It's hard to get superstars to admit that they used steroids. Heck, you have to basically catch them with the syringe stuck in them to get an apology. But there's one former superstar who readily admits that if he played in another era, he would have cheated. That former superstar is Darryl Strawberry."Hell, yeah, I would have used them!" he thundered when asked a hypothetical about himself. "Are you kidding me? I mean, c'mon. Some things are part of what athletes go through, and they happen."Heck, why not? Strawberry was pretty much a part of everything that athletes go through, why not steroids, too? You see Strawberry, like Alex Rodriguez, was young and stupid. But when he got older, he apparently got wiser, as he resisted the steroid temptation in the '90s.
"I was late in the game," he said. "If you'd caught me when I was 24 or 25 in the midst of my career, of course I [would have taken steroids]. I was naïve. I was stupid. ... I could relate to [A-Rod's comments], because I was stupid, too, when I was 24, 25, 26 years old. I did a lot of stupid things."And Straw wrote a book detailing those stupid things, so if anyone would know, he would. But at least he takes stock in his addictive and competitive personality to make an honest assessment of himself. For those who have that kind of personality, the lure of the drug is much more powerful than the individual taking them.
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LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers watches as Mo Williams #2 takes a shoe to the face by Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a steal in the closing seconds of the first half at The Quicken Loans Arena on February 8, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images)
David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images
Brazil's Diogo (L) vies for the ball with Paraguay's Hernan Perez during their U-20 South American Championship football match in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela on February 8, 2009.(Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images )
Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images
A Dalmatian looks at its handler as a judge goes to touch the dog during the first day of the 2009 Westminster Dog Show in New York February 9, 2009.(Lucas Jackson, Reuters)
Lucas Jackson, Reuters
Denver Nuggets forward Chris Anderson touches his head during a time out in the first half of their NBA basketball game with the New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, New Jersey February 7, 2009. (Ray Stubblebine, Reuters)
Ray Stubblebine, Reuters
Margarita Marbler, of Austria, skis to a bronze medal finish the ladies moguls freestyle FIS World Cupskiing qualification at Cypress mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP)
Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP
West Virginia guard Darryl Bryant (25) is fouled by Providence guard Jeff Xavier (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. West Virginia won 86-59. (Don Wright, AP)
Don Wright, AP
Missouri's DeMarre Carroll, top, celebrates the Tigers' 62-60 win over Kansas in Columbia, Missouri, Monday, February 9, 2009. (Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT)
Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT
David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils fights Erik Reitz #4 of the New York Rangers during their game on February 9, 2009 at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (Al Bello, Getty Images)
Al Bello, Getty Images
Driver Patrick Sheltra (60) begins to spin coming out of the fourth turn during the ARCA 200 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.
Darryl Graham, AP
Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives serves the ball, in this multiple exposure, to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic during their Fed Cup tennis match in Brno February 7, 2009.
Petr Josek, Reuters
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-03-2009 @ 4:30PM
John said...
Hmmmm let see ,,,the choise is 1} take steroids and win a 100 million dollars sport contract or 2) drink your milk and get a job flipping burgers at McDonalds??? HHHHMMMMM , now which one would i do? thats a tuff one LOL LOL LOL
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3-04-2009 @ 8:46AM
sergeantruss said...
It is not a tough decision if you have integrity. Obviously, you showed the AOL users the lack of integrity you have. But it does not surprise me that Strawberry would have used steroids. Why not, he used every other illegal drug that shortened his career and gave him the reputation as a drug head.
3-03-2009 @ 5:21PM
Mike said...
what else is new all about the $$$$$$$$$ for the big contract in reality he is a bust
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3-03-2009 @ 6:01PM
darthrhom said...
Is there any drug Strawberry would turn down?
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3-04-2009 @ 12:47PM
ckellman62 said...
I AGREE
3-03-2009 @ 7:58PM
John Marshall said...
Who woulda guessed? A coke head saying he would take steroids?
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3-03-2009 @ 8:25PM
FISHHOOHOOO said...
I HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ALL ATHLETE LIKE TO USE STERIOD DRUG WHY THEY SHOW OUR FAN BELEIVE THAT ANY PLAYER REALLY EXCELLENT AND GOOD PLAYING THE BASEBALL ALIKE ALEX RODRIGUEZ. I CAN'T IMAGINED THAT WHO'S OWNER SIGNED HIM $250 MILLION DOLLARS BUT HE STILL CHEATING IN OUR FAN DARN. I THINK THAT COMMISSON SHOULD GIVE HIM PUNISH AND FINE LOT LOT AND SUSPEND FOR ONE YEAR WITHOUT PAY PERIOD. HE MUST LEARN LESSON AND REQUIRE TO TAKE HIM TEST BLOOD BEFORE HE WILL RETURN BACK TO NEW YORK FOR NEXT YEAR . HE SAY THAT HIS COUSIN ABOUT STERIOD DRUG BUT I DON'T CARE WHAT DID ALEX RODRIGUEZ SAY ABOUT COUSIN SOMETHING ALIKE TRICK . I KNOW THAT HE LIKES PAY ATTENTION AND LIKES TO GIVE OUR FAN'S BRAINWASHER NOW NOW NOW OUR FAN REALLY BITCH AND F*&(*&^^&^%*(* TO ALEX RODRIGUEZ. I FAVORITE THAT BEST PLAYER NAME BABE AND NEVER USING ANY DRUG ALL HIS LIFE . I BELEIVE THAT GOD GIFT HIM. IF BABE AND ALEX ARE SAME AGE AND SURE THAT BABE IS BEST IN THE WORLD.
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3-03-2009 @ 8:35PM
userbub12487 said...
Um, roid were around in your era, Strawberry, so you did take them you lying piece of...
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3-03-2009 @ 8:45PM
mojo said...
strawberry would take anything he could smoke swallow snort and shoot up . for all his 2nd chances , he's just a street junkie
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3-03-2009 @ 9:09PM
Chris said...
Although illegal, steroids are just a tool. Without hard work, dedication and talent the substances will not do a damn thing to help. Anyone who thinks differently has NO idea what they are talking about. If you don't know then get off the bandwagon.
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3-04-2009 @ 8:49AM
sergeantruss said...
You too just showed the lack of integrity you have. Steroids is not a tool. I'm sorry, it is a tool. A tool to cheat. And for your information, there were thousands of good athletes before steroids. It is called hard work and dedication, not cheating by using a drug.
3-04-2009 @ 10:54PM
Jon-Erik Nissen said...
Yeah, steroids are a tool. An illegal one used to cheat. They won't make a nobody into a superstar, but, as we saw with Barroid Bonds, it adds a good 15 or more hrs per year on balls that would have been deep flies to the outfield. Or else, maybe you would like to explain how someone in his late thirties, who had never hit more than 45 in a season suddenly jumps to 73.
3-03-2009 @ 9:45PM
Tom Simek, Jr. said...
LOL Hahaha. Is it any shock Darryl would have used? How many suspensions for drugs? This man was a Hall Of Famer if he kept himself clean. What is next Doc Gooden coming out and saying the same or Steve Howe from his grave admitting he would have used. This is not news, this is captain obvious.
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3-03-2009 @ 9:49PM
Tom Simek, Jr. said...
Unfortunately you can't punish A-ROID, the name was never suppsoed to be looked at. Bonds was allowed to break the HR record, shit Palmiero was allowed to get his 3000 hit before the news of his failing came out, he failed weeks before his 3000 hit and asked the commishoner to wait until he got the hit to make it public. Giambi was never punished either. We have to hope Ryan Howard can break the record so we can have a real HR King again. Put them in the Hall with a steroid needle on the plaque because someone who used and didn't get caught will get in. Nothing can be done, it's in the past.
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3-03-2009 @ 9:52PM
ohjaynie said...
Do not use Strawberry as an example of a baseball player. Maybe as a ex-convict druggie. One who apparently did/does not care which drug he slams into his arms...
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3-03-2009 @ 10:26PM
mattyb1 said...
Being a Mets fan during my teenage years of the 80's, Strawberry had the sweetest swing and the most natural ability of almost anyone. He used to hit homerun's high up on the Mets big scoreboard at Shea. It's a shame that he couldn't focus or he might have been the best power hitter ever. I can't even imagine what his numbers would have been like or how far he would have hit them if he roided. Probably would of knocked a few completely out of Shea. But I am glad that he did it the natural way, only using cocaine. Good for you Darryl!
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3-03-2009 @ 10:49PM
cathy said...
ummmm he said he didn't take them before.... If he didn't take them before I must be the queen of England, and the Chicago flubs must have won the world series last year.....
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3-03-2009 @ 11:10PM
mbs190 said...
Give me a break! Strawberry would never have given up his "coke" habit for steroids.
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3-04-2009 @ 12:16AM
casey93560 said...
Legend Admits He Would Have Taken Steroids
What legend are they talking about? Strawberry was no legend. Just a legendary waste of talent.
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3-04-2009 @ 12:27AM
chuckie said...
Strawberry a legend? A super-star? How about over-rated, lazy under-achiever with bad fiends and a drug habit. Who the hell writes your headlines, AOL?
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