on fire!
Bull Crap. Not only do you cheat and accept the undeserving adulation of the crowds for your steroid bloated World Series accomplishments but now you expect to pull the old Bonds defense and get away with it? Disgusting. Release Ortiz.
Remember when Rocket was interviewed and asked if he would take a lie detector test, and of course, he avoided like the plague.
This is simple, David. If I were him, I would demand a lie detector test. Ask the question, did you knowingly take any steriods.
I know the test is not 100%, but if he agreed to take one and passed, I would immediately believe bim.
I BELIEVE YOU BIG PAPI!!!!
What a bitter, fetid world we've made. Filled with petty, small, sniveling and unhappy adults, and the aimlessly angry children who choose to follow in the same shallow footprints. You comment like a mob at a public hanging. Shame on you. Go home and tend to your own wounds.
of course he never used steroids.......he just went from a marginal player who couldn't hit homeruns despite his size, to one who became a mythic figure, hitting tons of homers, including walk-offs in the 2004 ALCS, and following with 58 homers a few years later....but of course he did this all without PED's........just like clemens, ortiz wants everyone to believe he's done what he's done on the baseball field without the help of "the juice".........sorry papi
Firstly, if he took andro, so what? It was not illegal, and it was not banned by baseball.
Secondly, I do believe someone could pee in a cup and then be surprised to hear that 'something' triggered 'something' to include them on some list, without any knowledge of what it was.
Thirdly, I believe David. I don't believe he was shooting up with needles of stuff to try and cheat. Those are the guys we need to get rid of. David does look the part, and his response has been exactly what I would expect from someone caught up by surprise.
Fourth, the standard of testing for the WBC is far stricter than the MLB testing, and David passed it. Twice.
Lastly, the reporters who wrote scathing editorials just hours after the Times report should be fired for hypocrisy. All of these guys were baseball writers in 1999, 2000, 2001, etc. Where was their indignation then? No investigative reporting until the story is popular?
Shame on Mazz and Shaughnessy, and all the other clowns in the Boston media who were so quick to throw Ortiz under the bus when his name was first leaked. They owe Big Papi an apology.
If you've never taken steriods, but you're told that your name is on a list of players who tested positive for steriods, you call bull s**t right away. What you don't do is wait a week to make sure that there's no proof that your took steriods before you make a statement. Clinton never had sex with that woman, and Papi never bought or used steriods. Who really cares at this point.
seriously? this was a joke. he had to wait until the players' association gave him a back door to crawl out of with plausibility before talking. he waited a week to say he never used? laughable. why not just say it when the story came out? also, im no fan of Arod but he suffered more scrutiny after his admission than ortiz is getting for his excuses. what a joke.
A couple of things. You can either believe Ortiz or not. That's up to you.
I for one believe him and if it comes out by whoever leaked the story in the first place that he is lying and he did take steroids, so be it he's another liar and shame on me.
I'm a Red Sox fan and I believed A-Rod when he said he didn't take anything after
2003 and I also believed Andy Pettite.
You can't not believe A-Rod and then believe Ortiz or not believe Ortiz, but believe A-Rod. It shows that your're inconsitent and not very objective. You can't have it both ways.
OK, obviously time to find out who is leaking the names....from the New York-based law firm or MLB office. Not that geography would ever play a role...
Ranks right up there with Clinton's "I did not have relations with that woman..." assertion.
Whatever. I think all players SHOULD take steroids. I'd pay good money to watch an all-steroid super-team hit 700-foot home runs and then round the bases while suspending 2800-lb. Volkswagens over their head.
I believe him. Thats that.
of course he never used steroids.......he just went from a marginal player who couldn't hit homeruns despite his size, to one who became a mythic figure, hitting tons of homers, including walk-offs in the 2004 ALCS, and following with 58 homers a few years later....but of course he did this all without PED's........just like clemens, ortiz wants everyone to believe he's done what he's done on the baseball field without the help of "the juice".........sorry papi
Anyone on here call Oritz a liar must be a stinkin no class SPANKEES fan. First, the 10 yankess players that tested positve didn't get a union rep because it was the Union Rep who told them they tested positive and they tried to lie their way out of it like AROID. 2. Another smear campaign by the New York times again. Lets get back to work Papi, show the fat face Hank Stienbrenner that we have the biggest bats in the east.