Honesty Equals Respect

The Truth Will Set You Free

By: Gilbert Purtee

We are human and we all make mistakes. There are those who walk in the light of truth, those who hide in the cloaking darkness of lies and those who live their life in a gray, murky area of delusion.

Today, we learned that there were at least two baseball players who were not just great athletes but they were also human. They fell into the illegal substances trap and they were exposed. When confronted, these men not only admitted to the know facts of using these drugs but confessed the unknown facts that there were other times when these drugs were introduced into their bodies.

One of these men is Andy Pettitte. Excused from testifying before a congressional committee focusing on Roger Clemens’ alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs, Pettitte issued a statement through his lawyer minutes before the session began.

“Andy had not previously mentioned this usage because he acquired the substance from his father, who had obtained it without Andy’s knowledge in an effort to overcome his very serious health problems, which have included serious cardiac conditions,” the statement said. “Andy did not want his father, whom he deeply respects and loves, to be brought into this matter and sought to shield him from publicity. In both cases, Andy used HGH in a misguided effort to recover from injury.”

The lawyers said Pettitte would speak with reporters when he arrives at spring training with the Yankees. Pitchers and catchers were due to report Thursday, but it was unclear whether Pettitte would be on time.

Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, commended Pettitte for making the admissions.
“Mr. Pettitte’s consistency makes him a role model on and off the field,” Waxman said.

Mr. Pettitte has earned my respect by admitting his mistakes and admitting he is only human. He did not take the Bill Clinton route, look into the television camera, and tell me a bold, blue faced lie. Mr. Pettitte told the truth, confessed his errors and is a better man for it.