By now you have probably heard about Jason Giambi's confession - under oath - to using steroids. If you are like me, you are disappointed. I suppose it was only a matter of time before one of the games true stars was found to be guilty of using performance enhancing drugs illegally, but I kept my head in the sandtrap and held out hope that it wouldn't happen. People follow (and to a lesser extent) participate in sports for two primary reasons: we find competition on nearly any level interesting and because we marvel at the abilities of athletes at the elite levels. It is the latter reason that Giambi and others like him cheapen when they break the rules and illegally use substances such as testosterone and human growth hormones.
Some athletes' abilities are worthy of marvel because of their natural-born talent. The eye-hand coordination, the leaping ability, the innate awareness for the dynamics of their sport. Not everyone can hit a golf ball straight as an arrow, three hundred yards down the fairway. Not everyone can begin their jump at the foul line and dunk the ball. Not everyone has the awareness to run all the way across the diamond, cut off a misplaced throw from the outfield, and redirect it to make an out at home. Amazing feats whenever we see them. Is there anyone that does not appreciate Dr. J's leaping underhanded layup from under/behind the backboard? Amazing, simply amazing. No one can say for sure where these seemingly reflexive abilities come from, nature or nurture or otherwise, but we know it when we see it, and we love it.
Other athletes' abilities are worthy of admiration because of the work and internal drive that enhanced or even created the ability. Ben Hogan practicing hitting golf balls until his hands bled. Ted Williams consistently eschewing evenings out on the town with his teammates in order to practice his stroke in front of his hotel mirror all night long. Jerry Rice running up hill after hill after hill. Jackie Robinson's ability to steal home while slurs and threats are hurled in his direction. We all wish we had such devotion, such drive. No one can say for sure where this drive comes from, nature or nurture or otherwise, but we know it when we see it, and we love it.
There are times we have learned that an athlete has tried to cut corners and take the easy way out, and we despise it.
According to Giambi's testimony, he used the substances in order to prolong his career in the manner that Barry Bonds has. We would admire Giambi if he had chosen to have more faith in his innate strike zone judgment, a confidence that might have carried him into his late 30's the same way it has for Bonds. We would admire Giambi even more if he had also chosen to run up the same Bay Area hills as Jerry Rice day after day, conditioning himself into his late 30's the way Rice has. Instead of admiration, we are left with disappointment. Disappointment in Giambi's failure to appreciate elite athletic ability in himself and in others the same way we do.
If this story begins and ends with Jason Giambi, baseball will be fine. It will be less than a blip on the proverbial radar. But if others, Barry Bonds especially, are linked or found to be guilty, I shudder at the consequences. It is bad enough we have to endure the ever present Pete Rose debate, but a permanent debate on the legitimacy of the record books - and the cumulative and historic athletic ability they represent - will tarnish the sport forever. As I've written before, a sport is significantly damaged once the public routinely questions the legitimacy of what they see on the field.
