It is about Time!

[rangercal]

(New York Times)

Overlooked by Congress, Frank Thomas Speaks Up

By LEE JENKINS

 

Published: March 19, 2005

 

 

TUCSON, March 18 - If your typical major league player had been confined to a videoconference room for nine hours, essentially ignored by the Congressional committee that had subpoenaed him and fed only a pizza that was too greasy to touch, he might have been angry enough to throw a helmet from here to Washington.

 

Frank Thomas was only upset that he did not get to say more. While the House Committee on Government Reform questioned every player present at the hearing Thursday - Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Curt Schilling, Rafael Palmeiro and Jose Canseco - Thomas remained a disembodied face on a television screen, shunted aside by the committee after his opening statement.

 

Either the committee members felt that the satellite hookup took away from the drama of the hearing or they forgot about Thomas, one of baseball's strongest critics of steroids. After his first statement, Thomas was never called on again, leaving him stuck, hour after hour, in the on-deck circle at the University of Arizona. It was only when Thomas reported back to work with the Chicago White Sox on Friday that he was finally able to answer the questions that the committee never asked him.

 

On baseball's existing drug-testing policy: "Public embarrassment will take care of a lot of this. Once a guy's name is out there in the newspaper, he won't want to do it again. One big punch in the stomach will take care of this - not a slap on the wrist."

 

On McGwire, who would not answer questions from the panel about whether he took steroids: "I don't think it was anything positive for us, for baseball. Guys would say stuff like that about him back in the day, but I was naïve about the whole thing."

 

On the negative attention being cast on baseball: "If we have suffered a black eye, it's time to clear it up and let it heal. Everyone is on edge right now, but I think some good will come out of this. I really do."

 

Thomas's comments came on a day on which Representative Henry A. Waxman, Democrat of California and the ranking minority member of the committee, issued a statement saying there was a need to investigate "the full extent of the steroid problem in baseball and other sports." Waxman, who near the end of the hearing Thursday wondered out loud whether baseball needed new leaders, also endorsed a "universal no-steroids policy for all levels of athletics."

 

Waxman said it was clear after the 11-hour hearing that baseball remained "in denial" about the scope of its steroid problem. Karen Lightfoot, his spokeswoman on the committee, said new individuals had approached the committee Friday with information about steroid use in baseball.

 

But at the same time, President Bush declined to offer further support Friday for a Congressional investigation of baseball. Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, told reporters on Air Force One that the president did not believe federal intervention was the proper course. Bush, a former owner of the Texas Rangers, said on Wednesday that he had no problem with the committee's decision to subpoena players for the hearing, but on Friday, he seemed to draw a line.

 

"Baseball has taken important steps to respond to concerns that have been expressed about the use of steroids," McClellan said. "It is important for baseball to continue to take steps to confront the problem."

 

Meanwhile, the 36-year-old Thomas, a longtime slugger with 436 career home runs, has already accepted an invitation to participate on a Congressional task force with Schilling, a fellow steroids critic, and a handful of other players. Thomas envisions doing public-service announcements and speaking to high school students about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.

 

Thomas seemed to be among the relatively few major leaguers who admitted to watching the hearings on Thursday - and not just because he was legally obligated to do so. While White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen said he "didn't pay any attention" and Chicago Cubs Manager Dusty Baker said he was busy buying cornbread, cabbage and corned beef for St. Patrick's Day, Thomas said, "This is real."

 

When he reflected on the number of teenagers using steroids, he shook his head as if he had been fooled by a curveball. "I didn't know," he said.

Edited March 19, 2005 by rangercal

[rangercal]

Frank is the best

[Texsox]

If we never win a World Series but continue to play guys who are honest and hardworking, I'll be happy.

[rangercal]

If we never win a World Series but continue to play guys who are honest and hardworking, I'll be happy.

I second that. I dont see why Frank gets a bad rap by some people. I met him numerous times. He is a great standup guy! ( I cant say that about all athletes or even sox players I met) Frank was always awesome.

[The Critic]

I second that. I dont see why Frank gets a bad rap by some people. I met him numerous times. He is a great standup guy!  ( I cant say that about all athletes or even sox players I met)  Frank was always awesome.

Well, Frank has a reputation as moody, defiant and a bit of a whiner. At least he had in the past. He has also shown an opinion that he hasn't received the attention/praise/treatment that a player of his stature deserves. Accurate or not, fans generally don't want to hear that type of talk from players.

I think as Frank approaches the twilight of his Hall Of Fame calibre career, he is starting to appreciate the time he has left. When things are going smooth and easy, you have a tendency to take them for granted. But now that Frank is forced to watch as many games as he is able to play in ( or MORE ), I think the game is becoming more precious to him.

I've never really doubted that Frank's heart is in the right place, he just seemed to have a knack for saying things the wrong way, and at the wrong time.

But not now! He's saying the right things the right way at the right time, and I applaud him!

I'll say this again - Frank Thomas is the greatest offensive force ever to wear a White Sox uniform, and I feel grateful to have seen him perform. I want to see him perform again this year and beyond.

[Chisoxrd5]

Chicago Cubs Manager Dusty Baker said he was busy buying cornbread, cabbage and corned beef for St. Patrick's Day, Thomas said, "This is real."

 

C'mon Dude, relax...there are no steriods in baseball. Dusty Baker is a tool :headshake

 

 

This quote is great...bout time Frank gets the press he deserves, but look, couldnt find an article in a Chicago Newspaper like that. Its a dirty shame what the Chicago media has done to Frank in the past few years.

[JUGGERNAUT]

I do not recall Frank being a whinner since he signed his last contract.

The whinning came into play when Frank's 10M/yr paled in comparison to what other athletes were making with less numbers.

 

I can't think of one player who would not have grown moody, or whined at the threat of the diminished skills clause.

 

But through it all Frank has remained loyal to the White Sox to a degree greater than that of any other player during his time with the team. That speaks more to me than his need to wear his emotions on his sleeves.

I've always respected his openness as well.

[That funky motion]

I second that. I dont see why Frank gets a bad rap by some people. I met him numerous times. He is a great standup guy!  ( I cant say that about all athletes or even sox players I met)  Frank was always awesome.

I still think the union thing is killing him. My buddy just started going back to games last year. He and evert other union guy I know wont go to the games,but say is Frank leaves or gets traded they will go back.

[Melissa1334]

He is a great standup guy!  ( I cant say that about all athletes or even sox players I met)  Frank was always awesome.

what about Paulie? i met him a couple of times, hes a nice guy too.

[rangercal]

what about Paulie? i met him a couple of times, hes a nice guy too.

well paulie is too, and so is shingo , arow, mark b ect. but this thread is for frank

Edited March 20, 2005 by rangercal

[YASNY]

I still think the union thing is killing him. My buddy just started going back to games last year. He and evert other union guy I know wont go to the games,but say is Frank leaves or gets traded they will go back. 

 

I'm as pro-union as just about anybody, but that is ridiculous.

[rangercal]

I still think the union thing is killing him. My buddy just started going back to games last year. He and evert other union guy I know wont go to the games,but say is Frank leaves or gets traded they will go back. 

their loss