greasywheels121 Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 (edited) Video of his statement from the testimony at the link... http://whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/ar...t=.jsp&c_id=cws Big Hurt discusses steroids hearing White Sox star talks to reporters day after testifying By Scott Merkin / MLB.com TUCSON -- Frank Thomas had plenty to say during Thursday's Committee on Government Reform on steroids abuse in baseball. But he never had the chance. Shortly after issuing his opening statement by video conference call before Congress, the hook-up faded out between Washington D.C. and the University of Arizona biomedical center where Thomas was stationed. He was given permission to avoid the trip to Washington D.C., the day before because of the ill effects the long flight would have on his left ankle rehabilitation. Since Thomas was under oath, he sat and watched the question and answer session between his baseball peers and Congress. His time in the room covered nine hours before the day was done, a time period that didn't include any breaks for lunch. When reminded that there was a pizza brought in, Thomas laughed and pointed out that he can't eat that sort of food while following his current diet. "I wish I was just there," Thomas said. "Not really. I have to be honest. Some of that stuff really didn't have anything to do with steroids. There were different things about baseball that I really couldn't answer. "There were questions about stuff, and I was like, 'Wow, I didn't know that.' It was intense. I don't think anyone would want to be in that room." Thomas addressed the media prior to Friday's game against the Cubs at Tucson Electric Park, speaking about the hearings, his role as co-chairman with Curt Schilling of the newly formed task force to encourage and explore zero tolerance and the effect of Jose Canseco's book on the entire steroids controversy. Thomas believes the 10-day suspension for a first-time offense will send a message to the player. "I'm for suspension," Thomas said. "I think for the first time (violation), guys should be suspended and I think the public embarrassment would take care of a lot of this. Once the guy gets his name out there and people know he has been taking steroids, I don't think he would want to do it again. "If they give a 10-day suspension, I think it will work -- if they put their name into the national newspaper that they have been caught. It seems to work well in the NFL. When guys get caught, for some reason, they tend to clean up their act. "That one big, big punch in the stomach will take care of things and not a slap on the wrist," Thomas added. Thomas chose not to address any specific player's testimony, including Mark McGwire's comments. He did refer to Canseco's book, which seemed to spark the whole idea for Thursday's meeting, as a "big alert to everybody" in the game. Instead of focusing on the pointing of fingers by Canseco at other players and spreading of innuendo, Thomas chose to look at one of the game's past superstars making a frank admission. "Steroids are real, and one of your prominent players has said he was on steroids a long time and pretty much bragged about it in his book," Thomas said. "It's something they definitely have to look at. "(Canseco) told the truth about himself. And we know now, as huge a star as he was in the game, he was on steroids," Thomas added. The new task force stands as a work in progress, according to Thomas. It will involve a great deal of public service announcements and be focused on educating younger kids to stay away from the dangerous drugs. Thomas, who has three children, said that while it's hard to know what your kids are doing every day, you always try to set the right example as a parent. His philosophy doesn't waiver when moving from father to the responsibilities of a professional athlete. White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf declined comment on the actual proceedings from Thursday. He did speak about Thomas' role in the hearings and his future involvement. "I'm proud of Frank," Reinsdorf said. "We always knew that Frank was not a steroid guy. I'm very proud of the fact that he stepped up and expressed himself and that he will have a continuing role." Thomas' outspoken nature against steroids' usage was the primary reason he was chosen for Thursday's panel. His views haven't changed from the early stages of this problem to more recent days, when the controversy has reached a higher level. Steroids are a blight on the game, in Thomas' mind, providing an unfair advantage. "Of course it's cheating," Thomas said of steroids' usage. "Most definitely. It's cheating. Steroids are illegal. That's just an easy question to answer." Edited March 19, 2005 by greasywheels121 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rangercal Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 Im extremely proud of Frank. I think it is a joke that he is not getting any coverage for being named to the Task force. especially not any coverage in his own home town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabroni Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 Haha, the begginning of Frank's video is funny. It's like he can't even hear what the speaker is saying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxy Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 Frank Thomas, my hero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldmember Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 QUOTE(ChiSoxyGirl @ Mar 18, 2005 -> 10:24 PM) Frank Thomas, my hero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 Good job Frank!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 "Of course it's cheating," Thomas said of steroids' usage. "Most definitely. It's cheating. Steroids are illegal. That's just an easy question to answer." See, McGwire, that's not a difficult question to answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 QUOTE(YASNY @ Mar 19, 2005 -> 12:47 AM) See, McGwire, that's not a difficult question to answer. It is if the answer damns you forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 QUOTE(The Critic @ Mar 19, 2005 -> 07:44 AM) It is if the answer damns you forever. What goes around, comes around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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