…but he helps sick kids!
Last week the George Mitchell report on his investigation into HGH and steroids in Major League Baseball. Between 25-30% of the players on the list of users were either current or former members of the Baltimore Orioles. Seems surprising to me that almost 1/3 of the list is occupied by losers. The Orioles haven’t had a winning season since I was a child (over 13 years).
Even greater, one of the prides of Baltimore, young and atheletic second basemen Brian Roberts, is listed on the report. Brian Roberts has been one of the bright spots in the O’s lineup for about five years. This week the Orioles released a statement defending Roberts by the work that he’s done in the community. “BUT HE HELPS SICK KIDS” was the best story they can come up with supporting their player (referring to the work Roberts does with sick children in local hospitals).
Ironically, Roberts himself doesn’t deny the allegations. In fact, he admits it, and he accepts responsibility. Roberts said, “In 2003, when I took one shot of steroids, I immediately realized that this was not what I stood for or anything that I wanted to continue doing,” Roberts told the Sun. “I never used steroids, human growth hormone or any other performance-enhancing drugs prior to or since that single incident. I can honestly say before God, myself, my family and all of my fans that steroids or any performance-enhancing drugs have never had any effect on what I have worked so hard to accomplish in the game of baseball. I am very sorry and I deeply regret ever making that terrible decision. My only hope and prayer is that the Orioles, my family, friends and fans that have supported me so faithfully will forgive me.”
Roberts exemplified greater leadership than the organizational leaders for the team he plays for. See a trend? Could it be that the Orioles have been losers for so long because they lack true leadership from the top?!
Poor leadership trickles all the way down the stream to the coaches and players that enter the field nearly every night April-October. The players involved in taking steroids have poor personal leadership; they substitute true work ethic by using a substance that will provide results which do not equal the work put forth.
The only way to get where we need to be is true work and strong leadership. With these trends in our lives, we will never become winners. Throw any substance, any lie, any form of cheating into the mix… in the end…. we all end up losers, even if you help sick kids.
