The Yankees paid big bucks for an apparently juiced Jason Giambi, but now they're claiming they received a lemon. ESPN reports that New York may seek to void Giambi's contract based on remarks he made last week, in which he insinuated that he used steroids in the past.When I first read Giambi's remarks, I can't say I was shocked. Does anyone else remember the "tape worm" he had in 2004? Big surprise that what actually ailed him was never revealed, right?
Actually, I was impressed that Giambi had the courage to say what he said. It takes guts to break with the status quo, both in the Yankees' organization and in Major League Baseball as a whole.
As a side note, I borrowed Ball Four from a relative yesterday. I've never read it, and even though I only got through the first chapter last night, I came down with a bad case of deja vu when I read today that Giambi is in danger of losing his contract. It seems to me that Jim Bouton should have told Giambi that telling the truth can be dangerous.
The fact is that Giambi cheated. So did lots of other players, but he's been the only active player (that I can think of) to admit it. To me, that's bravery.
Of course his contract is inflated. But think about all the extra revenue that the "inexplicable" increase in home runs brought to baseball. The Yankees benefitted from that as much or more than any other team. Besides, what would they do with the recouped money anyway?
Maybe they're just looking for a way to pay Roger Clemens.
4 comments:
Happy Reading - Ball Four is a classic.
Them voiding his contract would be absurd. If they are so outraged at his steroid use, are they going to go back and expunge the home runs he hit in game 7 of the 2003 ALCS that won them the series as well?
As I said in my entry, I think its more important from a precedent standpoint rather than personally for Giambi. I really could care less if he gets however many tens of millions of dollars they owe him. Though, it would be great to see the Yankees get dragged into a legal mess with him. That is the only way that this season could possibly get even better for the devoted Yankee hater.
Yeah, neither Giambi nor anyone else will lose a dime from contracts they received while juicing. Like you said, there are all kinds of double standards at play here, and if you try to sort them out you realize just what a tangled mess it is.
Can they actually void the contract? I'd be suprised if there was wording that would void the contract if he used steroids, I haven't heard of that before. If they're doing it on the grounds of cheating or using illegal substances, then they'd have to figure out what kind and if they were actually illegal at the time he used them. It's all a marketing ploy, IMO.
And Kevin, nice new pic, but a Mariners cap? C'mon buddy, show some Giants allegience!
There will definitely be legal issues that come into play if the Yankees try to void the contract. While I doubt it will happen, I certainly don't think it's a marketing ploy of any kind. The Yankees owe Giambi a lot of money, and they don't feel like they're getting a good return on their investment right now. With all the money that's due Roger Clemens, the thought of recouping Giambi's salary has to be a least a little enticing.
As for the Mariners hat, I'm still a Giants fan at heart. For that matter, when the 49ers and Seahawks play, I'm cheering for the Red and Gold.
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